Darrell Green has had some pretty big weekends, but this may be one of the most emotional.
Green has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, won three NFC Championship games, played in three Super Bowls, winning two Super Bowls (XXII, XXVI) all with the Washington Redskins.
This week, the Commanders invited Green to come see the new Darrell Green suite at Northwest Stadium. The suite features memorabilia from Green’s 20-year career with the Redskins, as well as a wall documenting his NFL career achievements.
Introducing the Darrell Green suite at @NWStadium
To kick off his jersey retirement weekend, we surprised Darrell with his personalized suite pic.twitter.com/BzsMbztJuC
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 16, 2024
Green was a seven-time Pro Bowler, voted to the 1990s Decade Team, voted the 1996 Walter Payton Man of the Year, Inducted into the HOF Class of 2008, and won the NFL Fastest Man competition four times. His 295 games are the most played by an NFL defensive player, and he holds the record for an interception in 19 consecutive NFL seasons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4rgAR1Z3CQ
But having been out of the sports headlines for decades, this upcoming weekend could be very emotional for Green. Green was caught by surprise this summer when the Commanders had him read on camera the announcement that they would retire his No.28.
Sunday in Landover, at Northwest Stadium, the Commanders will give Green the honor of joining Sammy Baugh (33), Sonny Jurgensen (9), Bobby Mitchell (49), and Sean Taylor (21) as those in Redskins history to have their jerseys officially retired. No one has worn No.28 since Green played his last Redskins game in 2002, so this day has been expected for two decades.
“For 20 years, Darrell Green gave everything he had to this organization and fan base. Even after retiring from the burgundy and gold, he remained committed to giving back to this community, which to this day holds him in the highest regard,” said Josh Harris, of the Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient. “No one on our team will ever again wear No. 28. Thank you, Darrell, for embodying what it means to be a Washington football player, both on and off the field.”
Green, now 64, will also be presented with a key to the city by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser on Saturday, October 19, at 10 AM in Franklin Park. So, this weekend’s events could be moving and touching for Green.
Why not?
It will bring back so many good memories for so many of us old enough that we, too, might become a little sentimental, remembering Green running down Tony Dorsett and Eric Dickerson, returning a punt for a touchdown in Chicago to help the Redskins beat the Bears in the 1987 playoffs on their way to winning Super Bowl XXII.
Yes, we too might become a bit sentimental, thank you for the memories, Darrell Green.