Kingsville, TX 1982. It was my second day of Spring Practice at Division II powerhouse Texas A&I University; a small school in South Texas known for its 7 National Championships, and the 100 players it has put into the NFL, including NFL Player Association leader Gene Upshaw.
I was playing TE, running through 7 on 7 drills with the defense. Half way through the drill, this skinny little track athlete jumps over the fence, takes off his track spikes, pulls some grass cleats out of his bag, and borrows a helmet. With no regard for the coaching staff he jumps into the drill, just like he was part of the team. Dressed with a Christmas morning smile, he began to politely jaw with some of the offensive players.
I line up at TE on the right side, the play called for me to run a Flag Pattern to the corner of the end zone. The newcomer was covering the wide out on the left side that was planning to run a Post Pattern towards the center of the field. On the snap of the ball I stem my route to 14 yards, make a fake towards the post to get separation from the safety, and begin to turn my head to see the flight of the ball. As I extend my hands in anticipation of the 6 points headed my way, it is picked from the air by a leaping figure.
When I got back to the huddle I asked my Receiver coach where the DB came from who picked the pass. I will never forget what he told me; “Son, that’s Darrell Green. The field becomes a lot smaller and slower for us when he’s around.” In that year I got to see Darrell Green, who was later drafted by the Redskins in the first round, do some amazing things on the football field: Return Punts and Kickoffs for scores (while making fools of our opponents), pick off passes for easy TD returns, and even line-up at Wide Receiver for us.
However, the absolute best was watching him run track, where he simply dominated the competition. Darrell ran as fast as he had to in order to win, whether it was on the track or on the football field, and it would carry him throughout his professional career.
But what inspired me to write about my teammate we called “Chili Green” is that he was the essence of class and professionalism. Darrell walked the walk. He didn’t drink, party, or do anything to bring attention to himself. He drove an old beat up car, one that he kept when he entered the NFL, just to remind himself of where he came from. He organized FCA meetings, led by example every day, and sincerely cared for his teammates.
We once returned late on the bus from a loss to Stephen F. Austin. We pulled into the parking lot around 5 A.M. Darrell didn’t make the trip with us because he had hurt his knee the week before. When that old, dusty bus pulled into the parking lot there was only one person standing there in the dark to meet us: Darrell Green. He stood there, alone, greeting every single one of us as we got off the bus, offering encouragement or just a slap on the back. He didn’t have to be there, but that was the thing about Darrell: he wanted to be there. Some call it leadership; I call it the beginning of greatness.
When Darrell was inducted into the Hall of Fame this month, I couldn’t help but reflect on the great character of this man and how deserving of this moment he truly is.
Darrell played for 20 years and left the game as one of the fastest players of all time. I personally believe, as do the players who played with him, that Darrell ran as fast as he had to in order to make the play. His heart and determination made the 5’9” speedster bigger then anyone on the field.
After the induction into the Hall of Fame, I got a client call from another Texas A&I Alumni, Cornerback Al Harris of the Packers. He asked me to dig up Darrell’s phone number for him. When I asked why, he told me he was so inspired by him that he too wants to go for a 20-year career. Al may not have the speed of Darrell, but he has the determination and will to make it happen. With 172 consecutive games under his belt I wouldn’t bet against him.
Thanks for making us proud, Darrell, and giving players like Al a goal to chase. You are a true champion.
He may have been the "anti-Deion Sanders", but he was truly one of the great gentlemen of the game. People like Darrell Green make me proud to be a native Houstonian.
Oh yeah, he also ran a freaking 4.09, 40 yard dash in training camp in 1986 and still ran a 4.2, 40 yard dash when he was 40 years old. He's 48 now and he could probably STILL run a 4.5 if he wanted to. Extraordinary ability.
Jack, you are the man! Great piece.
I was at A&I with y'all. He was a class act. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
The "anti-Dion", i like that. Its says a lot!!
If Darrell returned punts in the NFL on a full time basis, he would have re-wrote the record books for the position. The Redskin coaches were smart not to do that as it would have shortended his career.
Do you remember that he beat US Olympian, Ron Brown, in the NFL's fastest man contest?
Chili Greene is what we knew the speed dude by on the field and track. He led by limited talking... mostly by minimizing the field of play for behind the traditional upfront box. Those of us up front on the line knew he had our back if we missed a tackle. Why? Because he was so fast and smart. In addition to his speed, Darrell was a smart DB. His ability to attack the angles of a football field like a geometry board gave early indication of his approach to the game as a mathematics PHD.
While that was nice at the time, I knew him more by his natural leadership off the field as well.
I'm very thankful for sharing time with Darrell in school.
God bless.
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Aug 19, 2008
07:01 PM
Every time I hear the name "Darrell Green" I immediately think "NFL's fastest man". But you offered a side of Green I didn't know about...the humility, the work ethic, the leadership. Great insight.