L. C. Greenwood

L. C. Greenwood

Greenwood in 2007,
aboard the USS Albany (SSN-753)

No. 68

Position:

Defensive end

Personal information

Born:

September 8, 1946
Canton, Mississippi, U.S.

Died:

September 29, 2013 (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)

College:

Arkansas AM&N

NFL draft:

1969 / Round: 10 / Pick: 238

Career history

Pittsburgh Steelers (1969–1981)

Career highlights and awards

4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
2× First-team All-Pro (1974, 1975)
6× Pro Bowl (1973–1976, 1978, 1979)
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team
Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor
Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame

Career NFL statistics

Games:	170
Safeties:	1
Fumble recoveries:	14

Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

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). He played college football for the Arkansas AM&N Golden Lions.

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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

^ "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.
^ "Steelers Records" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2009. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
^ "Super Bowl IX play-by-play". USA TODAY. January 11, 2002. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
^ "Super Bowl X play-by-play". USA TODAY. January 11, 2002. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
^ "L.A., you're next". Sports Illustrated. January 14, 1980. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020. {{cite magazine}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
^ "Greene: L. C. Greenwood 'being cheated' out of Hall". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
^ Yardley, William (September 30, 2013). "L. C. Greenwood, Member of Steel Curtain, Dies at 67". New York Times. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
^ "Hall of Very Good Class of 2012". Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^ 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.

External links

Official website
Biography as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006
Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
L. C. Greenwood at Find a Grave

v t e Pittsburgh Steelers 1969 NFL draft selections
Joe Greene Terry Hanratty Warren Bankston Jon Kolb Bob Campbell Chuck Beatty Chadwick Brown Joe Cooper Jon Sodaski L. C. Greenwood Clarence Washington Doug Fisher Jon Lynch Bob Houmard Ken Liberto Dock Mosley Bill Eppright

v t e Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl IX champions
5 Terry Hanratty 10 Roy Gerela 12 Terry Bradshaw 17 Joe Gilliam 20 Rocky Bleier 22 Dick Conn 23 Mike Wagner 24 J. T. Thomas 25 Ron Shanklin 26 Preston Pearson 27 Glen Edwards 31 Donnie Shell 32 Franco Harris (MVP) 33 John Fuqua 34 Andy Russell 35 Steve Davis 38 Ed Bradley 39 Bobby Walden 43 Frank Lewis 45 Jim Allen 46 Reggie Harrison 47 Mel Blount 50 Jim Clack 51 Loren Toews 52 Mike Webster 54 Marv Kellum 55 Jon Kolb 56 Ray Mansfield 57 Sam Davis 58 Jack Lambert 59 Jack Ham 62 Jim Wolf 63 Ernie Holmes 64 Steve Furness 68 L. C. Greenwood 71 Gordon Gravelle 72 Gerry Mullins 73 Rick Druschel 74 Dave Reavis 75 Joe Greene 77 Charlie Davis 78 Dwight White 82 John Stallworth 84 Randy Grossman 86 Reggie Garrett 87 Larry Brown 88 Lynn Swann 89 John McMakin
Head coach: Chuck Noll
Coaches: Bud Carson Dick Hoak George Perles Dan Radakovich Louis Riecke Lionel Taylor Paul Uram Woody Widenhofer

v t e Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl X champions
5 Terry Hanratty 10 Roy Gerela 12 Terry Bradshaw 17 Joe Gilliam 20 Rocky Bleier 23 Mike Wagner 24 J. T. Thomas 27 Glen Edwards 29 Brent Sexton 31 Donnie Shell 32 Franco Harris 33 John Fuqua 34 Andy Russell 36 Dave Brown 38 Ed Bradley 39 Bobby Walden 43 Frank Lewis 44 Mike Collier 45 Jim Allen 46 Reggie Harrison 47 Mel Blount 50 Jim Clack 51 Loren Toews 52 Mike Webster 54 Marv Kellum 55 Jon Kolb 56 Ray Mansfield 57 Sam Davis 58 Jack Lambert 59 Jack Ham 63 Ernie Holmes 64 Steve Furness 68 L. C. Greenwood 71 Gordon Gravelle 72 Gerry Mullins 74 Dave Reavis 75 Joe Greene 76 John Banaszak 78 Dwight White 82 John Stallworth 84 Randy Grossman 86 Reggie Garrett 87 Larry Brown 88 Lynn Swann (MVP)
Head coach: Chuck Noll
Coaches: Bud Carson Dick Hoak George Perles Dan Radakovich Louis Riecke Lionel Taylor Paul Uram Woody Widenhofer

v t e Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XIII champions
5 Craig Colquitt 10 Roy Gerela 12 Terry Bradshaw (MVP) 15 Mike Kruczek 18 Cliff Stoudt 20 Rocky Bleier 21 Tony Dungy 23 Mike Wagner 24 J. T. Thomas 25 Ray Oldham 29 Ron Johnson 30 Larry Anderson 31 Donnie Shell 32 Franco Harris 35 Jack Deloplaine 38 Sidney Thornton 39 Rick Moser 40 Randy Reutershan 47 Mel Blount 51 Loren Toews 52 Mike Webster 53 Dennis Winston 55 Jon Kolb 56 Robin Cole 57 Sam Davis 58 Jack Lambert 59 Jack Ham 62 Willie Fry 64 Steve Furness 65 Tom Beasley 66 Ted Petersen 67 Gary Dunn 68 L. C. Greenwood 69 Fred Anderson 72 Gerry Mullins 74 Ray Pinney 75 Joe Greene 76 John Banaszak 77 Steve Courson 78 Dwight White 79 Larry Brown 82 John Stallworth 83 Theo Bell 84 Randy Grossman 86 Jim Smith 87 Jim Mandich 88 Lynn Swann 89 Bennie Cunningham
Head coach: Chuck Noll
Coaches: Rollie Dotsch Dick Hoak Tom Moore George Perles Louis Riecke Paul Uram Dick Walker Woody Widenhofer

v t e Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XIV champions
5 Craig Colquitt 9 Matt Bahr 12 Terry Bradshaw (MVP) 15 Mike Kruczek 20 Rocky Bleier 23 Mike Wagner 24 J. T. Thomas 27 Greg Hawthorne 29 Ron Johnson 30 Larry Anderson 31 Donnie Shell 32 Franco Harris 33 Anthony Anderson 35 Jack Deloplaine 38 Sidney Thornton 39 Rick Moser 45 Russell Davis 47 Mel Blount 49 Dwayne Woodruff 50 Tom Graves 51 Loren Toews 52 Mike Webster 53 Dennis Winston 54 Zack Valentine 55 Jon Kolb 56 Robin Cole 57 Sam Davis 58 Jack Lambert 59 Jack Ham 62 Willie Fry 63 Thom Dornbrook 64 Steve Furness 65 Tom Beasley 66 Ted Petersen 67 Gary Dunn 68 L. C. Greenwood 72 Gerry Mullins 75 Joe Greene 76 John Banaszak 77 Steve Courson 78 Dwight White 79 Larry Brown 82 John Stallworth 83 Theo Bell 84 Randy Grossman 85 Calvin Sweeney 86 Jim Smith 88 Lynn Swann 89 Bennie Cunningham
Head coach: Chuck Noll
Coaches: Rollie Dotsch Dick Hoak Tom Moore George Perles Louis Riecke Paul Uram Dick Walker Woody Widenhofer

NFL's 1970s All-Decade Team

v t e Pittsburgh Steelers 50th season All-Time team
Offense	QB Terry Bradshaw RB Rocky Bleier FB Franco Harris WR John Stallworth Lynn Swann TE Elbie Nickel T Larry Brown Jon Kolb G Gerry Mullins Sam Davis C Mike Webster
Defense	DE L. C. Greenwood Dwight White DT Joe Greene Ernie Stautner LB Jack Ham Jack Lambert Andy Russell CB Mel Blount Jack Butler S Donnie Shell Mike Wagner
Special Teams	K Roy Gerela P Pat Brady

v t e Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team
Offense:	QB Terry Bradshaw RB Jerome Bettis Rocky Bleier FB Franco Harris WR John Stallworth Lynn Swann Hines Ward TE Bennie Cunningham Elbie Nickel T Larry Brown Tunch Ilkin G Alan Faneca Jon Kolb C Dermontti Dawson Mike Webster
Defense:	DE L. C. Greenwood Dwight White DT Joe Greene Casey Hampton LB Ernie Stautner Jack Ham Jack Lambert Greg Lloyd Joey Porter Andy Russell CB Mel Blount Jack Butler Rod Woodson S Carnell Lake Troy Polamalu Donnie Shell
Specialists:	K Gary Anderson P Bobby Walden