Defensive
Tackle, Pittsburgh Steelers
Age: 28
(Sept. 24)
6th
season in pro football & with Steelers
College: North
Texas State
Height: 6’4” Weight: 275
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 each of
the next four years from 1970 to ’73, including a selection as NFL Defensive
Player of the Year by the Associated Press in 1972. Fast, strong, and agile, he
had the ability to dominate games and provided outstanding emotional
leadership.
1974 Season Summary
Appeared in
all 14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Sacks – N/A
Interceptions
– 1
Int. return
yards – 26
Int. TDs – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 4
Postseason: 3 G
Sacks – 1
(unofficial)
Interceptions
– 1
Int. return
yards – 10
Fumble
recoveries – 1
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
10-3-1 to finish first in the AFC Central while leading the NFL in fewest total
yards allowed (3074), fewest passing yards allowed (1466), and most sacks (52) and
the AFC in fewest points allowed (189). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Buffalo
Bills (32-14), AFC Championship over Oakland Raiders (24-13), and Super Bowl
over Minnesota Vikings (16-6).
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. While
injuries became more of a factor after his 91-game playing streak came to an end in
1975, his string of Pro Bowl selections reached eight straight. “Mean Joe”
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.
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