"Who's Joe Greene?"....

[FirefightnRick]

Tonight Sunday Night Football featured an article by the Pittsburgh press and the fan's reaction to the Steelers drafting North Texas State's "Big" Joe in '69. Interestingly, the article has NO mention of him as being described as "Mean" Joe Greene. A year or two later a reporter in Pittsburgh would label him with that nickname.

This further dispels the myth/rumor that the North Texas Mean Green got its nickname from the Hall Of Fame legend.

Not a single "Mean" of Joe Green in the Pittsburgh press after Steelers draft future HOFer in '69 pic.twitter.com/Ypmlo5RbHG

— Rick (@FirefightnRick)

November 3, 2014

Rick

[FirefightnRick]

BTW, congrats to Mean Joe for becoming only the second player to have his number retired.

Rick

[Mean Green 93-98]

Great find. The article under it is historically noteworthy as well.

I would have loved to have seen those interviewed eat their words a few years later. Joe was the cornerstone of what would become one of the greatest NFL dynasties ever.

[meanJewGreen]

The link is somewhere, but everyone should have a read of the Monday Morning QB article that details the close friendship between Mean Joe and his fellow linemates. Unfortunately, they all passed away far too early, and Mean Joe is the only one that still is living today.