Steelers’ Dan Moore Jr. Helping Potential First-Rd Pick Kenyon Green Transition to the NFL: ‘He’s One of My Closest Friends’

INDIANAPOLIS — Football is known as a business. Decisions are driven by money, players want money, owners want money, and the overall model of it is to drive profit. However, football is known as a family atmosphere that cultivates relationships that last a lifetime. Especially in college football, those teammates spend all day with each other. By building those close friendships, they almost always come around.

So, when a prospect has someone in the NFL they are close to already, they can act as a mentor. That is the case for Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green. A possible first-round pick, Green has played every position on the line but center. For two years, Green played next to current Steelers tackle Dan Moore Jr.

For Green, Moore has been the mentor he has needed on his path to the NFL. Even now, Moore is offering guidance for Green as he goes through the pre-draft process at the NFL Combine.

“Dan is one of my closest friends,” Green said. “He’s trying to tell me to take my time. I have to have fun with it. That’s what he says. It’s going to be a long process, so I can’t stress it out. You’re trying to go to the next level, so he keeps telling me to not stress out.”

Green got to watch Moore be thrown into the fire. It was a fine rookie year for Moore, who had to get used to his pass sets and the nuance of the position at the next level. Playing next to Moore is an enticing option for Green. However, the camaraderie among Moore and Green extends to their former running back Isaiah Spiller.

One of the top running backs in the class, Spiller has received top 50 draft prospect hype. For Spiller, the players that paved the way for him to run are great players and friends.

“Kenyon is a monster,” Spiller said. “This guy is ready to play at the next level. He is going to do great things. Dan was always a tremendous help for me. He would go through helping me with reads in protections. Those two are great players. I value their friendship a lot.”

Now, there could be an opportunity for Moore and Green to reunite in Pittsburgh. If Green falls to the 20th overall pick, he is a strong contender to be picked by the Steelers. Still, there are no guarantees when it comes to the NFL as a business. There are, however, guarantees about long-lasting friendships like Moore, Green, and Spiller have that come with the game of football.

Click for more coverage from Alan Saunders, Nick Farabaugh and Dan Angell, live from Indianapolis at the 2022 NFL Combine.