Kevin Greene
Ilovedgettingasack.Firstitwasafeelingofrelief.Iknowthatiswhatthatorganizationreallywantedmetodo.Theywantedmetorushthepasser,defendagainsttherunbecauseyoucan’tbesoftagainsttherun…Butwhattheyreallywantedmetodowascrushquarterbacks.WhenIwasreallyabletodothatitwasafeelingofrelief.Myteammatesdependedonmetodothat.Icontributed.Ididn’twanttoletmyteammatesdown…Itwasjustmemakingacontributionandnotlettingmybrothersdown.
Kevin Greene, a fifth-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams in the 1985 NFL Draft, quickly developed into one of the most punishing pass rushers in league history. A walk-on at Auburn he was drafted into the NFL as a linebacker and played at that position for the majority of his 15-season career with the Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers. He also saw some action at defensive end mostly during his tenure with the Rams.
He played primarily on special teams as a rookie and that year marked the only one of his career in which he did not register a sack (although he did have a sack in the playoffs). Although he did not have any starts in his second season he played in all 16 games and managed seven sacks. He added 6.5 sacks in 1987. By his fourth season he had turned into a bona fide pass rusher for the Rams as he registered a career-high 16.5 sacks. Included in that total were his career-best 4.5 sacks in a 38-16 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the season finale that clinched a playoff spot for the Rams. The following year Greene matched his total from ’88 when he again turned in 16.5 sacks. In all, Greene had double-digit sack totals ten times, a mark that put him second in the record book at the time. The only time he missed recording 10 sacks in any of his last eight seasons was when he had a team-leading nine sacks for the Steelers in 1995.
He was named to the Pro Bowl five times (once with the Rams, and twice with the Steelers and Panthers). Greene was selected first-team All-Pro in 1989 with the Rams, in 1994 with Pittsburgh and with Carolina in 1996. He captured the league sack title twice, the first time in 1994 and again in 1996.
Greene, a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s, played in six conference championship games and one Super Bowl. He led his team in sacks 11 times during his career and amassed 160 total sacks which ranked him third all-time following his retirement after the 1999 season. He also had three safeties, 26 opponent fumble recoveries, and five interceptions.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Kevin Greene died Dec. 21, 2020, at the age of 58.
Hall Presdient David Baker remarked, "I regarded him as a personal friend and a true Hall of Famer in every sense. He possessed the most incredible can-do attitude of anyone I ever met. He was a great player, but more than that, he was a great man. Our thoughts and prayers are with Kevin’s wife, Tara, and their entire family. We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations."
Read the full tribute article and watch a video honoring Greene here.