Enshrinement Release

Retired Detroit News columnist Jerry Green is the 2005 recipient of the Dick McCann Memorial Award for long and distinguished reporting on professional football.

A 41-year veteran with the paper, Green began his career earning $29 a week as a copy boy for the New York Journal American in 1952. Following a four-year stint in the Navy, he joined the Associated Press in 1956 as the Ann Arbor correspondent, later becoming the Michigan sports editor in 1961. Since 1963, the Brown University alumnus has been with the Detroit News .

Green’s recognition is the result of nationwide balloting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA). "This was long overdue, and it's the capstone of Jerry's career," said Washington Times writer David Elfin, president of the PFWA, whose members number over 300. "When I called Jerry and told him the news, he had to compose himself a minute on the phone. It brought tears to his eyes.

"One thing we all admire about Jerry is, he always carries himself like a beat guy, never walking around with his nose stuck in the air. You'd never know he covered the Wimbledons and everything, all the major events he did. He's just a hard-working guy."

"Outstanding -- well-deserved," said Tom Lewand, chief operating officer for the Lions. "I'm from the Detroit area, and had the good fortune of reading Jerry Green as I grew up. I learned a lot of what I know about the Detroit Lions from reading Jerry Green. Everybody in Detroit can take pride in having one of the best and longest-serving sports journalists in America."

Green, in spite of this, was his casual self when asked by a reporter about the award. “How’d you get stuck with this?” he asked “This is worth about two inches.” Not a surprising response from the self-effacing writer.

Among his many accomplishments, the 77-year-old is one of only five journalists to have covered every Super Bowl, a streak he will keep alive by reporting on the 40th game at Ford Field in February.

Football is not his only expertise however; the 1976 Montreal and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics appear on his résumé as well as many World Series games, NBA Finals, Masters Championships, US Opens, and British Opens.

A native of Great Neck, Long Island, he has served as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Board of Selectors since 1994 as well as the Hall’s Seniors Committee.