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L. C. Greenwood

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L. C. Greenwood
refer to caption
Greenwood in 2007,
aboard the USS Albany (SSN-753)
No. 68
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born:(1946-09-08)September 8, 1946
Canton, Mississippi, U.S.
Died:September 29, 2013(2013-09-29) (aged 67)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:Rogers (Canton, Mississippi)
College:Arkansas AM&N
NFL draft:1969 / round: 10 / pick: 238
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games:170
Safeties:1
Fumble recoveries:14
Stats at Pro Football Reference

L. C. Henderson Greenwood (September 8, 1946 – September 29, 2013) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL).

College career

Born and raised in Canton, Mississippi, Greenwood graduated from Arkansas AM&N (now University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), where he became a member of the Beta Theta chapter of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. He was also named the 1968 Ebony All-American defensive lineman in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).

NFL career

Greenwood was selected in the tenth round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had finished at 2–11–1 the previous season, and replaced head coach Bill Austin with Chuck Noll. In 1971, he became the starting left defensive end. One of the four members of Pittsburgh's famous Steel Curtain, he remained there until retirement in 1981. At 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and 245 pounds (111 kg), Greenwood was a six-time Pro Bowl player and was named to NFL All-Pro teams in 1974 and 1975, and was All-AFC five times. He also led the Steelers six times in sacks with a career total of 78 (an unofficial stat at the time).[1] According to records kept by the Steelers, Greenwood's highest single-season sack total was 11, which he attained in 1974.[2] He further had 14 fumble recoveries in his career, including five in 1971, which tied for the NFL lead.

In Super Bowl IX against the Minnesota Vikings in New Orleans, Greenwood batted down two passes from Fran Tarkenton.[3] The next year against the Dallas Cowboys in Miami, he sacked Roger Staubach four times.[4] Greenwood played in all four of the Steelers' Super Bowl victories (IX, X, XIII, XIV) in the 1970s. Unofficially, he had five sacks in those four title games.

Greenwood was known for wearing gold-colored shoes on the football field,[5] to help announcers distinguish him from the higher-profile Joe Greene.[6] Greenwood was called "Hollywood Bags" because of his desire to become an actor after retiring from football.[7] He was a finalist in the 2005 Pro Football Hall of Fame voting but did not get elected. He was again a finalist in 2006, but was not elected. Greenwood has stated that while he would be honored if he were to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, he would not be upset if he were not elected, feeling that the Steelers already in the Hall (in particular, "Mean Joe" Greene) represent the entire team's accomplishments.

In 1991, Greenwood was named to the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team and in 2007 he was named to the Steelers All-Time team. In 2012, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Greenwood to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2012.[8]

Death

Greenwood died of kidney failure on September 29, 2013, at UPMC Presbyterian. He was 67 years old.[9]

He was buried at the Priestley Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Canton, Mississippi.

References

  1. ^ "Hall of Famers: L. C. Greenwood". Akron, Ohio: Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  2. ^ "Steelers Records" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2009. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  3. ^ "Super Bowl IX play-by-play". USA TODAY. January 11, 2002. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  4. ^ "Super Bowl X play-by-play". USA TODAY. January 11, 2002. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  5. ^ "L.A., you're next". Sports Illustrated. (cover). January 14, 1980. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "Greene: L. C. Greenwood 'being cheated' out of Hall". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "L. C. Greenwood, Member of Steel Curtain, Dies at 67". New York Times. October 2013. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "Hall of Very Good Class of 2012". Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  9. ^ Ray Fittipaldo (September 29, 2013). "Former Steeler L. C. Greenwood dies at 67". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
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