by Mike Toone, editor

On September 24, 1946 Charles Edward Greene was born in Temple, Texas. It was there that Charley played sport pick-up games with his family and friends. In time one game just interested him. It got him into North Texas State College. It was there he had two majors. In the classroom it was Physical Education, so he could earn a living. However, at 6’4" and 280 lbs he also majored on the football field. In that classroom he excelled at terror.

He was big, fast, smart, and had a heart for the game of football. All of which lead him to be elected "All American" in 1968. All of which really allowed him to earn a living being called a "tackle" the following year. The pro scouts wanted him. Every team at the time wanted him. One got him and in 1969 he began his first of 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Just one more element in what became Pittsburgh’s legendry "Steel Curtain".

A curtain that many say was the reason the Iron City players rolled into a few championship games. If it is true the Steel Curtain was the cornerstone of the team, then it is also true Charley was the heart of it. The heart beat his way into four Super Bowls, six AFC Title games, and ten pro bowls. Along the way he was twice named NFL Defensive Player of the year, and All Pro or All AFC player of the year nine times. Along the way he played with greats named Jack Lambert, Mel Blount, Andy Russell, Dwight White and many more. Those were the lucky ones on his side.

Some changes were made to reflect his style of playing. His jersey number changed from 72 in his first year to twelve years as 75. His name changed also during those playing days. He was no longer Charles Edward; he was now Mean Joe Greene. A name nobody disagreed with, except maybe his family.

However in 1980 even that changed. Mean Joe did a Coca Cola commercial with a kid. Mean Joe was not so mean, not when it came to kids. That commercial featured a mean grizzled NFL veteran who took some kindness from a little boy in the form of a soda drink. Smiles were exchanged and it seems America loved it. Mean Joe stirred up a new career calling. The commercial went on to win a "Clio" award. That would be advertising’s equivalent of a Super Bowl Ring. Something Joe already knew about. TV Guide named it the seventh best television commercial of all time. The American Association of Advertising Agencies simply said it was the most memorable sports commercial of the time. The bottom line for the mean guy was it lead to numerous television and film appearances. He still did not have to fall back on to that Physical Education training to make a living.

Things worked out, and nobody can play pro football forever. There must be life after ones playing career. In 1982 Joe left the football playing field, and the Steelers. He worked as a color analyst for CBS-TV, and owned a few restaurants in the Dallas, Texas area. It was good work and something many people dream of. However, for Mean Joe Greene, something was missing. In 1987 two things happened to number 75. He entered the NFL Hall of Fame, and he shook hands with other members of the Steelers team on the payroll. He had become their new defensive line coach. He was now in the hunt for another Super Bowl Ring. He was now where he wanted to be.

From 1987 to 1991 he was on the field with the Steelers again. It was during Greene’s tenure that the Steelers were the AFC’s top rated team in giveaway-takeaway ratio. In addition Pittsburgh finished among the top five AFC teams in run defense for four of those years. To cap off the stay in 1990 his guys ruled the NFL in total defense and pass defense. Then he moved onto the Miami Dolphins from 1992 till 1995. Under his guidance in 1994 they set a club record of allowing only 89.4 yards per game rushing. This ranked them second in the AFC and fourth in the NFL. Today Charles Edward Greene is in his seventh season with the Arizona Cardinals. Still looking for one more Super Bowl ring, still happy, still doing what he loves.

His Alma Matter, North Texas State College, changed names. It is now known as the University of North Texas. As mentioned his playing number changed, and so once again has his name. It is now Coach Joe Greene, Honey to his wife Agnes, Dad to three grown kids, and anything but "Mean" to four grandchildren.

Change has been good for Charles Edward. He is not you average Joe. He is a man, earning a living, his way.