The Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s were a different breed of football player than today. Of course, the entire NFL was different, with fewer restrictions promoting player safety and a heavier emphasis on the game's violence. Since the early 2000s, the league has created dozens of new rules designed to help players on both sides of the ball retire and still be healthy.
It isn't only fans who look back at those players with awe and admiration. Those pioneers inspired generations of players to follow. One of those legends is Steelers defensive tackle, Joe Greene. Greene, who became known as "Mean Joe," was a total gentleman off the field. However, he lived up to the nickname on the gridiron. He was so intimidating that stories about him have become part of the Black and Gold folklore.
His former teammate, offensive lineman Tunch Ilkin, spoke about him in his book, In the Locker Room. He shared stories about being blessed enough to play with many Hall of Famers, including Greene.
"When I practiced against Joe Greene, I was thinking, I just blocked Joe Greene! It was the craziest thing," wrote Ilkin. "Not that I could block Joe without holding him. One time he said, 'Don't hold me, rook.' I walked back to the huddle saying to myself, 'How am I going to block him if I don't hold him?' I held him the next play, and he punched me right in the belly button. It felt like my belly button hit my spine."
Ilkin fought his way into the league, being drafted and then cut by the Steelers before they called him back partway through the season. He said one of the most surreal things was being at practice and going up against all these legendary Super Bowl winners, including Greene, whose playing career was winding down.
Despite all of Greene's accomplishments and the fact that he was in his 12th season, he still took the time to try to help his teammates grow and get better. It didn't matter to him that Ilkin was a rookie who had clawed his way onto the team; he helped him improve.
"I walked back to the huddle and said, 'Quick tip, Wolf [Craig Wolfley]: don't hold Joe Greene.' He kicked my butt every day in practice. One day Joe said, 'Tunch, when you're pass blocking, don't leave your hands out there. Pop, recoil, and pop again.' I did that and all of a sudden I started blocking him. Toward the end of the season, we were walking off the field, and Joe said, 'You're getting better, Tunch.' I couldn't wait to get home and call my dad and tell him, 'Joe Greene said I'm getting better, Dad!'"
Ilkin quickly became a part of the team, the Steelers family, and an integral part of the city of Pittsburgh. He spent 13 seasons in the black and gold, and despite trying to continue his career with the Green Bay Packers, he ultimately returned to Pittsburgh to begin his broadcasting career.
Initially working with the national media, he ultimately joined Myron Cope and Bill Hillgrove on the Steelers' broadcast team. When Cope retired, Ilkin's best friend and teammate Craig Wolfley joined him, and the two worked together until Ilkin's tragic death in 2021 from ALS.
Did Steelers' Joe Greene Deserve To Be Called Mean?
There are mixed tales about how Greene got his nickname. Some say it has to do with his college team's colors, and others attribute it to his on-field demeanor. The one thing that seems certain is that Greene seemed to be a different person on and off the field. Fans got a glimpse of the kind-hearted person he was for the first time when he did the advertisement for Coca-Cola. Greene took football seriously and wouldn't tolerate anyone disrespecting any of his teammates.
Tales of Greene's anger are notorious among his former teammates. He was known to punch opponents or even spit in their faces. However, Greene, who later coached in Pittsburgh, was also a respected leader. He kept the peace among his fellow players, who respected him without hesitation.
