Background and career
Darrell Ray Green (born February 15, 1960) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons. Considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks and fastest players in NFL history, he played college football for the Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas and was drafted by the Redskins with the last pick in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft. Green played in 295 games with Washington, winning Super Bowls XXII and XXVI, before retiring in 2003. He was named the 1996 NFL Man of the Year, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and included on the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Green was born on February 15, 1960, in Houston, Texas, later attending Jesse H. Jones High School. While there, he was an All-State selection in track and an All-City pick in football. Severely undersized, Green was on the junior varsity football team his junior year, and then made the varsity team as a senior.
Green attended the then NAIA school Texas A&I University (now known as Texas A&M-Kingsville). While there he played football and ran track. He finished his Bachelor of Science degree in general studies at St. Paul's College in Lawrenceville, Virginia.
In 1982, Green was selected by his teammates as captain, was named a first-team All-American, and was the Most Valuable Player in the Lone Star Conference. During his senior year, Green had 56 tackles, four interceptions and two punt returns for touchdowns. He was selected to the Lone Star Conference Team of the Decade for the 1980s.
In track and field, Green set numerous national and conference records and earned ten All-America certificates. His first meet was in 1982 in San Angelo, Texas, where he ran a 10.08 in the 100 meters. The mark still stands as the all-time best in the Lone Star Conference. At the 1982 NCAA championships, Green finished sixth in the 100-meter dash and seventh in the 200-meter dash. Green's all-time collegiate best in the 100 was 10.08, 20.50 in the 200 meters and 45.90 in the 400 meters. He was named the most valuable track performer at the 1982 and 1983 Lone Star Conference Championships. He won gold medals at the LSC meet in the 100 meters in 1981 and in the 100 meters and 200 meters in 1982 and in 1983. Green was named to the NCAA Division I All-America roster in 1981 and 1982, and was on the NCAA Division II All-America team in five events in 1981 and 1982. He was NAIA All-America in 1981 and 1982 in four events.
Green was the last player selected in the first round (28th overall) of the 1983 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. The first time he touched the ball, during a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, he returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown. During his first regular season game, he made his first big play when he ran down running back Tony Dorsett of the Dallas Cowboys to prevent a touchdown. Green started all 16 regular season games during his rookie season and finished fourth on the team in tackles with 109 and led the team in solo tackles with 79. He was runner-up for the Associated Press NFL Rookie of the Year Award.
