Former NFL defensive star Kevin Greene dies at age 58

Kevin Greene (Wikimedia Commons)

Former National Football League defensive star Kevin Greene of Schenectady, New York, died at the age of 58 on Monday according to Jill Martin of CNN. At this time no cause of death has been given. Greene was recognized Monday night in Cincinnati on the Jumbotron during the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.

Greene, who was a Pro Football Hall of Famer in 2016, played 15 seasons as either a linebacker or defensive end with the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers from 1985 to 1999. In 228 regular season games, Greene had 734 tackles, created three safeties, and had five interceptions for 53 yards, 23 forced fumbles, and 26 fumble recoveries for 136 yards.

But Greene was known for sacking the quarterback. He had 160 sacks in his career, and had the most sacks in a single season twice. The first time with the Steelers in 1994 (14 sacks), and the second time with the Panthers in 1996 (14.5 sacks). Greene’s 160 sacks are third all-time in National Football League history. The only players with more career sacks were Bruce Smith (200 sacks), and Reggie White (198 sacks).

Three times Greene found the end zone. He had two career touchdowns on fumble recoveries, and one touchdown off of an interception. Interestingly, he had one touchdown each with the Rams, Panthers, and 49ers. Greene’s first career touchdown was a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 20-16 Rams loss to the Houston Oilers on September 13, 1987. Interestingly, Greene picked off fellow future Hall of Famer Warren Moon.

Greene’s last two career touchdowns were on fumble recoveries. He had a 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown in a 45-13 Panthers win over the St. Louis Rams on October 13, 1996, and then had a 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown in a 34-17 49ers win over the Denver Broncos on December 15, 1997.

A five-time Pro Bowler (1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1998), Greene was the 1996 NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the Panthers. After his NFL career as a player, Greene was an assistant coach with the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets. As an outside linebacker coach, he won the 2010 Super Bowl with the Packers.

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