Tag: Kevin Greene death

Jets’ Frankie Luvu shares touching tribute for mentor Kevin Greene

Frankie Luvu took to Twitter to pay homage to his mentor and ex-Jets outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene following his death Monday.

Legendary pass-rusher and ex-Jets coach Kevin Greene died at his Alabama home Monday at the age of 58, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced.

“The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Kevin Greene,” Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker said in a statement. “I regarded him as a personal friend and a true Hall of Famer in every sense. He possessed the most incredible can-do attitude of anyone I ever met. He was a great player, but more than that, he was a great man. Our thoughts and prayers are with Kevin’s wife, Tara, and their entire family. We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations. The Hall of Fame flag will be flown at half-staff in Kevin’s memory.”

Greene terrorized quarterbacks from 1985-1999, recording double-digit sacks in 10 of his 15 seasons. He retired in third place on the all-time sack list with 160 and accumulated five Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro nods during his career.

Greene returned to football as a coach nearly a decade after his retirement. He got his start with the Steelers as an intern before joining Mike McCarthy’s staff with the Packers as Green Bay’s outside linebackers coach in 2009. Greene took a break from coaching after the 2013 season before returning in 2017 as a member of Todd Bowles’ staff in New York.

Greene worked with New York’s outside linebackers, including Frankie Luvu. Luvu, who remains on the team, came to New York as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Greene took him under his wing, guiding Luvu on his journey to breaking camp with the team.

After news of Greene’s death broke, Luvu took to Twitter to pay homage to his former mentor.

Luvu’s best NFL season to date came under Greene’s tutelage. He recorded 22 tackles, five TFLs and three sacks in 2018. He’s now played a total of 38 games for the Jets.

Greene’s time in New York was short, but it’s clear he made a significant impact on at least one of his Jets pupils.

“Our thoughts are with the family of NFL legend Kevin Greene,” the Jets said in a statement. “A former Jets coach, Kevin made a positive impact on everyone he met. He’ll be missed.”

Twitter mourns the death of Auburn legend, NFL Hall of Famer Kevin Greene

Auburn legend and NFL Hall of Famer Kevin Greene passed away at the age of 58 on Monday.

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Former Auburn linebacker, NFL Hall of Fame legend, and WCW veteran Kevin Greene passed away on Monday at the age of 58.

Greene walked on Auburn’s football team in 1983 and led the team with 11 sacks in his senior season. The Los Angeles Rams drafted Greene in the fifth round of the 1985 NFL Draft which marked the beginning of his successful 15-year career. He played for five teams from 1985-1999 and earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1996 while playing for the Carolina Panthers. Greene finished his career ranked third all-time among NFL sack leaders. He was a 5-time Pro Bowler and a 3-time First-Team All-pro.

Greene was inducted to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2016. In honor of his induction, NFL Films released a program devoted to the Class of 2016 titled, “A Football Life.” During this, late Auburn head coach Pat Dye reminisces about the first time he saw Kevin Greene:

“I see this guy that’s winning every race and winning every competition, and he looks like a Greek god. I called one of the coaches. I said, ‘Who in the hell is that? They said, ‘That’s Kevin Greene.’ I said, ‘Where’d he come from?'”

Dye continued to say,

“He had the physical tools and ability, and he came with a vengeance,” Dye said. “But the thing that set him apart is what he had inside of him. He played the game with every molecule in his body.”

The news of Greene’s passing came as a shock to the sports world today. Fans, players, coaches, colleagues, and friends all took to social media to share tributes as well as mourn the loss of a legend.

I echo the sentiments of many here. What a player, what a man, and what a loss. Gone way too soon. RIP Mr. Greene. Our condolences go out to all of his family and friends.

Auburn legend Kevin Greene dies at the age of 58

Kevin Greene was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Zeke Smith Award winner following his senior season at Auburn in 1984.

Auburn lost a true legend on Monday as Kevin Greene, the 1984 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Zeke Smith Award winner, died.

Greene was a mainstay for the Tigers at linebacker from 1983-84 after walking on to the team. In his senior season, he led the SEC with 11 sacks.

Drafted in the fifth round in 1985 by the Los Angeles Rams, Greene went on to a long career in the NFL, playing for five teams from 1985-1999. He earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1996, made five Pro Bowl rosters and was named First-Team All-Pro three different times.

Greene was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2016.