Joe Greene (American football)

Joe Greene

Greene in 1975
No. 75, 72
Position:	Defensive Tackle
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1946-09-24) September 24, 1946
Place of birth:	Elgin, Texas
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	275 lb (125 kg)
Career information
High school:	Temple (TX) Dunbar
College:	North Texas
NFL draft:	1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (1969–1981)
Career highlights and awards
2011 Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame Ranked No. 13 NFL Player of All-Time by NFL.com Pro Football Hall of Fame (1987) 10× Pro Bowl (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979) 5× First-team All-Pro (1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1979) 3× Second-team All-Pro (1969, 1971, 1975) 11× First-team All-AFC (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) 4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV) NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team NFL 1970s All-Decade Team Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team (50th Season) Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team 1969 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 2× AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1972, 1974) 2× KCC 101 AFC Defensive Player of the Year (1972, 1974) 2× NEA NFL Defensive MVP winner (1972, 1974) Pittsburgh Steelers #75 retired
Career NFL statistics
Games:	181
Interceptions:	1
Stats at NFL.com
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Charles Edward Greene, known as "Mean Joe" Greene, (born September 24, 1946) is a former all-pro American football defensive tackle who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Throughout the early 1970s, Greene was one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL.^[1] Winning two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, as well as earning five first-team All-Pro selections, Greene is widely considered one of the greatest defensive linemen to ever play in the NFL. He was the cornerstone of the "Steel Curtain" defense,^[1] and as of the passing of L.C. Greenwood on September 29, 2013, is its last surviving member. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a four-time Super Bowl champion. Greene is also well known for his appearance in the "Hey Kid, Catch!" Coca-Cola commercial in 1979, widely considered to be one of the best television commercials of all time.^[2][3][4][5]

College career

Before his NFL career, Greene had an outstanding college football career at North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) (1966–68), leading the team to a 23–5–1 record during his three seasons. In his 29 games at defensive tackle, North Texas State held the opposition to 2,507 yards gained on 1,276 rushes, a per carry average of less than two yards per attempt. His collegiate coach, Rod Rust, said of Greene, "There are two factors behind Joe's success. First, he has the ability to make the big defensive play and turn the tempo of a game around. Second, he has the speed to be an excellent pursuit player." A pro scout said, "He's tough and mean and comes to hit people. He has good killer instincts. He's mobile and hostile."^[6]

He got his nickname when the Pittsburgh fan base mistakenly assumed that the North Texas team nickname of "Mean Green" was Joe Greene's nickname; however, it was actually Coach Rust's wife who wanted to give a nickname to the team's outstanding defense who laid down the description which stuck in two instances. Since green is the school's main color, she gave the defense the name "Mean Green".

In 1984, he was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. In 2006, Greene was voted to the East-West Shrine Game Hall of Fame.^[7]

Pro football career

In 1969, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the fourth pick of the NFL draft and spent his entire career with them until his retirement in 1981. When Greene was drafted, a newspaper headline asked, Who's Joe Greene? The question was quickly answered as Greene became so good that teams double-teamed, and even triple-teamed, him throughout his entire career. In addition to his skills, other teams saw Greene as a threat because of his size.

After he was drafted, Greene quickly established himself as a dominant defensive player. He was strong, quick and intense. He was the NFL's Rookie of the Year in 1969, even though he played on a Steelers team that went 1–13 in Chuck Noll's first year as its head coach. The Steelers quickly improved over the next few seasons. Greene later admitted that he was upset with being drafted by the Steelers due to their long history of losing. He often showed his displeasure on the field, including an incident during a game with the Chicago Bears in which he spat in the face of Dick Butkus and challenged Butkus, long considered to have been the NFL's meanest player, to a fight (although Greene himself has stated in interviews that this supposed incident never actually happened).

In his early years with the Steelers, Greene was at times uncontrollable, and often let his temper get the best of him. On one occasion during a 1975 game against the rival Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Municipal Stadium in which the Steelers won 42–6, Greene repeatedly kicked Browns lineman Bob McKay in the groin while McKay was lying on the ground.^[8] Another incident had Greene snap the ball away from the center while the opposing team was lining up for a play. He had no tolerance for losing, and the team veterans quickly took notice. His intense desire to win rallied the veterans around him, and with great drafts as well as superb coaching, the Steelers franchise soon began to undergo a dramatic makeover. Joe Greene was credited as the cornerstone of the great Steelers dynasty and the most important player in Steeler's history.

Greene was the leader and the anchor of the "Steel Curtain" defense that won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. He was recognized as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in both 1972 and 1974. He, along with other members of the Steelers' front four (L. C. Greenwood, Dwight White and Ernie Holmes) even appeared on the cover of Time magazine. In Super Bowl IX, Greene became the first player ever to record an interception, a forced fumble, and fumble recovery in a single Super Bowl. He went to the Pro Bowl 10 times during his career.

Greene is also well known for the "stunt 4–3" defense, in which he would line up at an angle, between the center and guard, and would explode into the line taking up 2–3 blockers. He started doing this sometime in the 1974 season, and while it cut down on the number of sacks he racked up, it freed up his other defensive teammates like middle linebacker Jack Lambert to make tackles with ease.

After leading the Steelers to another Super Bowl win after the 1975 season over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X, Greene missed the first several games of the 1976 season with a back injury. The Steelers started off the season 1–4 and looked like they would not make the playoffs. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw was also injured and was replaced by rookie Mike Kruczek. The season looked lost. But Greene and the Steelers defense carried the Steelers to nine straight wins and the playoffs. With a defense considered one of the best in NFL history, the 1976 Steelers held opponents to an average of less than 10 points per game (138 points over 14 games). During their nine-game winning streak, the Steelers defense recorded five shutouts, another modern record, and gave up a total of just 28 points (roughly 3 points per game). The defense allowed only two touchdowns over nine games.

Ten of the eleven starters on that 1976 Steelers team were players who made the Pro Bowl at least once in their career (eight starters made the Pro Bowl after the 1976 season). Middle linebacker Jack Lambert along with Greene, became the emotional leaders of the defensive squad. Greene continued to perform at an all-pro level, becoming a 5-time All-Pro (1972–74, 77, 79) and in 1969 receiving the first of his 10 Pro Bowl invitations. Greene retired after the 1981 season after 13 years in the league.

His spot in the lineup was technically not replaced; the Steelers switched to a 3–4 defensive alignment for the 1982 season, which has only one nose tackle as opposed to two defensive tackles, giving the extra spot to a second middle linebacker. The team has used the 3–4 as its base alignment continuously in the years since Greene's retirement.

His end stats were 181 games, 78.5 sacks (unofficially, as sacks were not an official statistic until 1982) and 16 fumble recoveries. Joe Greene had 190 tackles in 1978.

Retirement

After retiring from the NFL, Greene spent one year (1982) as a color analyst for CBS' NFL coverage before becoming an assistant coach under Steelers' head coach Chuck Noll in 1987. He spent the next 16 years as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, and Arizona Cardinals. In 2004, he retired from coaching and was named the special assistant for player personnel for the Steelers. In this position he earned his 5th Super Bowl ring after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL, and a sixth from Super Bowl XLIII. Greene is one of four people outside the Rooney family to have Super Bowl rings from the first six championship teams.^[9] Greene retired from his position in the Steelers' front office in 2013.^[10]

It was Greene, in fact, who coined the phrase "One for the Thumb in '81" after the Steelers won Super Bowl XIV. After the Steelers missed the playoffs in 1980, the saying was shortened to "One for the Thumb" and became the unofficial rally cry for the Steelers' search for the elusive fifth Vince Lombardi Trophy until the team finally won it in 2005.

On July 30, 2014, it was announced that the Steelers would be retiring Greene's No. 75, and it was officially retired at halftime during the Steelers game against the archrival Baltimore Ravens on November 2, 2014, a game the Steelers won 43–23. Greene also briefly wore number 72 during his rookie season before switching to his more familiar 75 midseason. He will be only the second Steeler to have his jersey retired, the first being Ernie Stautner.^[11][12] Although the Steelers had not reissued No. 75 since Greene's retirement, it had been understood long before 2014 that no Steeler would ever wear it again.

Greene was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Greene now resides in Flower Mound, Texas.

Coaching career

• 2003 Arizona Cardinals

Film and television

Greene made a number of television and film appearances:

• The Black Six (1974) as Kevin Washington
• Horror High (1974) as the coach's buddy, a policeman
• Lady Cocoa (1975)
• Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story (1980TV) as a Steeler player
• Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) as himself
• ...All the Marbles (1981) as himself
• The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid (1981TV) as himself
• SCTV in the episode "Battle of the PBS Stars" as himself
• Family Guy episode "Road To Germany" as himself

Coca-Cola commercial

Joe Greene appeared in a famous commercial for Coca-Cola that debuted on October 1, 1979 and was aired again during the 1980 Super Bowl. The ad won a Clio Award in 1980 for being one of the best commercials of 1979.^[13]

References

External links

• Mean Joe Greene Official Website
• Hall of Fame page for Joe Greene
• iFilm: Coca-Cola Ad
• Behind the scenes: The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid
• College Football Hall of Fame bio
• Member of the Cold, Hard Football Facts.com "All-Time 11" (2006)

Succession & navigation boxes 1969 NFL Draft First Round Selections O. J. Simpson George Kunz Leroy Keyes Joe Greene Greg Cook Ron Sellers Ted Kwalick Larry Smith Marty Domres Jim Seymour Bill Stanfill Rich Moore Fred Dryer Rufus Mayes Ron Pritchard Gene Washington John Shinners Bob Babich Roger Wehrli Ron Johnson Bob Klein Art Thoms Jim Marsalis Calvin Hill Eddie Hinton Dave Foley Walter Camp Alumni of the Year 1986: Greene 1987: Reid 1988: Page 1989: Casanova 1990: T. Jackson 1991: Owens 1992: Winslow 1993: Griffin 1994: Marinaro 1995: Covert 1996: Selmon 1997: Plunkett 1998: Dorsett 1999: B. Jackson 2000: McPherson 2001: Walker 2002: Casper 2003: May 2004: Rogers 2005: Bennett 2006: Rozier 2007: Guy 2008: Brown 2009: Fulcher 2010: Bruschi 2011: Spielman 2012: Brooks 2013: Huff 2014: Hennings 1968 College Football All-America Team consensus selections Offense QB Terry Hanratty B Chris Gilbert B Leroy Keyes B O. J. Simpson E Jerry LeVias E Ted Kwalick T Dave Foley T George Kunz G Jim Barnes G Bill Bridges C John Didion Defense DL Joe Greene DL Ted Hendricks DL Chuck Kyle DL Bill Stanfill DL Ed White DL John Zook LB Steve Kiner LB Dennis Onkotz LB Mike Ballou DB Jake Scott DB Roger Wehrli DB Al Worley Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft picks William Shakespeare Mike Basrak Byron White Kay Eakin Bill Dudley Bill Daley Johnny Podesto Paul Duhart Doc Blanchard Hub Bechtol Dan Edwards Bobby Gage Lynn Chandnois Butch Avinger Ed Modzelewski Ted Marchibroda Johnny Lattner Frank Varrichione Gary Glick Art Davis Len Dawson Jack Spikes Bob Ferguson Paul Martha Dick Leftridge Mike Taylor Joe Greene Terry Bradshaw Frank Lewis Franco Harris J. T. 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Taylor 1971: Robertson 1972: Buchanon 1973: Chambers 1974: Lambert 1975: Brazile 1976: Haynes 1977: Duhe 1978: Baker 1979: Haslett 1980: Curry & A. Richardson 1981: L. Taylor 1982: Banks 1983: Maxwell 1984: Maas 1985: Bickett 1986: O'Neal 1987: Conlan 1988: McMillan 1989: Thomas 1990: Carrier 1991: Croel 1992: Carter 1993: Stubblefield 1994: Bowens 1995: Douglas 1996: Rice 1997: Boulware 1998: Woodson 1999: Kearse 2000: Urlacher 2001: Bell 2002: Peppers 2003: Suggs 2004: Vilma 2005: Merriman 2006: Ryans 2007: Willis 2008: Mayo 2009: Cushing 2010: Suh 2011: Miller 2012: Kuechly 2013: S. Richardson 2014: Donald 1974 AP NFL All-Pro Team Offense: QB Ken Stabler RB O. J. Simpson RB Otis Armstrong WR Cliff Branch WR Drew Pearson TE Riley Odoms OT Ron Yary OT Art Shell G Larry Little G Gene Upshaw C Jim Langer Defense:DE L. C. Greenwood DE Jack Youngblood DT Joe Greene OLB Jack Ham OLB Ted Hendricks MLB Bill Bergey CB Emmitt Thomas CB Robert James S Jake Scott S Tony Greene Special Teams PK Chester Marcol Pittsburgh Steelers Formerly the Pittsburgh Pirates Founded in 1933 Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The franchise History All-Time Team Seasons Logos and uniforms Coaches Players Quarterbacks First-round draft picks Statistics Stadiums Home fields Forbes Field Pitt Stadium Three Rivers Stadium Heinz Field Training facilities Rooney Field Point Stadium UPMC Sportsplex Chuck Noll Field Culture Football in Western PA Rooney family Myron Cope Steeler Nation Terrible Towel Steel Curtain Right Here, Right Now Renegade Right Here We Go Black and Yellow YinzCam Lore Steelers lore J.P. Rooneys Pennsylvania Keystoners The Steagles Card-Pitt Steelerettes Y. A. Tittle Photo Immaculate Reception Black Sunday Fighting Back 1995 AFC Championship Game The Chief 3:16 Game Rivalries Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Tennessee Titans Dallas Cowboys Media KDKA-TV WPCW-TV Root Sports Pittsburgh Edmund Nelson Bob Pompeani Radio Network WDVE-FM WBGG-AM Bill Hillgrove Tunch Ilkin Craig Wolfley Division championships (21) 1972 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1983 1984 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 2001 2002 2004 2007 2008 2010 2014 Super Bowl appearances (8) IX X XIII XIV XXX XL XLIII XLV League championships (6) 1974 1975 1978 1979 2005 2008 Retired numbers 70 75 Numbers no longer issued 1 12 31 32 36 47 52 58 59 63 86 Hall of Fame members Players Blount Bradshaw Butler Dawson Dudley Greene Ham Harris Johnson Lambert Layne Stallworth Stautner Swann Webster Woodson Coaches and administration Bell Kiesling Noll Art Rooney Dan Rooney Current league affiliations League National Football League Conference American Football Conference Division North Division   Seasons (83) 1930s 1930 . 1931 . 1932 . 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl IX Champions 5 Terry Hanratty 10 Roy Gerela 12 Terry Bradshaw 17 Joe Gilliam 20 Rocky Bleier 22 Richard Conn 23 Mike Wagner 24 J. T. Thomas 25 Ron Shanklin 26 Preston Pearson 27 Glen Edwards 31 Donnie Shell 32 Franco Harris (MVP) 33 John Fuqua 34 Andy Russell 35 Steve Davis 38 Ed Bradley 39 Bobby Walden 43 Frank Lewis 45 Jim Allen 46 Reggie Harrison 47 Mel Blount 50 Jim Clack 51 Loren Toews 52 Mike Webster 54 Marv Kellum 55 Jon Kolb 56 Ray Mansfield 57 Sam Davis 58 Jack Lambert 59 Jack Ham 62 Jim Wolf 63 Ernie Holmes 64 Steve Furness 68 L. C. Greenwood 71 Gordon Gravelle 72 Gerry Mullins 73 Rick Druschel 74 Dave Reavis 75 Joe Greene 77 Charlie Davis 78 Dwight White 82 John Stallworth 84 Randy Grossman 86 Reggie Garrett 87 Larry Brown 88 Lynn Swann 89 John McMakin Head Coach: Chuck Noll Coaches: Bud Carson Dick Hoak George Perles Dan Radakovich Louis Riecke Lionel Taylor Paul Uram Woody Widenhofer Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl X Champions 5 Terry Hanratty 10 Roy Gerela 12 Terry Bradshaw 17 Joe Gilliam 20 Rocky Bleier 23 Mike Wagner 24 J. T. Thomas 27 Glen Edwards 31 Donnie Shell 32 Franco Harris 33 John Fuqua 34 Andy Russell 36 Dave Brown 38 Ed Bradley 39 Bobby Walden 43 Frank Lewis 44 Mike Collier 45 Jim Allen 46 Reggie Harrison 47 Mel Blount 50 Jim Clack 51 Loren Toews 52 Mike Webster 54 Marv Kellum 55 Jon Kolb 56 Ray Mansfield 57 Sam Davis 58 Jack Lambert 59 Jack Ham 63 Ernie Holmes 64 Steve Furness 68 L. C. Greenwood 71 Gordon Gravelle 72 Gerry Mullins 74 Dave Reavis 75 Joe Greene 76 John Banaszak 78 Dwight White 82 John Stallworth 84 Randy Grossman 86 Reggie Garrett 87 Larry Brown 88 Lynn Swann (MVP) Head Coach: Chuck Noll Coaches: Bud Carson Dick Hoak George Perles Dan Radakovich Louis Riecke Lionel Taylor Paul Uram Woody Widenhofer Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XIII Champions 5 Craig Colquitt 10 Roy Gerela 12 Terry Bradshaw (MVP) 15 Mike Kruczek 18 Cliff Stoudt 20 Rocky Bleier 21 Tony Dungy 23 Mike Wagner 24 J. T. Thomas 25 Ray Oldham 29 Ron Johnson 30 Larry Anderson 31 Donnie Shell 32 Franco Harris 35 Jack Deloplaine 38 Sidney Thornton 39 Rick Moser 40 Randy Reutershan 47 Mel Blount 51 Loren Toews 52 Mike Webster 53 Dennis Winston 55 Jon Kolb 56 Robin Cole 57 Sam Davis 58 Jack Lambert 59 Jack Ham 64 Steve Furness 65 Tom Beasley 66 Ted Petersen 67 Gary Dunn 68 L. C. Greenwood 69 Fred Anderson 72 Gerry Mullins 74 Ray Pinney 75 Joe Greene 76 John Banaszak 77 Steve Courson 78 Dwight White 79 Larry Brown 82 John Stallworth 83 Theo Bell 84 Randy Grossman 86 Jim Smith 87 Jim Mandich 88 Lynn Swann 89 Bennie Cunningham Head Coach: Chuck Noll Coaches: Bud Carson Dick Hoak Tom Moore George Perles Dan Radakovich Louis Riecke Lionel Taylor Paul Uram Dick Walker Woody Widenhofer Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XIV Champions 5 Craig Colquitt 9 Matt Bahr 12 Terry Bradshaw (MVP) 15 Mike Kruczek 20 Rocky Bleier 23 Mike Wagner 24 J. T. Thomas 27 Greg Hawthorne 29 Ron Johnson 30 Larry Anderson 31 Donnie Shell 32 Franco Harris 33 Anthony Anderson 35 Jack Deloplaine 38 Sidney Thornton 39 Rick Moser 47 Mel Blount 49 Dwayne Woodruff 50 Tom Graves 51 Loren Toews 52 Mike Webster 53 Dennis Winston 54 Zack Valentine 55 Jon Kolb 56 Robin Cole 57 Sam Davis 58 Jack Lambert 59 Jack Ham 63 Thom Dornbrook 64 Steve Furness 65 Tom Beasley 66 Ted Petersen 67 Gary Dunn 68 L. C. Greenwood 72 Gerry Mullins 75 Joe Greene 76 John Banaszak 77 Steve Courson 78 Dwight White 79 Larry Brown 82 John Stallworth 83 Theo Bell 84 Randy Grossman 86 Jim Smith 88 Lynn Swann 89 Bennie Cunningham Head Coach: Chuck Noll Coaches: Rollie Dotsch Dick Hoak Tom Moore George Perles Louis Riecke Paul Uram Dick Walker Woody Widenhofer NFL Alumni Order of the Leather Helmet 1978: Pete Rozelle, George Halas, Art Rooney 1979: Paul Brown, Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski 1980: Don Shula, Wellington Mara, Dominic Olejniczak, Pro Football Hall of Fame 1981: Lamar Hunt, Tom Landry 1982: William Bidwill, Alex Wojciechowicz, Bud Grant 1983: F. William Harder, LeRoy Neiman 1985: George P. Marshall, Weeb Ewbank 1986: Howard Cosell, Vince Lombardi, Vic Maitland 1987: Ray Scott, Steve Sabol, Ed Sabol, Bert Bell 1988: Raymond Berry 1989: Tex Schramm 1990: Bill Dudley, Ollie Matson, Steve Van Buren 1991: Hugh McElhenny 1992: Chuck Bednarik, Art Modell 1993: Elroy Hirsch, Marion Motley 1994: Sid Luckman, Sammy Baugh 1995: Otto Graham, Chuck Noll 1996: Johnny Unitas, Curt Gowdy 1997: Pat Summerall, Ralph Wilson 1998: Jim Brown, Al Davis 1999: Bobby Mitchell, Paul Tagliabue 2000: Len Dawson, Deacon Jones 2001: Mike McCormack, Mel Renfro 2002: Mel Blount, Jim Otto, Jim Tunney 2003: Tom Flores, Willie Davis 2004: Dick Vermeil, Val Pinchbeck, Don Weiss 2005: Larry Wilson, Joe Greene 2007: Sonny Jurgensen, Jack Youngblood 2008: Eric Dickerson, John Madden, Alex Spanos Pittsburgh Steelers Team MVP 1969: Roy Jefferson 1970: Joe Greene 1971: Andy Russell 1972: Franco Harris 1973: Ron Shanklin 1974: Glen Edwards 1975: Mel Blount 1976: Jack Lambert 1977: Terry Bradshaw 1978: Terry Bradshaw 1979: John Stallworth 1980: Donnie Shell 1981: Jack Lambert 1982: Dwayne Woodruff 1983: Gary Anderson 1984: John Stallworth 1985: Louis Lipps 1986: Bryan Hinkle 1987: Mike Merriweather 1988: Rod Woodson 1989: Louis Lipps 1990: Rod Woodson 1991: Greg Lloyd 1992: Barry Foster 1993: Rod Woodson 1994: Greg Lloyd 1995: Neil O'Donnell 1996: Jerome Bettis 1997: Jerome Bettis 1998: Levon Kirkland 1999: Levon Kirkland 2000: Jerome Bettis 2001: Kordell Stewart 2002: Joey Porter & Hines Ward 2003: Hines Ward 2004: James Farrior 2005: Casey Hampton & Hines Ward 2006: Willie Parker 2007: James Harrison 2008: James Harrison 2009: Ben Roethlisberger 2010: Troy Polamalu 2011: Antonio Brown 2012: Heath Miller 2013: Antonio Brown 2014: Le'Veon Bell Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team Offense: Terry Bradshaw Jerome Bettis Rocky Bleier Franco Harris Bennie Cunningham Elbie Nickel John Stallworth Lynn Swann Hines Ward Larry Brown Dermontti Dawson Alan Faneca Tunch Ilkin Jon Kolb Mike Webster Defense: "Mean" Joe Greene L. C. Greenwood Casey Hampton Ernie Stautner Dwight White Jack Ham Jack Lambert Greg Lloyd Joey Porter Andy Russell Mel Blount Jack Butler Carnell Lake Troy Polamalu Donnie Shell Rod Woodson Specialists: Gary Anderson Bobby Walden Pittsburgh Steelers 50th season All-Time team Offense: Terry Bradshaw Rocky Bleier Franco Harris Elbie Nickel John Stallworth Lynn Swann Mike Webster Gerry Mullins Sam Davis Larry Brown Jon Kolb Defense: Joe Greene Ernie Stautner L. C. Greenwood Dwight White Jack Ham Jack Lambert Andy Russell Mel Blount Jack Butler Donnie Shell Mike Wagner Specialists: Roy Gerela Pat Brady NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award from the Associated Press 1971: Page 1972: Greene 1973: Anderson 1974: Greene 1975: Blount 1976: Lambert 1977: Martin 1978: Gradishar 1979: Selmon 1980: Hayes 1981: Taylor 1982: Taylor 1983: Betters 1984: Easley 1985: Singletary 1986: Taylor 1987: White 1988: Singletary 1989: Millard 1990: Smith 1991: Swilling 1992: Kennedy 1993: R. Woodson 1994: D. Sanders 1995: Paup 1996: Smith 1997: Stubblefield 1998: White 1999: Sapp 2000: Lewis 2001: Strahan 2002: Brooks 2003: Lewis 2004: Reed 2005: Urlacher 2006: Taylor 2007: B. Sanders 2008: Harrison 2009: C. Woodson 2010: Polamalu 2011: Suggs 2012: Watt 2013: Kuechly 2014: Watt Walter Payton Man of the Year Award 1970: Unitas 1971: Hadl 1972: Lanier 1973: Dawson 1974: Blanda 1975: Anderson 1976: Harris 1977: Payton 1978: Staubach 1979: Greene 1980: Carmichael 1981: Swann 1982: Theismann 1983: Benirschke 1984: Lyons 1985: Stephenson 1986: Williams 1987: Duerson 1988: Largent 1989: Moon 1990: Singletary 1991: Muñoz 1992: Elway 1993: Thomas 1994: Seau 1995: Esiason 1996: Green 1997: Aikman 1998: Marino 1999: Carter 2000: Flanigan & Brooks 2001: Bettis 2002: Vincent 2003: Shields 2004: Dunn 2005: Manning 2006: Brees & Tomlinson 2007: Taylor 2008: Warner 2009: Waters 2010: Williams 2011: Birk 2012: Witten 2013: Tillman 2014: Davis 1973 AP NFL All-Pro Team Offense: QB John Hadl RB O. J. Simpson RB Larry Csonka WR Harold Jackson WR Paul Warfield TE Charle Young OT Ron Yary OT Rayfield Wright G Larry Little G Reggie McKenzie C Jim Langer Defense: DE Claude Humphrey DE Carl Eller DT Joe Greene DT Alan Page OLB Chris Hanburger OLB Isiah Robertson MLB Willie Lanier CB Willie Brown CB Robert James S Dick Anderson S Jake Scott Special Teams PK Garo Yepremian National Football League | NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team Terry Bradshaw Ken Stabler Roger Staubach Earl Campbell Franco Harris Walter Payton O. J. Simpson Harold Carmichael Drew Pearson Lynn Swann Paul Warfield Dave Casper Charlie Sanders Dan Dierdorf Art Shell Rayfield Wright Ron Yary Joe DeLamielleure John Hannah Larry Little Gene Upshaw Jim Langer Mike Webster Carl Eller L. C. Greenwood Harvey Martin Jack Youngblood Joe Greene Bob Lilly Merlin Olsen Alan Page Bobby Bell Robert Brazile Dick Butkus Jack Ham Ted Hendricks Jack Lambert Willie Brown Jimmy Johnson Roger Wehrli Louis Wright Dick Anderson Cliff Harris Ken Houston Rick Upchurch Larry Wilson Garo Yepremian Jim Bakken Ray Guy National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team Sammy Baugh Otto Graham Joe Montana Johnny Unitas Jim Brown Marion Motley Bronko Nagurski Walter Payton Gale Sayers O.J. Simpson Steve Van Buren Lance Alworth Raymond Berry Don Hutson Jerry Rice Mike Ditka Kellen Winslow Roosevelt Brown Forrest Gregg Anthony Muñoz John Hannah Jim Parker Gene Upshaw Mel Hein Mike Webster Deacon Jones Gino Marchetti Reggie White Joe Greene Bob Lilly Merlin Olsen Dick Butkus Jack Ham Ted Hendricks Jack Lambert Willie Lanier Ray Nitschke Lawrence Taylor Mel Blount Mike Haynes Dick Lane Rod Woodson Ken Houston Ronnie Lott Larry Wilson Ray Guy Jan Stenerud Billy Johnson Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1987 Larry Csonka Len Dawson Joe Greene John Henry Johnson Jim Langer Don Maynard Gene Upshaw