Joe Greene's nickname "Mean Joe Greene" has become synonymous with his career after years of success in the NFL, winning four Super Bowls. In this episode, we take a deep dive into Joe’s origin story—from his journey from Dunbar High School in Texas to North Texas State and finally to the NFL. We'll explore how he found motivation and his competitive spirit and what made him reach down and find something he didn't know he had. We'll also get the behind-the-scenes of the iconic Coca-Cola commercial that changed his perception from being a tough football player to an approachable guy. Finally, Joe Greene reveals influential moments with his teams and lifelong friends.
Join us as we explore what made Joe Greene so mean!
[00:01 - 11:20] Joe Greene: The Origin of "Mean Joe Green"
Charles Edward Greene, a.k.a Joe Greene, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Where the nickname "Mean Joe Greene" originated
Breaking down his instances of bad behavior on the field
Joe's rookie year of 1 in 13 and going on to win four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers
[11:23 - 23:26] Bringing Together Legendary Steelers Players
What kept Joe on the tour
Joe’s initial reservation against getting drafted by The Steelers
Instilling an attitude and bringing new energy to the team
Why they started to believe they could win
Terry Bradshaw called his own plays and almost got murdered
[23:27 - 35:27] The Last Guy Chosen Becomes a Football Star
What it’s like developing a bond with teammates as lifelong friends
The influence of Franco
How Joe was always the last one chosen for teams
Motivated by wanting to win over a girlfriend
How Joe started becoming great
[35:28 - 49:15] Joe’s Turning Point and the Influential Coca-Cola Commercial
Competitiveness, attitude, and mental acuity were integral to Joe's success
How the Coca-Cola commercial helped make Joe more approachable
Drinking 18 big Cokes during the commercial shoot!
Behind the scenes of the commercial set
Appreciation for footwork went to another level when scouting players
Why Super Bowl XIII was the best team
The historic appreciation of footwork
[49:16 - 59:40] The Best Steeler to Ever Play and His Biggest Rivals
Joe’s past helping to scout college kids with Bill
Attitude is something that can be picked up in one's play
Who reminds Joe of himself
The toughest opponent Joe ever had
OJ Simpson, Jim Brown, and Earl Campbell were dangerous players
[59:41 - 1:05:20] Processing the Loss of a Lifelong Friend
How Joe dealt with losing Franco
“Be thankful for the time you had together”
What team Joe would have picked if he could
Playing with Deacon Jones
[1:05:21 - 1:10:59] The Truth About Going to the Hall of Fame
When you get the opportunity, you have to go
Joe’s highlight of going to the Hall of Fame
Greatness knows greatness
Joe’s inspiring advice to all aspiring players
Quotes:
"When you are down and out… you reach down and get something you didn’t know you had.” - Joe Greene
“Nobody would let me be ‘mean.’ I’ve been blessed that many people thought I was a nice guy. I like that.” - Joe Greene
"You win some, and you lose some. Their job is to stop you. My job is to get the guy with the ball. That's the mindset that I had." - Joe Greene
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