Age: 23
(Sept. 24)
College: North
Texas State
Height: 6’4” Weight: 270
Prelude:
An
All-American and considered the best college defensive line prospect available,
even if comparatively unknown to most fans, “Mean Joe” was taken by the
Steelers in the first round of the 1969 NFL draft (fourth overall). With his
speed as well as strength, he quickly established himself as an outstanding
pass rusher from the interior of the line.
1969 Season Summary
Appeared in
all 14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Sacks – N/A
Interceptions
– 0
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Awards &
Honors:
NFL Defensive
Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA
1st
team All-NFL: AP
2nd
team All-NFL: Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Steelers went
1-13 to finish fourth in the NFL Century Division.
Aftermath:
Greene’s
outstanding rookie season was the first of eight straight, and ten overall, in
which he was selected to the Pro Bowl and also the first of an eventual five in
which he was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice while receiving at least
some All-NFL or All-AFC recognition in four others. He was also chosen as NFL
Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press on two occasions,
following the 1972 and ’74 seasons. Greene became the cornerstone of an
outstanding defense that was one of the highest-ranked in the NFL over the
course of most of the next decade and the Steelers won four NFL titles. Fast,
strong, and agile, he had the ability to dominate games and provided
outstanding emotional leadership. He played a total of 13 years, all with
Pittsburgh, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1987.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by
a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper
Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the
league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).
[Updated 2/4/14]
[Updated 2/4/14]
