Defensive
Tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers
Age: 26
(Sept. 24)
4th
season in pro football & with Steelers
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 and was the Associated Press
Defensive Rookie of the Year. Greene followed up with Pro Bowl years in 1970
and ’71.
1972 Season Summary
Appeared in
all 14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Sacks – 11
(unofficial)
Interceptions
– 0
Fumble
recoveries – 1
Postseason: 2 G
Sacks – 0
Interceptions
– 0
TDs – 0
Awards &
Honors:
NFL Defensive
Player of the Year: AP
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st
team All-AFC: AP, UPI, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Steelers went
11-3 to finish first in the AFC Central while leading the NFL in takeaways (48)
and ranking a close second in fewest points allowed (175). Won AFC Divisional
playoff over Oakland Raiders (13-7). Lost AFC Championship to Miami Dolphins
(21-17).
Aftermath:
Greene became
the cornerstone of an outstanding defense that was one of the highest-ranked in
the NFL over the remainder of the decade and the Steelers won four NFL titles. “Mean
Joe” was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice in each of the next two seasons
and his string of Pro Bowl selections reached eight straight. He was again the
AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1974 as the Steelers won their first of
back-to-back NFL Championships. 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 a consensus first-team All-NFL
selection five times, received at least some All-NFL or All-AFC recognition in
four other seasons, and was named to the Pro Bowl on a total of 10 occasions.
Greene was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1987.
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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or
Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or
USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football
Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press
International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league
itself). Also includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of
the Year.
