Born September 25, 1946, in Temple, Texas, Charles Edward Greene would be known to posterity by another name, “Mean Joe” Greene, and as one of the most dominant football players of his era at the professional level. With limited collegiate football options after playing on a mediocre high school football team and graduating from Temple Dunbar High School, Greene attended North Texas State University which today is known as the University of North Texas in Denton.
As a defensive lineman for North Texas State Eagles from 1966 to 1968, Greene received Missouri Valley All-Conference recognition as his team posted a combined 23-5-1 record during his time there. He ended his collegiate career with consensus All-America honors and with the “Mean Joe” nickname which came from his resemblance to heavyweight champion Joe Louis and his North Texas Eagles teammates description of his dominant defense play style that resulted in opponents averaging less than two yards in rushing attempt during his collegiate career. By the end of his time at North Texas State, “Mean Green” replaced the Eagle as the institution’s official mascot name.
In 1969 Greene became the first North Texas player selected in the opening round of the NFL Draft when he was picked fourth overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new head Coach Chuck Noll. He was named that year’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned the first of his 10 Pro Bowl invitations. He was honored five times as an All-NFL player and in both 1972 and 1974 as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.
As the left tackle anchor on the Pittsburgh defense dubbed the “Steel Curtain,” Greene played a key role in the Steelers’ four Super Bowl victories between 1975 and 1980. By the time he retired in 1981, Greene had played in 181 of 190 games for the Steelers.
Late in his playing career, Greene became a cultural icon for his “Hey Kid, Catch!” Coca-Cola Commercial which first aired in the fall of 1979. The commercial was intended to transform his “mean” on field football image to that of a soft-hearted, approachable giant.
Greene’s honors continued after his playing days as he was named to both the collegiate and pro football halls of fame. The NFL also selected him as a member of its 1970s All-Decade, 75th Anniversary All-Time, and 100th Anniversary All-Time teams.
After his initial NFL retirement, Greene spent a year as an NFL color analyst for CBS Sports, then returned to the league as an assistant coach for 16 years with the Steelers, Dolphins, and Cardinals. In 2004, he left coaching to become a special assistant for player personnel for the Steelers. In that capacity he earned his fifth and sixth Super Bowl rings with the organization. After retiring from the Steelers’ front office in 2013, he retired to Flower Mound, Texas, a Dallas suburb, to live.
