Kevin Greene: Difference between revisions

Kevin Greene at NFL.com

Kevin Darwin Greene (born July 31, 1962 in Schenectady, New York) is a former American football linebacker who retired after the 1999 NFL season.

Football career

Greene played football as a walk-on at Auburn University, and in 1984 won the Zeke Smith Award as Defensive Player of the Year. He had 69 career tackles as a Defensive End and 11 sacks his senior year. He was selected by the Birmingham Stallions in the 1985 USFL Territorial Draft and later selected by the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League in the fifth round (113th overall) of the NFL Draft the same year. He played for the Rams for eight seasons, and made the Pro Bowl in 1989 with the team. He later went to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he made two more appearances in the Pro Bowl and played in Super Bowl XXX, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He signed with the Carolina Panthers following their 1995 inaugural season and helped them reach the NFC Championship Game where the team lost to the eventual Super Bowl XXXI champion Green Bay Packers. In 1996 he was named the NFC Linebacker of the Year and received the George Halas Defensive Player of the Year Award. He set an NFL record with 5 consecutive multi-sack games. After one season with the Panthers, he played one season for the San Francisco 49ers before returning to the Panthers for his final two years. He retired in 1999 as a five-time Pro Bowler and the NFL's third all-time sack leader with 160, behind only Bruce Smith and Reggie White. He is one of only 3 players to lead the NFL in sacks in multiple seasons ('94 with the Steelers and '96 with the Panthers). He also ranked third all time in fumble recoveries with 26, which he returned for 136 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also recorded 5 interceptions, returning them for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Wrestling career

Greene also had a couple of short stints in World Championship Wrestling. He debuted in WCW as a tag team partner for fellow NFL alum Steve McMichael, but McMichael turned on him in favor of joining the Four Horsemen. Greene disappeared from WCW for several months before returning to get revenge on McMichael in a singles match, where he defeated McMichael when the latter's ally (Jeff Jarrett) accidentally nailed McMichael with a briefcase.

Trivia

• Wore # 90 at Auburn and # 91 throughout his NFL career.
• In the 1998 season, he infamously was known for attacking Panthers linebackers coach Kevin Steele in a sideline argument.
• Has most recently been seen on Spike TV's Pros vs. Joes television show, where he appeared as one of the "pros" for football. He also "recruited" former WCW wrestler Bill Goldberg for the finale of the series.
• Served as a Captain during a 16 year Army Reserve career, drilling at Fort Knox.
• Holds a degree in Criminal Justice.
• Resides in Anniston, Alabama and owns several Gold's Gym locations in the state.
• For much of his career, Greene was also known for sporting a long, shoulder length hairdo.