An NFL legend and former WCW wrestler has died. Kevin Greene, a linebacker for a number of teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers over his astonishing NFL career, has passed away at the age of 58.
Kevin Greene's death was confirmed by his family and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (via ESPN), but a cause of death has not been provided. Greene played for 15 seasons in the NFL, with around half of that time spent as a member of the Los Angeles Rams.
Greene would go on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers, and retired in 1999. Greene was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in 2016, where he decided to retire as a Steeler.
One of Kevin Greene's most notable accolades within the NFL is his number of sacks. At the time of his death, Greene held the #3 spot for most sacks in an NFL career, bested only by Reggie White and Bruce Smith. Greene is the only NFL player to have double-digit sack seasons across four different teams and was a part of the Steelers defense that played in Super Bowl XXX. Though he would never win a Super Bowl during his playing career, Greene was on the coaching staff as a linebacker coach of the Green Bay Packers when they won the Super Bowl in 2010.
One notable part of Kevin Greene's football run is his career within the WCW, which happened while he was still playing in the NFL. Greene was brought into the wrestling organization by former NFL player Mongo McMichael and quickly rose through the ranks to have fights with wrestling legends like Rowdy Roddy Piper, Ric Flair, Scott Hall, and even Goldberg. Greene ultimately had to leave the WCW in 1998, when his NFL contract featured a "no wrestling" clause.
The clause would end Kevin Greene's wrestling career, leaving him as a big "what if" had he been allowed to continue his short-lived run with legends in the WCW. Former NFL players like Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar have risen to become some of the WWE's greatest stars, so it's possible the same could've been true for Greene with the proper push and polish. Of course, with only one more year in the NFL after his in-ring retirement, it seems like there was definitely an opportunity for him to return. Perhaps it just was never in the cards for Greene to become a big star in the world of professional wrestling.
CinemaBlend would like to offer its condolences to the family of Kevin Greene and wish them well during this trying time. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for all the latest breaking headlines in television and movie news.
