The Pittsburgh Steelers have answered an important question. The AFC North team has debunked a rumor about "Mean" Joe Greene.
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The situation unfolded this past weekend. People began making tribute posts to Greene on social media after hearing that he had passed away. This followed the death of Chuck Norris, so emotions were raw.
Many awaited to hear a statement from the Pittsburgh Steelers, but none came. As it turns out, someone else named Joe Greene had passed away. They had no relation to the longtime defender.
TMZ also received further clarification from the Steelers. The team told the outlet that the 79-year-old was alive and well. This quickly alleviated the concerns of many NFL fans.
Greene is an icon among Steelers fans — and football fans overall. The Texas native became a larger-than-life presence during his Hall of Fame career, which began in 1969.
The Black and Gold selected Greene with the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft, and he became an immediate contributor while starting all 14 games, posting 9.5 sacks, and winning Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Greene spent all 13 seasons of his NFL career with the Steelers. He posted 77.5 sacks, one interception, and two forced fumbles over his caree while earning 10 trips to the Pro Bowl and four All-Pro nods. He also won Defensive Player of the Year in 1972 and 1974.
The stat sheet is incomplete regarding tackles considering that he played before the league officially began recording this part of the game.
While Greene's exact statistics are a little murky, his impact on the legacy of the team is perfectly clear. He appeared in 17 playoff games during his career, and he accounted for seven sacks. He helped the Steelers win the Super Bowl at the end of the 1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979 seasons.
Greene retired after the 1981 season, but he remained involved with the Steelers. The 2019 NFL Draft is a fitting example as he announced one of the team's picks in Nashville, Tennessee. The Steelers selected Devin Bush with this pick.
