Former Steelers DL And TV Star Ed O'Neil Detailed Why Joe Greene Got His Famous Nickname: "He Had A Great Uppercut"

The Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s transformed from a team struggling to win games, to a dynasty leading the league in firsts. They were the first team to win three, four, and six Super Bowls. Part of that success came from the innovative way the Rooney Family ran the team, which included their unique drafting process. 

Unlike many other teams, the Steelers were not scared to draft players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and lesser-known schools. Hall of Fame personnel director and scout Bill Nunn, who was with the team from 1968 to 2014, helped integrate black players into the league. He is one of the architects of every Super Bowl-winning team the Steelers have had.   

Nunn brought many famous names to Pittsburgh in the '70s, including Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Donnie Shell, and John Stallworth. When the Steelers drafted Greene fourth overall in 1969, it was thanks in part to Nunn's work in evaluating him. Plenty were unhappy with the selection, including Greene, who didn't want to go to such a poor-performing organization. 

Greene, who arrived with the nickname "Mean Joe,"  became one of the greatest players not only in the 1970s, but in NFL history. He was tough, hard-hitting, and incredibly aggressive. Pittsburgh's blue-collar fans couldn't get enough of him. The city, thanks in part to winning, eventually helped Greene come around, and he became one of the most well-known Pittsburgh athletes ever. 

Recently, Greene's undrafted teammate, albeit briefly, Ed O'Neill, joined former NFL wide receiver Julian Edelman on his podcast Games with Names. They discussed O'Neill's time in Pittsburgh and how he was cut in favor of Greene and L.C. Greenwood. Edelman asked O'Neill, who is more well known for his starring roles in Married with Children and Modern Family, "How mean was 'Mean' Joe Greene?"

"Mean as h*ll. That's the other thing, they go, 'Oh, that's just a nickname, because he's not mean.' Oh no, that son of a gun, he was great off the field. He was a sweet guy in real life, but on the field, he was brutal," said O'Neill. "I mean, he used to punch guys, did you know that? He'd hit guys in the stomach with a fist. He had a great uppercut to the solar plexus. Boom! He'd nail these guys. They'd drop like a sack. I mean, he was brutal. He didn't lift weights. He was what we called c*ck strong. Yeah, just naturally, never touched a weight, but he was fast, and he was a great player."

Greene was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 1987 and is recognized as a vital member of the smothering Steelers defense in the 1970s. He formed the Steel Curtain with Greenwood, Dwight White, and Ernie Holmes. 

That defensive line stymied offenses and helped Pittsburgh win four Super Bowls in six years. He was twice named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was also Defensive Rookie of the Year, NFL Man of the Year, a five-time First Team All-Pro, and a 10-time Pro Bowler.   

Steelers Players Glad Joe Greene Was On Their Team

His teammates loved and respected him and were always grateful he was on their side. The stories about Greene coming to the rescue or defense of fellow Black and Gold teammates are legendary. 

Former Steelers linebacker Andy Russell once told a story about a time that Greene spit in the face of the legendary Dick Butkus. Butkus was bullying center Jon Kolb, and Greene wouldn't stand for it. 

Greene was also known to have a softer side, even before his famous Coca-Cola commercial aired. After he retired from playing, he returned to Pittsburgh to help coach. Once, he kept Greg Lloyd from killing teammate Merril Hoge when Hoge was directed to cut Lloyd in practice to test his knee strength. 

Do you remember when the Steelers drafted Greene? What did you think about the selection? Click to comment below. 

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