View source for Kevin Greene

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1962–2020)}}
{{for|other people with a similar name|Kevin Green (disambiguation){{!}}Kevin Green}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image        = Kevin Green cropped.jpg
| caption      = Greene in 2007
| position     = [[Linebacker]] <br> [[Defensive end]]
| number       = 91
| birth_date   = {{Birth date|1962|7|31}}
| birth_place  = [[Schenectady, New York]], U.S.
| death_date   = {{Death date and age|2020|12|21|1962|7|31}}
| death_place  = [[Destin, Florida]], U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/nfl-hall-famer-kevin-greene-dies-58-n1252072 |title=Kevin Greene, NFL sack legend and Hall of Famer, has died at age 58 |date=December 22, 2020 |publisher=Nbcnews.com |access-date=December 22, 2020}}</ref>
| height_ft    = 6
| height_in    = 3
| weight_lbs   = 247
| draftyear    = 1985
| draftround   = 5
| draftpick    = 113
| high_school  = [[Granite City High School|Granite City South]] {{nowrap|([[Granite City, Illinois]])}}
| college      = [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] (1983–1984)
| pastteams    =
* [[Los Angeles Rams]] ([[1985 NFL season|1985]]–[[1992 NFL season|1992]])
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ([[1993 NFL season|1993]]–[[1995 NFL season|1995]])
* [[Carolina Panthers]] ([[1996 NFL season|1996]])
* [[San Francisco 49ers]] ([[1997 NFL season|1997]])
* Carolina Panthers ([[1998 NFL season|1998]]–[[1999 NFL season|1999]])
| pastcoaching =
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ([[2009 NFL season|2009]]–[[2013 NFL season|2013]]; OLB)
* [[New York Jets]] ([[2017 NFL season|2017]]–[[2018 NFL season|2018]]; OLB)
| highlights   = ; As a player
* [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year]] ([[NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year|NEA]]) (1996)
* [[UPI NFC Player of the Year|UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year]] (1996)
* 3× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]], [[1994 All-Pro Team|1994]], [[1996 All-Pro Team|1996]])
* 5× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1990 Pro Bowl|1989]], [[1995 Pro Bowl|1994]]–[[1997 Pro Bowl|1996]], [[1999 Pro Bowl|1998]])
* 2× [[List of NFL season sacks leaders|NFL sacks leader]] (1994, 1996)
* [[NFL 1990s All-Decade Team]]
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers#Hall of Honor|Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor]]
; As a coach
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XLV|XLV]])
| statlabel1   = [[Tackle (football move)|Tackles]]
| statvalue1   = 773
| statlabel2   = [[Quarterback sacks|Sacks]]
| statvalue2   = 160
| statlabel3   = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue3   = 5
| statlabel4   = [[Forced fumbles]]
| statvalue4   = 23
| statlabel5   = [[Fumble|Fumble recoveries]]
| statvalue5   = 26
| statlabel6   = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue6   = 3
| pfr          = GreeKe00
| HOF          = kevin-greene
}}

'''Kevin Darwin Greene''' (July 31, 1962{{snd}}December 21, 2020) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[linebacker]] and [[defensive end]] for the [[Los Angeles Rams]], [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], [[Carolina Panthers]], and [[San Francisco 49ers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) from 1985 through 1999. He had 160 [[quarterback sack|sacks]] in his career, which ranks third among [[List of National Football League career sacks leaders|NFL career sack leaders]], and was voted to the [[National Football League 1990s All-Decade Team|NFL 1990s All-Decade Team]]. He was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2016.

Greene played [[college football]] for the [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn Tigers]]. He was a three-time [[All-Pro]] during his NFL playing career and was twice the [[List of National Football League annual sacks leaders|league leader in sacks]]. He was later an [[outside linebacker]]s [[Coach (sport)|coach]] for the [[Green Bay Packers]] from 2009 through 2013 and the [[New York Jets]] from 2017 through 2018.

==Early life==
Greene was born on July 31, 1962, in [[Schenectady, New York]]. His father was a colonel in the army, making Greene an [[army brat]]. He began playing [[American football|football]] on military bases. The Greene family moved to different bases and spent three years in [[Mannheim, Germany]] before they settled in [[Granite City, Illinois]], in 1976.<ref name="greene to gold">{{cite web|url=https://www.advantagenews.com/sports/from-greene-to-gold/article_6d8ff999-397e-55f5-bcfc-5c8f5757a3ab.html|title=From Greene to gold|website=AdVantageNEWS.com|date=February 24, 2016 }}</ref>

Greene played football, [[basketball]], and was a [[high jumper]] for the track team at [[Granite City High School]].<ref name="greene to gold"/> He graduated in 1980 and was inducted into the Granite City Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/hall-of-famer-kevin-greene-honored-at-granite-city-high/article_2aed15e6-72df-5fd8-b345-9b2e1c72299b.html|title=Hall of Famer Kevin Greene honored at Granite City High|first=Jim|last=Thomas|website=STLtoday.com|date=October 4, 2016 }}</ref>

==College career==
After graduating from high school, Greene enrolled at [[Auburn University]] and entered into the [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] (ROTC) [[basic training]] for the [[United States National Guard]] at [[Fort McClellan]] in [[Anniston, Alabama]].<ref name="greene to gold"/> He attempted to [[walk-on (sports)|walk-on]] to the [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn Tigers]] in [[college football]] as a [[punter (football)|punter]] in 1980. He tried out again in 1983, and made the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2020/12/auburn-hall-of-famer-kevin-greene-dead-at-age-58.html|title=Auburn Hall of Famer Kevin Greene dead at age 58|date=December 21, 2020|website=al}}</ref> In 1984 he won the [[Zeke Smith]] Award as Defensive Player of the Year. He had 69 career [[Tackle (football move)|tackles]] as an outside linebacker and 11 [[Quarterback sack|sacks]] his senior year where he led the [[Southeastern Conference]] and won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1984.<ref name="thetelegraph">{{cite web|url=http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/localsports-sports-sportscolumns/151502432/Befuddling |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128132920/http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/localsports-sports-sportscolumns/151502432/Befuddling |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=dead |title='Befuddling' Why isn't Granite City's Kevin Greene in Canton? - The Telegraph - thetelegraph.com|author=The Telegraph|access-date=July 7, 2015}}</ref>

Greene earned a degree in [[criminal justice]] at Auburn. He completed ROTC while at Auburn and was commissioned a [[second lieutenant]] in the [[Alabama Army National Guard]]. After playing his first year in the NFL, during the off season, he graduated from the RC-1-86 Armor Officer Basic Course at [[Fort Knox]]. During his military career, he earned the rank of captain and completed airborne training at [[Fort Benning]] to become a paratrooper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fox2now.com/sports/former-granite-city-grad-and-pro-football-hall-of-famer-kevin-greene-dead-at-58/|title=Former Granite City grad and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kevin Greene dead at 58|date=December 21, 2020}}</ref>

==Professional career==

===Los Angeles Rams===
The [[Birmingham Stallions]] selected Greene in the 1985 [[United States Football League]] Territorial Draft. He was later selected by the [[Los Angeles Rams]] of the National Football League in the fifth round (113th overall) of the [[1985 NFL draft]].<ref name=al.com>{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2016/12/hall_of_famer_kevin_greene_cal.html|title=Kevin Greene has high praise for another Auburn great|date=December 17, 2016|website=AL.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1985 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1985/draft.htm |access-date=October 5, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> From 1985 through 1987, Greene played left defensive end in the Rams nickel defense and was second on the team in sacks in both 1986 and 1987. His first sack came in 1985, in a playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, and it was in the defensive end role that the sack came. In 1988, Greene became the starting left outside linebacker in the Rams base defense that was enhanced by defensive coordinator [[Fritz Shurmur]]'s Eagle 5-Linebacker defense which he used extensively from 1988 to 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2016/08/05/bonsignore-kevin-greene-first-soared-in-the-eagle-defense-the-rams-designed-for-him/|title=Bonsignore: Kevin Greene first soared in the 'Eagle' defense the Rams designed for him|date=August 5, 2016}}</ref>

In 1988, Greene led the Rams with {{frac|16|1|2}} sacks which was second overall in the NFL behind [[Reggie White]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1988/defense.htm|title=1988 NFL Defense|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> That total included {{frac|4|1|2}} sacks against the [[San Francisco 49ers]]' [[Joe Montana]] in a key late-season game that the Rams had to win in order to make the playoffs, which they did.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/news/dont-call-hofer-kevin-greene-a-one-trick-pony-181304767.html|title=Don't call HOFer Kevin Greene a 'one-trick pony'|website=sports.yahoo.com|date=August 4, 2016 }}</ref>

In 1989, Greene made both the First and Second [[1989 All-Pro Team|All-Pro Team]] and was named to the [[Pro Bowl]] for the first time with his second consecutive season of 16{{frac|1|2}} sacks (4th in the NFL). Greene signed a three-year $2.5&nbsp;million contract with the Rams prior to the 1990 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-03-sp-1620-story.html|title=COMMENTARY: Greene Was Another Example for Rams|date=September 3, 1990|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> His 13 sacks (tied for sixth in the NFL) in 1990 gave him 46 sacks for that three-year period, the most of any player in the NFL for that span.<ref name="greene to gold"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2016/02/kevin_greenes_pro_football_hal.html|title=Kevin Greene's Hall of Fame wait becomes 'irrelevant'|date=February 11, 2016|website=al}}</ref>

In 1991, the Rams changed defenses and defensive coordinators. [[Jeff Fisher]] became the new defensive coordinator and switched the Rams to a [[4–3 defense]], a system Greene was unfamiliar with, after playing in a [[3–4 defense]] since 1983. Although he had compiled 46 sacks during the previous three seasons, Greene was moved from left outside linebacker in a 3–4 to right defensive end in a 4–3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-17-sp-994-story.html|title=RAM NOTEBOOK: Defensive Philosophy Will Keep Greene on the Move|date=October 17, 1991|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> After five games Greene was moved to left linebacker for a month and a half and then due to injuries he was moved to left defensive end for the remainder of the seasons. In all, he started five games at right defensive end, five games at left linebacker and six games at left defensive end and even though he had a career-high in tackles for loss (8) he ended the year with only 3 sacks—his lowest total, by far, since his rookie season. The entire Rams' coaching staff was released after the 1991 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/512921899/?terms=%22kevin+greene%22+%22john+robinson%22&match=1|title=26 Dec 1991, 29 - Star-Phoenix at Newspapers.com|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

In 1992, the Rams hired [[Chuck Knox]] as head coach. The Rams remained a 4–3 defensive team under defensive coordinator George Dyer, and Greene continued to play left outside linebacker.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-05-06-sp-1358-story.html|title=Greene Returns to His Element|date=May 6, 1992|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> His production returned as he led his team in both tackles and sacks. Greene accepted his new role saying, "On third downs I am still rushing the passer, but I would like to rush the passer more often, from more downs and distances, but I can't because of the role I am now asked to play".<ref name="ReferenceA">Orange County Herald-Examinor, November 7, 1992</ref> He finished the 1992 season with 10 sacks and [[Sports Illustrated]]'s [[Paul Zimmerman (sportswriter)|Paul Zimmerman]] picked Greene for his annual All-Pro team, citing Greene's coverage ability, "The OLB spot opposite Cox came down to the Eagles' Seth Joyner, my Player of the Year in last year, versus the Rams' Kevin Greene. I picked Greene. He had more coverage responsibility than ever before, and he did just fine. He was a consistent pass rusher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latestnewssouthafrica.com/2020/12/21/kevin-greene-has-passed-away/|title=Kevin Greene Death – Kevin Green Is Dead, Obituary, Cause Of Death, How Did He Die?|date=December 21, 2020|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307055627/https://www.latestnewssouthafrica.com/2020/12/21/kevin-greene-has-passed-away/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>(Zimmerman, Paul) [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1137549/index.htm Dr. Z's All-pro Team, Sports Illustrated vault, January 11, 1993.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905021110/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1137549/index.htm |date=September 5, 2008 }} Retrieved April 11, 2009.</ref> Dick Selcer, his linebacker coach added, "Kevin's a more complete player than he is given credit for, people only seem to notice the home run, but not seem to see the singles.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

===Pittsburgh Steelers===
[[File:Kevin Greene Pro Football Hall of Famer.jpg|thumb|Greene talks to the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] defensive coordinator during a game against the [[Miami Dolphins]] at [[Three Rivers Stadium]] on November 20, 1994.]]
In 1993, Greene sought out teams that employed a 3–4 system in the first year of free agency. He visited the Green Bay Packers where his former defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur was employed as the defensive coordinator, but they were a 4–3 team. He then visited the Pittsburgh Steelers, a 3–4 team. Dom Capers was the defensive coordinator. Greene signed a three-year, $5.35&nbsp;million free-agent contract with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]].<ref>TRANSACTIONS, [[New York Times]]  April 4, 1993.</ref> Returning to his left outside linebacker position, he teamed up with [[Greg Lloyd]] to form what head coach [[Bill Cowher]] called his "bookends" in the team's "Blitzburgh" defense;<ref name=Blitzburgh /> teammates including the [[biracial]] [[Rod Woodson]] referred to the [[White people|white]] Greene and [[African American]] Lloyd as "Salt & Pepper".<ref name="A Football Life" />

In his first year with the Steelers, he had a solid season with 12{{frac|1|2}} sacks which tied him for seventh in the league. The following season, Greene was a consensus [[1994 All-Pro Team|All-Pro]] choice in 1994 as he led the NFL in sacks (14) and made another appearance in the Pro Bowl. Additionally, Greene was voted the NFLPA AFC Linebacker of the Year (tied with [[Junior Seau]]) for the first time in his career. In 1995, he went to his third Pro Bowl, where he finished with nine sacks and played in [[Super Bowl XXX]], a loss to the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. During Greene's three years with the Steelers, the defense allowed only 3.48 yards per rush, best in the NFL. As part of that defense, a Steelers team that also led the NFL in sacks with 139 over the same three season period, [[Dick LeBeau]] said, "Kevin Greene is a great player against the run, and one of the best pass rushers in NFL history. Greene is almost unblockable."<ref name="behindthesteelcurtain">{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2010/5/6/1460305/the-lebeau-effect|title='The LeBeau Effect' – Behind the Steel Curtain|date=May 6, 2010|publisher=behindthesteelcurtain.com|access-date=July 7, 2015}}</ref>

Greene later stated that he had the "time of his life" playing for the Steelers and decided to receive his Hall of Fame ring from the team despite only playing three of his 15 years in Pittsburgh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2016/07/14/Kevin-Greene-asked-Steelers-Rooneys-to-have-Hall-of-Fame-ring-ceremony-at-Heinz-Field/stories/201607140179|title=Greene asked Steelers to have Hall of Fame ring ceremony at Heinz Field|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}</ref> His departure from Pittsburgh was due to the [[salary cap]] and the Steelers wanting to focus on younger players; Greene, though understanding of the business decision, felt hurt from the organization but continued to hold them in high regard.<ref name="A Football Life">''[[A Football Life]]: Kevin Greene'' [[NFL Network]]</ref>

===Later career===
On May 21, 1996, Greene signed with the [[Carolina Panthers]] (a two-year, $2&nbsp;million deal)<ref>{{cite news|title=The Inside Track; Watch It, World, a Greene Machine Is on the Way|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 21, 1996|id={{ProQuest|293302061}}}}</ref> 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 [[National Football Conference|NFC]] Linebacker of the Year and received the NEA Defensive Player of the Year Award. In addition, the [[NFL Alumni]] voted Greene the NFL Linebacker of the Year Award. He was also voted the NFC Player of the Year by the [[Washington D.C. Touchdown Club]]. Additionally, Greene set an NFL record with five consecutive multi-sack games and finished leading the NFL in sacks for the second time in three years with 14{{frac|1|2}}. Along the way he was a consensus [[1996 All-Pro Team|All-Pro]] in 1996 for the second time in three years. Greene was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl. Said by Panther teammate [[Dwight Stone (American football)|Dwight Stone]] to be, along with [[Sam Mills]], the most "professional guy" on the [[1996 Carolina Panthers season|1996 Panther team]].<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Tales from the Carolina Panthers Sideline|author=Fowler, S.|date=2004|publisher=Sports Publishing L.L.C.|isbn=9781582618357|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P8nnm4ks_i0C&pg=PA160|page=160|access-date=July 7, 2015}}</ref>

After one season with the Panthers and a dispute with the organization, he was cut by the team and signed a six-year, $13&nbsp;million contract with the [[San Francisco 49ers]] that included a $750,000 signing bonus on August 26, 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/28c6daebd01de2e09657b2cf6cf07e98|title=Kevin Greene Signs with 49ers|website=AP NEWS}}</ref> With the 49ers, Greene had 10.5 sacks. Greene was called on to play the "elephant" role with the 49ers, the player to rush the passer and come in the games on likely passing downs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Seeking-Greener-pastures-3238326.php|title=Seeking Greener 
|first=John|last=Crumpacker|date=August 27, 1997|website=SFGATE}}</ref> While doing so, he chipped in on the run game as the 49ers allowed 3.5 yards a rush and Greene had 10.5 of the 49ers 54 sacks.

After the 1997 holdout and a year with the 49ers, Greene re-signed with the Panthers on February 28, 1998.<ref>{{cite news|title=Greene Signs to Return to Panthers|work=[[Buffalo News]]|date=February 28, 1998|id={{ProQuest|381317727}}}}</ref> In December 1998, he attacked [[Kevin Steele]], Carolina's linebacker [[coach (sport)|coach]], during a game; he received a one-game suspension from the team.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://greensboro.com/greene-attack-was-about-love-panthers-linebacker-kevin-greene-says-his-love-and-passion-for/article_403baef4-6b7c-55e7-b4cb-f7b73145568d.html|title=Greene: Attack Was About Love|last=Macenka|first=Joe|work=[[News & Record]]}}</ref> After the season, Greene was named the NFC Linebacker of the year by the [[National Football League Players Association]] (NFLPA). Greene was also named to the Pro Bowl after the 1998 season, bringing his Pro Bowl total to five. Greene was tied for third in the NFL for sacks, after [[Michael Sinclair (American football)|Michael Sinclair]] (16{{frac|1|2}} sacks), Reggie White (16 sacks), and tied with [[Michael Strahan]] who also totaled 15 sacks. As of 2023, Greene's 15.0 sacks in 1998 remains tied with [[Greg Hardy]]'s 2013 season for the Panthers' franchise record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/53864/kevin-greene-is-hall-of-fame-finalist|title=Kevin Greene is Hall of Fame finalist|date=January 10, 2014|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

Greene retired after registering 12 sacks (good for seventh in the NFL) playing as a 4–3 outside linebacker in 1999; he finished his career 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 also finished as the NFL's all-time leader in sacks by a linebacker, ahead of players such as [[Lawrence Taylor]], [[Derrick Thomas]], [[Rickey Jackson]], and [[Andre Tippett]]; Greene is also one of only four players to lead the NFL in sacks in multiple seasons ('94 with the Steelers and '96 with the Panthers). He is also tied for second in career safeties with three and third all-time in [[fumble]] recoveries with 26 (which he returned for 136 yards and two touchdowns).<ref>{{cite web |title=Kevin Greene |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeKe00.htm |website=Pro-Football Reference |access-date=December 22, 2020}}</ref> During his career, Greene recorded five [[interception]]s, returning them for 53 yards and a touchdown, and he is one of three players to record 10 or more sacks in at least 10 different seasons; he averaged over 10 sacks a year for 15 seasons. Greene ended his career with 160 sacks, 62.5 tackles of running backs behind the line of scrimmage, 23 forced fumbles, 26 recovered fumbles, and three defensive touchdowns, and three safeties. Greene opted for retirement while still playing at a high level rather than becoming a "designated pass rusher".<ref name="A Football Life" />

Greene played in 228 games in his 15-year career; in the modern era ([[AFL–NFL merger|since 1970]]), only five other linebackers ([[Clay Matthews Jr.]], [[Bill Romanowski]], [[Ray Lewis]], [[London Fletcher]], & [[James Harrison (American football)|James Harrison]]) had longer careers. He was among the NFL's top 10 in sacks eight times, leading the NFL twice. For 11 out of his 15 years, he led his club in sacks. He also played in six conference championships in his 15 seasons. Greene is considered to be one of the greatest pass rushers of all time.<ref name="nfl">{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/09000d5d8088a0ec/article/top-10-pass-rushers-in-nfl-history|title=Top 10 pass rushers in NFL history - NFL.com|work=nfl.com|access-date=July 7, 2015}}</ref> He was quoted as saying of his career, "I was an outside linebacker in a 3–4, so I actually had coverage responsibilities. So my rush was more limited. But, still, I think my numbers match up pretty good, even with those that rushed the passer every passing down."<ref name="talkoffamenetwork">{{cite web|url=http://www.talkoffamenetwork.com/kevin-greene-i-considered-asking-hall-to-remove-my-name-from-list/|title=Greene: I thought about asking Hall to remove my name, too|publisher=talkoffamenetwork.com|access-date=July 7, 2015|archive-date=July 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709090054/http://www.talkoffamenetwork.com/kevin-greene-i-considered-asking-hall-to-remove-my-name-from-list/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After being a finalist for five consecutive years, Greene was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/26604/for-kevin-greene-waiting-for-hall-of-fame-to-beckon-was-hardest-part|title=For Kevin Greene, waiting for Hall of Fame to beckon was hardest part|date=February 7, 2016|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> and his bust was sculpted by [[Scott Myers]].

== Professional wrestling career ==
Greene made several appearances with the [[professional wrestling promotion]] [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) during the late-1990s. He was one of several celebrities brought in by WCW president [[Eric Bischoff]] to help generate mainstream publicity for the company.<ref name="BischoffRoberts2006"/>

Greene made his first appearance with WCW at the [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]] television special [[Clash of the Champions XXXII]] in January 1996, accompanying [[Hulk Hogan]] and [[Randy Savage]] to ringside for their match against [[Ric Flair]] and [[Big Show|The Giant]]. Following the match, Greene helped Hogan fight off an attempted ambush by [[Brian Pillman]] and [[Brutus Beefcake|The Zodiac]].<ref name="Hunter2013"/><ref name="Peddycord2"/>

In June 1996, Greene wrestled his first match for WCW at its [[The Great American Bash (1996)|Great American Bash]] [[pay-per-view]]. Greene teamed with his fellow NFL alumnus [[Steve McMichael]] - who had joined WCW as a color commentator the prior year - to face [[The Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|Four Horsemen]] members Ric Flair and [[Arn Anderson]], who in the storyline had incurred McMichael's ire after Flair repeatedly flirted with his wife [[Debra Marshall|Debra]], leading McMichael to bring in Greene to help defend her honor. McMichael and Greene were accompanied to ringside by their wives along with wrestler [[Randy Savage]], who was presented as their coach. The match ended when Debra and Tara Greene were chased backstage by Flair's [[valet (professional wrestling)|valets]] [[Miss Elizabeth]] and [[Nancy Benoit|Woman]], only for Debra to return carrying a briefcase containing a large amount of money (implicitly a bribe from Flair) and a Four Horsemen t-shirt. After Debra showed McMichael the contents of the briefcase, he took the briefcase and hit Greene with it, enabling Flair to pin Greene. McMichael then donned the t-shirt, marking the beginning of his membership in the Four Horsemen.<ref name="KreikenbohmCareer"/><ref name="DNJJune1996" /><ref name="Peddycord"/><ref name="Lentz2015"/><ref name="Freedman2018"/>

Greene returned to World Championship Wrestling in May the following year, teaming with Ric Flair and [[Roddy Piper]] to face the villainous [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|New World Order]] ([[Kevin Nash]], [[Scott Hall]], and [[Sean Waltman|Syxx]]) in the main event of the [[Slamboree (1997)|Slamboree]] [[pay-per-view]]. The match ended when Greene pinned Syxx after giving him a [[running powerslam]].<ref name="KreikenbohmCareer"/><ref name="DNJMay1997" /><ref name="Colling" /><ref name="Conner2000"/> The following month, at that year's [[The Great American Bash (1997)|Great American Bash]], Greene faced Steve McMichael in a match resulting from McMichael's betrayal of him at the prior year's event. The match ended when [[Jeff Jarrett]] attempted to hit Greene with a briefcase, only to accidentally hit McMichael, enabling Greene to pin him.<ref name="KreikenbohmCareer"/><ref name="Keith"/><ref name="Clapp"/>

Greene returned to World Championship Wrestling for a third and final time in 1998. On the June 22, 1998, episode of ''[[WCW Monday Nitro]]'', Greene made a surprise return; as he gave an interview, he was confronted by [[Curt Hennig]] and [[Rick Rude]], who distracted him while The Giant attacked him from behind. The altercation led to Greene facing The Giant in the main event of ''Nitro''. Greene won the resultant match by disqualification after Hennig and Rude interfered, after which they attacked Greene until his former Los Angeles Rams teammate [[Bill Goldberg]] came to his assistance. Greene faced The Giant in a rematch at the following month's [[Bash at the Beach (1998)|Bash at the Beach]] pay-per-view, with The Giant pinning him following a [[chokeslam]].<ref name="KreikenbohmCareer"/><ref name="Furious"/>

In Greene's contract for 1997, the 49ers included a stipulation prohibiting him from wrestling, as did the Panthers the following year.<ref name="Dator"/> As a result, his professional wrestling career came to an end in 1998.<ref name="Clapp"/> Greene wrestled a total of five matches between June 16, 1996, and July 12, 1998, four of them on pay-per-view.<ref name="KreikenbohmCareer"/> During his brief career, he "share[d] the ring with some of the biggest names in sports-entertainment."<ref name="WWE"/> Professional wrestling pundit [[R. D. Reynolds]] described him as "a pretty decent wrestler given his level of experience".<ref name="Reynolds2004"/> WCW president Eric Bischoff praised Greene's performances, stating that Greene "poured himself into the training for our show, trying to be as good as he could possibly be".<ref name="BischoffRoberts2006"/> Following Greene's death in 2020, multiple wrestlers paid tribute to him, including Ric Flair, [[Mick Foley]], and [[Sean Waltman|Sean "Syxx" Waltman]].<ref name="Rueter"/> In addition to wrestling himself, Greene encouraged former teammate Bill Goldberg to pursue a career in professional wrestling.<ref name="Hofstede1999"/><ref name="Benigno"/> In a retrospective interview about the Steelers "Blitzburgh" [[zone blitz]] in 2024, Greene's former teammate [[Levon Kirkland]] referred to Greene as "a professional wrestler playing football".<ref name=Blitzburgh>https://www.youtube.com/vq4N2QMvf_8?si=35TJ7cnEZV2-7VUA</ref>

==Coaching career==
[[File:Kevin Greene (cropped).jpg|upright|thumb|Greene with the Packers in 2011]]

During the 2008 season Greene, along with former Steeler [[Jason Gildon]], served an internship for the Pittsburgh Steelers as an assistant linebackers coach during training camp. On January 26, 2009, Greene was hired as an outside [[linebackers]] coach for the [[Green Bay Packers]] by [[Dom Capers]]. The Packers were transitioning into a 3–4 base defense from their traditional 4–3 base. Greene played for Capers for two years as a Steeler, and then followed Capers to Carolina when Capers was named the first head coach of the Panthers. On February 6, 2011, the Packers won [[Super Bowl XLV]], the first time Greene had ever been part of an NFL championship team. He left the Packers in 2013 to coach high school football where his son played at [[Niceville High School]]. On January 17, 2014, it was announced that he would be stepping away from coaching "in order to spend more time with (his) wife, Tara, and (his) children, Gavin and Gabrielle". He hoped to return to coaching after his children went to college.<ref name="packers">{{cite web|url=http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Kevin-Greene-to-step-away-from-coaching/2520a95f-cd9d-435a-9bf0-7024b5cfc88c|title=Kevin Greene to step away from coaching|publisher=packers.com|access-date=July 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708054623/http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Kevin-Greene-to-step-away-from-coaching/2520a95f-cd9d-435a-9bf0-7024b5cfc88c|archive-date=July 8, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2017, the [[New York Jets]] hired Greene as their outside linebackers coach. Greene replaced Mark Collins, who was one of five assistants not brought back by head coach [[Todd Bowles]] for the [[2017 NFL season|2017 season]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Cimini|first=Rich|date=January 28, 2017|title=Jets hire Hall of Famer Greene as LB coach|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18569602/new-york-jets-hire-hall-famer-kevin-greene-linebackers-coach|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref> After [[Adam Gase]] was hired in 2019, Greene was not included in the new coaching staff.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bryan|first=Dave|date=February 8, 2019|title=Kevin Greene Not Part Of Jets New Coaching Staff|url=https://steelersdepot.com/2019/02/kevin-greene-not-part-of-jets-new-coaching-staff/|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=Steelers Depot|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Greene and his wife Tara had a son, Gavin, and a daughter, Gabrielle.<ref name="packers3">{{cite web |url=http://www.packers.com/team/coaches/greene_kevin/ |title=Green Bay Packers Coaching bio |publisher= | website= packers.com |access-date=July 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621091855/http://www.packers.com/team/coaches/kevin-greene/d3a90aa3-453c-4363-a15b-923ec23eb933 |archive-date=June 21, 2012}}</ref>

Greene used a multi-component diet to help his performance.<ref name= "Supplement">{{cite news |author1=Brubaker, Bill |title= In NFL, Supplements Complement |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1995/01/22/in-nfl-supplements-complement/b3c5764a-916c-4a7c-9fae-30d565b50c06/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date= January 22, 1995}}</ref>

Greene died of a [[heart attack]]<ref>{{Cite web| url= https://www.wvtm13.com/article/former-auburn-linebacker-nfl-hall-of-famer-kevin-greene-dies-at-58/35037587#:~:text=AUBURN%2C%20Ala.%20%E2%80%94-,Hall%20of%20Fame%20linebacker%20Kevin%20Greene%2C%20considered%20one%20of%20the,58%2C%20according%20to%20his%20family.|title = Former Auburn linebacker, NFL Hall of Famer Kevin Greene dies at 58|date = December 21, 2020 | website= wvtm13.com | publisher= | accessdate= }}</ref> at age 58 at his home in [[Destin, Florida]], on the morning of December 21, 2020.<ref name="Obit">{{bulleted list |{{cite news| date= December 21, 2020|title=Kevin Greene, Former Pittsburgh Steelers LB And Hall Of Famer, Dies At 58| url= https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/12/21/nfl-kevin-greene-dies-at-age-of-58/| work=pittsburgh.cbslocal.com| publisher= [[KDKA-TV]] |access-date=December 22, 2020| language= en-US}}|{{cite web| date=December 21, 2020|title=Hall of Famer Greene, 3rd all-time in sacks, dies|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30575423/hall-famer-kevin-greene-third-all-sacks-dies-58|access-date=December 22, 2020| website= ESPN.com |language=en}}|{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Jill |title=Kevin Greene, NFL sack legend and Hall of Famer, has died at age 58| url= https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/21/us/kevin-greene-nfl-player-death-spt-trnd/index.html |access-date= December 22, 2020 |work=CNN |date=December 21, 2020}}}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of gridiron football players who became professional wrestlers]]

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Benigno">{{cite web|title=Exclusive Interview: Goldberg looks back on his debut run, 20 years later|url=https://www.wwe.com/section/overtheropes/article/goldberg-20-year-anniversary-interview|website=[[WWE]].com|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=December 23, 2020|date=September 22, 2017|first=Anthony|last=Benigno}}</ref>

<ref name="BischoffRoberts2006">{{cite book|author-link1=Eric Bischoff|first1=Eric|last1=Bischoff|first2=Jeremy|last2= Roberts|title=Controversy Creates Cash|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eUxrpGfkew4C&pg=PA245|year=2006|publisher=[[Simon and Schuster]]|isbn=978-1-4165-2729-9|pages=245–246}}</ref>

<ref name="Clapp">{{cite web|title=15 gridiron greats in WWE history|url=https://www.wwe.com/classics/classic-lists/15-football-greats|website=[[WWE]].com|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=December 23, 2020|date=January 24, 2013|first=Clapp|last=John|display-authors=etal}}</ref>

<ref name="Colling">{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2011/02/26/wcw-slamboree-1997-5181997/|title=WCW Slamboree 1997 5/18/1997|website=WrestlingRecaps.com|last=Colling|first=Bob|access-date=December 23, 2020|date=February 26, 2011}}</ref>

<ref name="Conner2000">{{cite book|first=Floyd|last=Conner|title=Football's Most Wanted™: The Top 10 Book of the Great Game's Outrageous Characters, Fortunate Fumbles, and Other Oddities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=awfc4_REciIC&pg=PA37|date=2000|publisher=[[Potomac Books]]|isbn=978-1-57488-309-1|pages=37}}</ref>

<ref name="Dator">{{cite web |last1=Dator |first1=James |title=Kevin Greene was destined to be a WCW star until fate intervened |url=https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/12/22/22195058/kevin-greene-wrestling-wcw-nfl-contract-rip |website=SBNation |date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 22, 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="DNJJune1996">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/423838816/?terms=%22kevin%20greene%22%20%22steve%20mcmichael%22%20four%20horsemen&match=1 |title=The Daily News Journal - June 17, 1996|work=[[The Daily News Journal]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=June 17, 1996 |access-date=December 22, 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="DNJMay1997">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/423776400/?terms=%22kevin%20greene%22%20slamboree%20syxx&match=1 |title=The Daily News Journal - May 19, 1997|work=[[The Daily News Journal]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=May 19, 1997 |access-date=December 22, 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="Freedman2018">{{cite book|first=Lew|last=Freedman|title=Pro Wrestling: A Comprehensive Reference Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TQ5pDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA76|date=2018|publisher=[[ABC-Clio]]|isbn=978-1-4408-5351-7|pages=76}}</ref>

<ref name="Furious">{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2011/06/09/wcw-bash-at-the-beach-1998-7121998/|title=WCW Bash At The Beach 1998 7/12/1998|website=WrestlingRecaps.com|last=Furious|first=Arnold|access-date=December 23, 2020|date=June 9, 2011}}</ref>

<ref name="Hofstede1999">{{cite book|first=David|last=Hofstede|title=Slammin': Wrestling's Greatest Heroes and Villains|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wTfWE28MKsAC|year=1999|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|isbn=978-1-55022-370-5|page=48}}</ref>

<ref name="Hunter2013">{{cite book|first=Matt|last=Hunter|title=Hulk Hogan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o8ZbAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA1994|year=2013|publisher=[[Infobase Publishing]]|isbn=978-1-4381-4647-8}}</ref>

<ref name="Keith">{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2011/06/11/wcw-great-american-bash-1997-6151997/|title=WCW Great American Bash 1997 6/15/1997|website=WrestlingRecaps.com|last=Keith|first=Scott|access-date=December 23, 2020|date=June 11, 2011}}</ref>

<ref name="KreikenbohmCareer">{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=4133&page=4&promotion=2|title=Kevin Greene - Career|website=Cagematch.net|last=Kreikenbohm|first=Philip|access-date=December 23, 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="Lentz2015">{{cite book|first=Harris M.|last=Lentz III|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QjGSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA231|date=2015|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|isbn=978-1-4766-0505-0|pages=231}}</ref>

<ref name="Peddycord">{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2011/02/20/wcw-great-american-bash-1996-6161996/|title=WCW Great American Bash 1996 6/16/1996|website=WrestlingRecaps.com|last=Pettycord|first=Matt|access-date=December 23, 2020|date=February 20, 2011}}</ref>

<ref name="Peddycord2">{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/2011/02/28/wcw-clash-of-the-champions-xxxii-1231996/|title=WCW Clash of the Champions XXXII 1/23/1996|website=WrestlingRecaps.com|last=Pettycord|first=Matt|access-date=December 23, 2020|date=February 28, 2011}}</ref>

<ref name="Reynolds2004">{{cite book|author-link=R. D. Reynolds|first=R.D.|last=Reynolds|title=The Death of WCW|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ufOINU177dEC&pg=PA144|date=2004|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|isbn=978-1-55490-255-2|pages=144}}</ref>

<ref name="Rueter">{{cite web|url=https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2020/12/22/22195028/nfl-hall-of-famer-wcw-wrestler-kevin-greene-dead-flair-wwe-tweets-goodbye|title=Wrestling remembers NFL Hall of Famer, WCW wrestler Kevin Greene|website=CagesideSeats.com|last=Rueter|first=Sean|access-date=December 23, 2020|date=December 22, 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="WWE">{{cite web|title=Kevin Greene passes away|url=https://www.wwe.com/article/kevin-greene-passes-away|website=[[WWE]].com|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=December 23, 2020|date=December 21, 2020}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline}}

{{Los Angeles Rams 1985 draft navbox}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor}}
{{NFL sack leaders}}
{{100 sacks club}}
{{NFL1990s}}
{{Super Bowl XLV}}
{{2016 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greene, Kevin}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Alabama National Guard personnel]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football defensive ends]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
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[[Category:Carolina Panthers players]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers coaches]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Rams players]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Schenectady, New York]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from New York (state)]]
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[[Category:San Francisco 49ers players]]
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[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers]]