We are ranking the Top 10 All-Time Best NFL Defensive Players from Texas HS Football. The list is based only on the players’ NFL careers, not their high school careers.
Joe Greene is our #1 ranked player. He earned the top spot because of his two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards (1972, 1974) and four Super Bowl championships as the leader of the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers “Steel Curtain” defense. Greene wasn’t just one of the best defensive tackles of all time—he was the cornerstone of one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history.
Early Life and High School Career
Charles Edward “Mean Joe” Greene was born on September 24, 1946, in Temple, Texas. He played high school football at Dunbar High School, but despite his clear talent, his team struggled, and he wasn’t heavily recruited. The segregation of the Southwest Conference at the time limited his options, and he ultimately accepted a scholarship to North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas).
College Career at North Texas State
At North Texas (1966–1968), Greene became a dominant force on the defensive line, helping his team allow just 2,507 rushing yards on 1,276 carries over three seasons. His relentless pursuit and overpowering strength made him one of the most feared defenders in college football.
- Three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection
- Consensus All-American (1968)
His reputation for fierce competitiveness and aggressive play earned him the nickname “Mean Joe” Greene—a reference to North Texas’ “Mean Green” defense. The nickname would follow him for the rest of his career.
NFL Career with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1969–1981)
Greene was selected 4th overall in the 1969 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. At the time, the Steelers were one of the worst franchises in the league, but head coach Chuck Noll saw Greene as the cornerstone of his rebuilding effort.
Greene made an immediate impact, earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1969, despite the Steelers finishing 1–13. He quickly established himself as one of the most dominant players in the game, overpowering blockers and disrupting offenses.
The Steel Curtain and Four Super Bowl Wins
By the early 1970s, Greene led a defensive unit that would become one of the greatest in NFL history—the “Steel Curtain.”
- 1972: NFL Defensive Player of the Year (11 sacks, 42 solo tackles, dominant run-stopping ability)
- 1974: NFL Defensive Player of the Year again, becoming the first multiple-time winner of the award
In Super Bowl IX, Greene turned in one of the best defensive performances in Super Bowl history, recording an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, as the Steelers held the Vikings to just 17 rushing yards in a 16-6 victory.
By the end of the decade, Greene and the Steelers had won four Super Bowls in six seasons (Super Bowl IX, X, XIII, and XIV), the first team in NFL history to accomplish the feat. His ability to dominate offensive lines, command double-teams, and lead the defense made him the most important player on those championship teams.
Legacy and Post-Football Career
Greene retired in 1981, having played 181 games, recording 77.5 sacks (unofficial, as sacks weren’t an official stat yet), and 16 fumble recoveries.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest defensive linemen of all time.
In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him as the 14th greatest player of all time—and the highest-ranked defensive tackle. He was also named to the NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
- NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1972, 1974)
- 4× Super Bowl Champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
- 5× First-Team All-Pro (1972–1974, 1977, 1979)
- 10× Pro Bowl selection (1969–1976, 1978, 1979)
- Pittsburgh Steelers No. 75 retired
- NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
Beyond football, Greene became a coach and front-office executive, winning two more Super Bowl rings with the Steelers as part of their personnel department.
He is also famous for his “Hey Kid, Catch!” Coca-Cola commercial, which aired during Super Bowl XIV and became one of the most famous commercials of all time.
Joe Greene was the foundation of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ dynasty and the most dominant defensive tackle of his era. His combination of strength, agility, and leadership changed the game, and his impact on the Steelers is immeasurable.
With two Defensive Player of the Year awards and four Super Bowl championships, he set the standard for what it means to be a great defensive player. That’s why he ranks as the #1 greatest defensive player from Texas high school football.
Final Top 10 Ranking of the Best Defensive Players from Texas HS Football (NFL Careers Only)
- Joe Greene – 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 4× Super Bowl Champion, leader of the Steelers’ “Steel Curtain” defense
- Dick “Night Train” Lane – All-time single-season interception leader (14), revolutionized cornerback play
- Mike Singletary – 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year, heart of the legendary 1985 Bears defense
- Bob Lilly – 7× First-Team All-Pro, first Cowboys player inducted into the Hall of Fame
- Darrell Green – 19 consecutive seasons with an interception, 2× Super Bowl Champion, one of the fastest players in NFL history
- Michael Strahan – 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, single-season sack record (22.5)
- Von Miller – Super Bowl MVP, 2× Super Bowl Champion, one of the most dominant pass rushers of his era
- Zach Thomas – 7× First-Team All-Pro, leader of the Dolphins’ defense for over a decade
- John Randle – 6× First-Team All-Pro, one of the best undrafted players in NFL history
- Myles Garrett – 2× First-Team All-Pro, one of the most feared edge rushers in today’s NFL
