Autographs
‘Mean Joe’ Greene not so mean anymore as Steelers Super Bowl legend delights fans, collectors at autograph shows
When it comes to Super Bowl supremacy, few teams can come close to what the Pittsburgh Steelers accomplished by winning four championships in six years from 1974-1979.
Pittsburgh’s “Steel Curtain” defense played a huge role in their winning era. It was led by a strong defensive line of L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes and Dwight White, and anchored by Hall of Fame defensive tackle Charles Edward “Mean Joe” Greene.
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Chuck Noll, the Steelers’ new head coach in 1969, selected Greene in the first round out of North Texas State as his inaugural NFL draft pick. A good foundation for the Pittsburgh franchise blossomed from there.
Within a few seasons the dismal Pittsburgh team turned dominant and Greene helped forge the blueprint with his leadership, competitiveness, overall skill, and a bruising style that solidified his nickname throughout pro football.
The accolades for the 6-4, 275-pound defensive standout from Texas rolled in like a full-out blitz: NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year; two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards; five first-team All-Pro selections; 10-time Pro Bowler; and a member of the NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary teams.
Induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton was a foregone conclusion for Pittsburgh’s #75 in 1987, his first year of eligibility. That same season Greene became a coach for the Steelers, followed by multi-year stints with the Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals.
Greene, now 79, appeared at the October 2025 Chantilly, Va. sports memorabilia show, where he was one of dozens of autograph guests. Greene graciously chatted with SCD contributor Doug Koztoski.
What is your favorite football card from your career? Was it your rookie card from the 1971 Topps set? (Greene’s rep slides his ’71 card across the table)
“I don’t have a favorite … Well, I’m not growlin’ in the picture.”
Do you remember what it was like to see your image on a football card when it first came out?
“I can say, I didn’t think my sideburns were that long (he laughs). To tell the truth, I never gave a damn about these cards. It did not faze me one way or another when I saw my cards.”
Did you collect cards or anything else growing up or during your career?
“I collected baseball cards as a kid.”
Who were some of your favorite teams and players?
“I got with the Milwaukee Braves. I liked Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, Red Schoendienst, Frank Torre, and later his brother Joe Torre.”
Did you hang on to any jerseys, helmets, autographs, things like that from your career?
“No, but I should have (he laughs).”
What do you enjoy most about these sports memorabilia shows?
“Seeing Mel Blount, Donnie Shell, Rod Woodson (all former Steelers and Hall of Famers), Lawrence Taylor, guys I played with and against, and the players I watch today on TV.”
During your career, who were the most challenging running backs for you and your Steel Curtain defense?
“The Juice (O.J. Simpson) and Earl Campbell.”
What are your thoughts about the collecting hobby and the sports memorabilia industry?
“You go around and look at things now, like look at that (he gestures) football helmet over there. I would probably say that of all those names on that helmet, what do you think, maybe 50, you’d be damn lucky to figure out 10 of them. It’s crazy, but people enjoy the hobby a lot and it’s a good thing.”
What is the most unusual item you signed today and what is the most unusual item anybody has asked you to sign?
“They don’t bring me that stuff anymore. I think the most unusual was probably a lady’s stocking and brassiere. I refused to sign those … and showed a little bit of displeasure in my face. But one of the more unusual items I did sign was a seat back.”
And what do you like to sign the most?
“8-by-10 [photos] and helmets.”
After thanking him for his time, I recalled thinking that Greene is not so “Mean Joe” today, and more like “Jovial Joe.”
A ‘MEAN’ NICKNAME
So how did a guy with the first name Charles and middle name Edward get the nickname “Mean Joe?”
It stands to reason that his competitiveness and fierce playing style might have earned him the moniker “Mack Truck Chuck,” or something similar. But the Hall of Famer’s handle came in two phases and, as the story goes, the rhyming part was a happy accident between his on-field reputation and his last name, which just happened to relate to his college team—North Texas State and their “Mean Green” defense.
As to the “Joe” component, that reportedly was more of a family matter as one of his aunts thought baby Charles looked like boxing superstar Joe Louis, who at the time of Greene’s birth in 1946 was enjoying a 12-year run as the world heavyweight champion. She called him “Joe” enough that the nickname stuck like a “Mean Joe” Greene sack.
NOT SO MEAN
Greene’s career overview would not be complete without mention of one the most famous TV commercials of its era, perhaps of all-time.
During a Monday Night Football game in 1979, the spot debuted where the defensive tackle limps down the stadium tunnel toward the locker room and a little boy in the tunnel offers the struggling football star his bottle of Coca-Cola. The athlete politely rejects the Coke at first, but the kid’s persistence wins out. Greene drinks the entire bottle and then, as a gesture of thanks, tosses his jersey to the astonished young fan.
The ad received substantial airplay leading up to and during the 1980 Super Bowl, which just happened to feature the Steelers against the Los Angeles Rams, a matchup Pittsburgh won, 31-19, in the last Super Bowl Greene would play in and his fourth NFL championship. The commercial won many honors, including the Clio Award for the year’s best commercial.
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MEAN GREEN
Here are some recent auction results for “Mean Joe” Greene items:
• 1971 Topps rookie #245 (PSA 7) $513-$715
• 1971 Kellogg’s 3-D #15 (PSA 9) $400
• Single-signed full size Steelers helmet $152
• 1978 Topps #295 (PSA 8) $75
• 1972 Topps #230 (PSA 7) $71
• Signed 8-by-10 photo $63
• 1980 Topps Super #20 (PSA 7) $50
• 1974 Topps #40 (Raw, NM) $44
• Trivial pursuit card with “Steel Curtain” question signed by Greene (SGC Auth) $35
• 1981 Topps #495 (PSA 8) $24
• 1972 NFLPA Iron Patch (Raw, NM) $11
- Doug Koztoski is a frequent contributor to SCD. He can be reached at dkoz3000@gmail.com
