Steelers News

First and 10: Steelers Icon Joe Greene Turns 75

Published

3 years ago

September 24, 2021

Joe Greene, Pro Football Hall of Famer and arguably the greatest player in Steelers franchise history, was born this day in 1946.

Greene was the team’s first-round selection with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft out of North Texas, the first pick with Chuck Noll as the team’s head coach. Noll and Greene helped turn the Steelers into the greatest dynasty in NFL history, winning four Super Bowls.

Individually, Greene was the team’s most decorated player. He was NFL Defensive Rookie of the year in 1969, Defensive Player of the Year in 1972 and 1974 and Man of the Year in 1979.

Greene was a 10-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time All-Pro selection, and part of the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team, 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.

He was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 and in 2014, he became the second Steelers player to have his jersey number officially retired.

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

🏈 10:30: Steelers practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Saunders, Farabaugh

🏈 12:30: Harris, Trai Turner and Watt are expected to meet with the media after practice. It will be Turner’s first time speaking with the press since he was ejected against the Raiders in a spitting incident. Saunders, Farabaugh

🏈 4: Steelers will release their final injury report of the week. Saunders

News and notes from around the Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football League.

STEELERS HEADLINES

🏈 Todd Haley talked about Ben Roethlisberger’s start to his season on the Pat McAfee Show. Cale Berger

🏈 Steelers Mason Rudolph was named the No. 6 backup QB in the NFL. Alan Saunders

🏈 Saunders: Hines Ward faces uphill battle for Hall of Fame spot. Saunders

VIDEO CONTENT FROM PITTSBURGH SPORTS LIVE

STEELERS HISTORY

🏈 2020 Steelers signed WR Cody White to their practice squad. Saunders

🏈 2019 Steelers traded for Seattle TE Nick Vannett. Saunders

🏈 1994 Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart, then with the Colorado Buffaloes, made the pass that made him famous, a 64-yard Hail Mary to Michael Westbrook, to beat Michigan on the game’s final play.

This Day In 1994: Kordell Stewart’s “Hail Mary” pass at Michigan travels an astounding 75 yards in the air, as No. 7 Colorado shocks No. 4 Michigan at “The Big House,” 27-26.

Keith Jackson and Bob Griese on the call, of course… pic.twitter.com/d4Xb0tQlhQ

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 24, 2021

The Steelers drafted Stewart with their second-round pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, and he spent eight seasons in Pittsburgh, leading the team to two AFC Championship Game appearances.

27 Jan 2002: Kordell Stewart of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the Steelers 24-17 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. — John Iacono/SI/Icon SMI

🏈 1966 Former Steelers running back Tim Worley was born in Lumberton, North Carolina. The No. 7 overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft out of Georgia, Worley had just a four-year career with the Steelers.

Worley gained 770 yards as a rookie in 1989, but saw his playing time decline in 1990. An injury in 1991, a suspension for missing drug tests in 1992 and a consistent fumbling problem caused the Steelers to move on in 1993, trading Worley to the Chicago Bears for a fifth-round pick.