View source for Roy Green

{{Short description|American football player (born 1957)}}
{{About}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Roy Green
| image         = 1986 Jeno's Pizza - 08 - Roy Green (Roy Green crop).jpg
| alt           = Green playing for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1984
| caption       = Green with the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] in 1984
| number        = 25, 81
| position      = [[Wide receiver]]
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1957|6|30}}
| birth_place   = [[Magnolia, Arkansas]], U.S. 
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 0
| weight_lb     = 195
| high_school   = [[Magnolia High School (Arkansas)|Magnolia]]
| college       = [[Henderson State Reddies football|Henderson State]] (1975–1978)
| draftyear     = 1979
| draftround    = 4
| draftpick     = 89
| pastteams     = 
* [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis]] / [[Phoenix Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|1979|1990}})
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|1991|1992}})
| highlights    = 
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1983 All-Pro Team|1983]], [[1984 All-Pro Team|1984]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1984 Pro Bowl|1983]], [[1985 Pro Bowl|1984]])
* [[List of NFL annual receiving yards leaders|NFL receiving yards leader]] (1984)
* [[List of NFL annual receiving touchdowns leaders|NFL receiving touchdowns leader]] (1983)
* [[Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor]]
| statlabel1    = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue1    = 559
| statlabel2    = Receiving yards
| statvalue2    = 8,965
| statlabel3    = Receiving [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3    = 66
| pfr           = GreeRo01
}}

'''Roy Calvin Green''' (born June 30, 1957), nicknamed "'''Jet Stream'''", is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[wide receiver]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Henderson State Reddies football|Henderson State Reddies]]. Green played in the NFL for the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis]] / [[Phoenix Cardinals]], where he played his first three seasons as a [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]]. He finished his career with the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] from 1991 to 1992.

==Early life==
Green was born on June 30, 1957, in [[Magnolia, Arkansas]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Roy Calvin Green (1957–) |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/roy-calvin-green-12369/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref> He attended [[Magnolia High School (Arkansas)|Magnolia High School]], and participated on the football, basketball and track teams every year. As a football star, he played [[Wide receiver|split end]] and [[defensive back]], while also returning [[Punt (gridiron football)|punts]] and [[Kickoff (gridiron football)|kickoffs]]. He also was a [[Kicker (gridiron football)|kicker]]. Green played on the state Class AA football championship team his senior year in 1974. In his senior year, he also was selected to the All-District and All-State football teams, and to the [[Arkansas Gazette]] Super Dream Team.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-11 |title=Magnolia School District plans events honoring football standout Roy Green |url=https://www.magnoliareporter.com/sports/college_pros/article_aa313d6a-ec18-11e9-a12f-eb3d2f5372ce.html |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Magnolia Reporter - Magnolia, Arkansas News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

In 2019, Magnolia High School retired Green's number 25.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2019-10-10 |title=Magnolia honoring Roy Green with No. 25 jersey number retirement |url=https://www.magnoliareporter.com/sports/school_sports/article_75e37388-eb38-11e9-b017-53267c271dc0.html |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Magnolia Reporter - Magnolia, Arkansas News |language=en}}</ref>

==College career==
Green played [[college football]] at [[Henderson State University]], in the [[Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference]] (AIC) from 1975 to 1978; and served as a team captain in 1978. The team won two AIC championships during his tenure.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Roy Green (1997) - Hall of Fame |url=https://hsusports.com/honors/hall-of-fame/roy-green/127 |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Henderson State University Athletics |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=  http://www.nfl.com/player/roygreen/2500902/profile|title= Roy Green|publisher= NFL Enterprises LLC |access-date= September 12, 2012}}</ref> 

Green played [[defensive back]] and returned kicks. He was named All-AIC from 1976 to 1978, and [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) All-District in 1978. He gained NAIA All-American honorable mention in 1977, and was an NAIA All-American in 1978. Green led the AIC in interceptions and punt returns in 1978.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" />

In a November 4, 1978 game against the [[University of Arkansas at Monticello]], Green scored three touchdowns, none on the offense. He scored on a 90-yard kickoff return, a 65-yard punt return, and a 40-yard interception return. He also blocked a field goal attempt in the game.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=1978 Football Schedule |url=https://www.uamsports.com/sports/football/schedule/1978 |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=University of Arkansas at Monticello Athletics |language=en}}</ref> 

At Henderson, his nickname was "the Green Machine", but as a professional player he would come to be called "Jet Stream".<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Underwood |first=Bob |date=2020-06-30 |title=Big Red Legends: Roy Green |url=https://thebigredzone.com/2020/06/30/big-red-legends-roy-green/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=THE BIG RED ZONE |language=en}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Green was [[NFL Draft|drafted]] by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the [[1979 NFL draft]], as a [[strong safety]] and kick returner.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|url=  https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeRo01.htm|title= Roy Green|publisher= Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date= September 12, 2012}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Rhoden |first=William C. |date=September 22, 1985 |title=CARDS' GREEN POSES PROBLEM FOR GIANTS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/22/sports/cards-green-poses-problem-for-giants.html |work=New York Times}}</ref> In 1979, he was primarily a kick returner, but also returned punts and was the back-up strong safety.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /> He starred as a rookie returning kicks, including a 106-yard return for a touchdown against the [[Dallas Cowboys]], tying an NFL record at the time.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Tim |title=Roy Green |url=https://www.stlshof.com/roy-green/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=St Louis Sports Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref> (As of 2024, the record is 109 yards, set by [[Cordarrelle Patterson]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-27 |title=What are the longest kick returns in NFL history? |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41462022/what-longest-kick-returns-nfl-history |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>) He did catch one pass in 1979, but none in 1980. In 1980, he started six games at [[free safety]], with one interception, while returning kicks and averaging 10.5 yards per punt return, with one return for a touchdown.<ref name=":6" /> Green also played well at [[cornerback]].{{citation needed|date=December 2024}} 

In 1981, Green was a [[two-way player]].<ref name=":0" /> He stepped in as wide receiver part-time and managed to gain 708 yards on merely 33 catches, which equated to nearly 21.5 yards per catch.<ref name=":6" /> On September 20 against the [[Washington Commanders|Washington Redskins]] (now the Washington Commanders), he caught a 58-yard touchdown pass and recorded an interception in the same game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Washington Redskins at St. Louis Cardinals - September 20th, 1981 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109200crd.htm |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> This made him the first player since Washington's [[Ed Sutton]] on December 8, 1957, playing both running back and defensive back, to do both in the same game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1957 Washington Redskins Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1957.htm |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ed Sutton NFL Game Logs - Pro Football Archives |url=https://profootballarchives.com/gamelogs/s/sutt00650.html |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=profootballarchives.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins - December 8th, 1957 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195712080was.htm |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> Green did this twice more that year against the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and Washington.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeRo01/gamelog/1981/ | title=Roy Green 1981 Game Log | website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] }}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Neff |first=Craig |date=December 21, 1981 |title=Return of the triple threat |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/12/21/return-of-the-triple-threat-st-louis-roy-green-plays-them-all-offense-defense-and-special-teams |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241212020015/https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/12/21/return-of-the-triple-threat-st-louis-roy-green-plays-them-all-offense-defense-and-special-teams |archive-date=2024-12-12 |access-date=2024-12-30 |work=Sports Illustrated Vault {{!}} SI.com |language=en-us}}</ref> The following season, Green fully transitioned to wide receiver and performed well in the strike-shortened season.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":0" /> Altogether he played 1½ two-way seasons, and during some of that time was also returning punts and kickoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weinfuss |first=Josh |date=2016-05-12 |title=Roy Green first to play in both St. Louis and Arizona in Ring of Honor |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/arizona-cardinals/post/_/id/20496/roy-green-first-to-play-in-both-st-louis-arizona-in-cardinals-ring-of-honor |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> While a normal player might participate in as many as 60-70 plays a game, in 1981, Green participated in 108 plays in just a single game by playing on offense, defense and four special teams.<ref name=":10" /> 

Green truly shined during the next several seasons, particularly in 1984 when his 1,555 receiving yards led the league,<ref>{{Cite web |title=1984 NFL Receiving |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1984/receiving.htm |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> and were then the third highest in a season (through the 2005 season; this has since dropped to fortieth as of 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Receiving Yards Single-Season Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/rec_yds_single_season.htm |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>). In 1983, he led the league with 14 receiving touchdowns.<ref name=":0" /> Green led the Cardinals in receiving in 1983 (78 receptions/1,227 yards), 1984 (78 receptions/1,555 yards) and 1988 (68 receptions/1,097 yards; during those intervening years, veterans [[Pat Tilley]] and [[J. T. Smith (American football)|J. T. Smith]] split time leading the team in receiving).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals Yearly Receiving Leaders {{!}} The Football Database |url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/arizona-cardinals/leaders/yearly-receiving-yards |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=FootballDB.com |language=en}}</ref> Green was selected first-team [[All-Pro]] in 1983 and 1984 and was also chosen to play in the [[Pro Bowl]] both years.<ref name=":6" /> 

Early in the 1985 season, New York Giant's [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] coach Bill Parcells<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill Parcells {{!}} Pro Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/bill-parcells/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=pfhof |language=en}}</ref> said of Green,"’There is nobody in the National Football League who can cover him one-on-one .... 'It's suicide to try. He's got a good grasp of what's going on in the secondary, but the big thing is that he has rare athletic ability and great determination.<nowiki>'''</nowiki> It was his years of playing in the defensive secondary that gave him a heightened understanding of reading a defense.<ref name=":7" /> Injuries suffered in the next few years, however, kept him from returning to the 1983-84 peak levels of performance.<ref name=":0" /> He was usually one of the few stars on a mediocre team. During his career, the Cardinals only made the playoffs once, in the strike-shortened 1982 season, and would only garner winning records two other times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/index.htm |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Green played with the Cardinals past their move to [[Phoenix, Arizona]] in 1987. He caught 68 passes in 1988 for 1,097 yards with seven touchdowns for his third and final 1,000-yard season. The following year saw him play in just twelve games and catch 44 passes for 703 yards with seven touchdowns.<ref name=":6" /> Green caught 53 passes in the 1990 season that got him to 500 career receptions,<ref name=":6" /> which as of the end of that season saw just 24 other players with as many receptions. On June 9, 1991, he was traded to the [[Cleveland Browns]] for an undisclosed draft pick.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1991-06-09-9106090370-story.html | title=Browns Get Green | date=9 June 1991 }}</ref> On August 20, 1991, he was cut from the team when the Browns reduced their roster to sixty and elected to keep rookie [[Michael Jackson (wide receiver)|Michael Jackson]] and [[Reggie Langhorne]] instead.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/08/20/Browns-cut-veterans-Green-and-Reeves/2264682660800/ | title=Browns cut veterans Green and Reeves - UPI Archives }}</ref>

Green was subsequently signed by the Philadelphia Eagles in September 1991,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eagles sign Roy Green - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/09/18/Eagles-sign-Roy-Green/2741685166400/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> who sought veteran leadership at wide receiver to replace the retired [[Mike Quick]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press\ |first=The Associated |date=1991-07-15 |title=EAGLES' QUICK CALLS IT QUITS |url=https://greensboro.com/article_29255724-31c8-5640-b394-421a8ddae6ec.html |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Greensboro News and Record |language=en}}</ref> and the waived [[Cris Carter]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota claims receiver Cris Carter |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/09/05/minnesota-claims-receiver-cris-carter/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Getting Open: Cris Carter & Michael Floyd Connect, Reflect on Sobriety Journeys |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/longform/cris-carter-michael-floyd-getting-open-sobriety-journeys |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.vikings.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Green played much of that season, in which a lackluster offense (after star quarterback [[Randall Cunningham]] suffered a season-ending knee injury in the season's first game<ref>{{Cite web |last=Larimer |first=Terry |date=1991-09-03 |title=Cunningham Is an Eagle With a Nightmare |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-03-sp-2002-story.html |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=September 2, 1991 |title=Cunningham is injured in Eagles' victory |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/02/sports/cunningham-is-injured-in-eagles-victory.html |work=New York Times}}</ref>) was balanced by a sensational defense that has been ranked among the greatest defenses in NFL history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-20 |title=Eagles' 1991 defense named greatest in past 30 years by Football Outsiders |url=https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/2017/06/20/philadelphia-eagles-1991-defense-named-the-greatest-since-1987/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Eagles Wire |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-02 |title=1991 Eagles featured one of the best defenses in NFL history |url=https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/1991-eagles-featured-one-of-the-best-defenses-in-nfl-history/193018/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=NBC Sports Philadelphia |language=en-US}}</ref> In an early season game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, after being with the team for only four days, Green caught six passes for 114 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1991-09-23 |title=PRO FOOTBALL : Has-Beens Become Heroes as Eagles Beat Steelers : Interconference: Newly acquired Roy Green catches six of McMahon's passes in 23-14 victory. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-23-sp-1899-story.html |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Green played sparingly the following season and retired in 1993.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":0" /> 

[[John Madden]] honored Green in his annual [[All-Madden Team]], stating that at one point he regarded Green as not the best wide receiver in the game, but the best ''player''.<ref name=":8">{{Cite magazine |last=Gregory |first=Sean |date=2014-05-23 |title=Painkiller Suit a Serious New Headache for NFL |url=https://time.com/110934/nfl-painkillers-suit/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref> Green finished with 559 receptions for 8,965 yards and 66 touchdowns.  He also rushed for 140 yards, returned 27 punts for 230 yards, and added another 2,002 yards on kickoff returns. He also intercepted 4 passes for 54 yards and recovered 20 fumbles. Overall, he gained 11,391 total yards and scored 69 touchdowns,<ref name=":6" /> with his 66 receiving touchdowns and 69 total touchdowns for the Cardinals being franchise records until broken by [[Larry Fitzgerald]] (who is considered the greatest Cardinal receiver).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arizona Cardinals Career Scoring Summary Leaders |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/career-scoring.htm |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9" />

On October 2, 2016, Green was inducted as the 16th member of the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-10-05 |title=The ASBA Congratulates NFL Legend Roy Green for Being Inducted into the AZ Cardinals Ring of Honor |url=https://asba.net/the-asba-congratulates-nfl-legend-roy-green-for-being-inducted-into-the-az-cardinals-ring-of-honor/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=American Sleep and Breathing Academy |language=en-US}}</ref> On September 15, 2017, Green was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame.<ref name=":4" />

== Honors and awards ==
Green has received the following awards and honors, among others;

* In 1983-1984, Green was selected First-Team All Pro and to the Pro Bowl<ref name=":6" /> 
* In 1997, Green was inducted into the Henderson State University Athletics Hall of Fame<ref name=":2" /> 
* In 2001, Green was inducted into the [[Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Inductees -- By Sport -- Football |url=https://www.arksportshalloffame.com/_files/ugd/d0ba04_89c9bd66f9cd42489daee9896d8b0446.pdf |website=arksportshalloffame.com}}</ref> 
* In 2016, Green was inducted into the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roy Green To Go Into Cardinals Ring Of Honor |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/roy-green-to-go-into-cardinals-ring-of-honor-17141726 |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.azcardinals.com |language=en-US}}</ref> 
* In 2017, Green was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame<ref name=":4" />
* In 2019, Magnolia High School retired Green's number 25<ref name=":1" />

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

=== Regular season ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1979 NFL season|1979]] !! [[1979 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
| '''16''' || 0 || 1 || 15 || 15.0 || 15 || 0
|-
! [[1980 NFL season|1980]] !! [[1980 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
| 15 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1981 NFL season|1981]] !! [[1981 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
| '''16''' || 2 || 33 || 708 || '''21.5''' || 60 || 4
|-
! [[1982 NFL season|1982]] !! [[1982 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
| 9 || 9 || 32 || 453 || 14.2 || 42 || 3
|-
! [[1983 NFL season|1983]] !! [[1983 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
| '''16''' || 15 || '''78''' || 1,227 || 15.7 || 71 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''14'''
|-
! [[1984 NFL season|1984]] !! [[1984 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''78''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''1,555''' || 19.9 || '''83''' || 12
|-
! [[1985 NFL season|1985]] !! [[1985 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
| 13 || 13 || 50 || 693 || 13.9 || 47 || 5
|-
! [[1986 NFL season|1986]] !! [[1986 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
| 11 || 10 || 42 || 517 || 12.3 || 48 || 6
|-
! [[1987 NFL season|1987]] !! [[1987 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
| 12 || 12 || 43 || 731 || 17.0 || 57 || 4
|-
! [[1988 NFL season|1988]] !! [[1988 Phoenix Cardinals season|PHO]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 68 || 1,097 || 16.1 || 52 || 7
|-
! [[1989 NFL season|1989]] !! [[1989 Phoenix Cardinals season|PHO]]
| 12 || 12 || 44 || 703 || 16.0 || 59 || 7
|-
! [[1990 NFL season|1990]] !! [[1990 Phoenix Cardinals season|PHO]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 53 || 797 || 15.0 || 54 || 4
|-
! [[1991 NFL season|1991]] !! [[1991 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 13 || 3 || 29 || 364 || 12.6 || 42 || 0
|-
! [[1992 NFL season|1992]] !! [[1992 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 9 || 0 || 8 || 105 || 13.1 || 21 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 190 !! 130 !! 559 !! 8,965 !! 16.0 !! 83 !! 66
|}

=== Playoffs ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1982 NFL season|1982]] !! [[1982 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
| 1 || '''1''' || '''9''' || '''113''' || 12.6 || '''29''' || 0
|-
! [[1992 NFL season|1992]] !! [[1992 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| '''2''' || 0 || 1 || 14 || '''14.0''' || 14 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 3 !! 1 !! 10 !! 127 !! 12.7 !! 29 !! 0
|}

== Personal life ==
Green married his wife, Sharon, before the 1980 NFL season. [[Ottis Anderson]] and [[Theotis Brown]] served as groomsmen and his brother, Leotis, was best man.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sonderegger |first1=John |title=Ottis, Theotis Got The Glory, But Green Got The Girl |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113753598/ottis-theottis-got-the-glory-but/ |access-date=28 November 2022 |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=23 July 1980 |page=4C}}</ref>

After retirement, he worked as part of the Arizona Cardinals broadcast team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Somers |first=Kent |title=Cardinals to induct Roy Green into Ring of Honor |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2016/05/10/cardinals-induct-roy-green-into-ring-honor/84207282/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}</ref>

Since retiring from the NFL, Green has shifted his focus to helping improve the health of current and former professional athletes through promoting sleep apnea awareness across the country. He has teamed up with dental icon, David Gergen, and a company called [http://www.proplayersleep.org Pro Player Health Alliance] to hold free public awareness events in local communities all over the nation. After joining the cause of Pro Player Health Alliance and using his extensive number of connections to players, as of 2016, he has helped get over 1,600 former players successfully treated for sleep apnea.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jacobs|first=Kyle|title=Public Relations|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/5/prweb10721251.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307205145/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/5/prweb10721251.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 7, 2014|work=Pro Player Health Alliance|publisher=PRWeb|access-date=May 10, 2013}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

In 2012, Green was diagnosed with kidney disease due to the long-term use of anti-inflammatories during his playing career in the NFL. Following a year of dialysis three days a week, his daughters, Miyosha, 30, and Candace, 26, both offered to donate a kidney to their father.  Both daughters were matches, but Miyosha was chosen to donate. Green had successful surgery on November 14 at the Mayo Clinic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weinfuss|first=Josh|url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Roy-Greens-Fight-Helped-By-Old-Friend/3951c638-4d2d-492d-a246-29f785505b41/|title= Roy Green's Fight Helped By Old Friend|publisher= azcardinals.com |access-date= January 17, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Roy Green's Fight Helped By Old Friend |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/roy-green-s-fight-helped-by-old-friend-9562575 |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.azcardinals.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Weinfuss |first=Josh |date=2016-05-11 |title=Former receiver Roy Green to enter Cardinals' Ring of Honor |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/arizona-cardinals/post/_/id/20485/roy-green-emblazoned-across-cardinals-record-books-as-franchises-second-best-receiver |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> He was one of eight named plaintiffs in a class action suit against the league alleging reckless distribution of narcotic painkillers that went on for nearly a decade.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Daniel |date=February 20, 2021 |title=Ex-NFL players' lawsuit over painkillers moves closer to trial after ruling |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2400311/2021/02/20/nfl-painkillers-lawsuit-trial-richard-dent/ |work=New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=RICHARD DENT, ET AL V. NFL, No. 22-15261 (9th Cir. 2023) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca9/22-15261/22-15261-2023-04-18.html |website=law.justia.com}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
* [http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2012/06/30/this-date-in-football-happy-birthday-roy-green/ NFL Films Blog This Date In Football: Happy Birthday, Roy Green]
* [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeRo01.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com: Roy Green]

{{St. Louis Cardinals 1979 draft navbox}}
{{Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor}}
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{{NFL receiving touchdown leaders}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Green, Roy}}
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:American football return specialists]]
[[Category:Henderson State Reddies football players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) players]]
[[Category:Phoenix Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:People from Magnolia, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Arkansas]]
[[Category:Magnolia High School (Arkansas) alumni]]
[[Category:NFL replacement players]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]