L. C. Greenwood

Infobox NFLretired


|caption=
position=Defensive End
number=68
birthdate=birth date and age|1946|9|8
Canton, Mississippi
debutyear=1969
finalyear=1981
draftyear=1969
draftround=10
draftpick=238
college=Arkansas AM&N
teams=
* Pittsburgh Steelers (1969-1981)
stat1label=Sacks
stat1value=73.5
stat2label=Games
stat2value=170
stat3label=Safeties
stat3value=1
nfl=GRE620490
highlights=
* 6x Pro Bowl selection (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979)
* 6x All-Pro selection (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979)
* NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

L.C. Henderson Greenwood (born September 8, 1946 in Canton, Mississippi) is a former American football defensive end for the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pro Football career

Greenwood graduated from Arkansas AM&N in 1969 after being named a 1968 "Ebony" All-American for his play on the defensive line.

He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969 in the 10th round. In 1971, he became the starting left defensive end. One of the four members of Pittsburgh's famous Steel Curtain defensive line, he would remain there until retirement in 1981. Greenwood, who was 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 245 pounds, was a six-time Pro Bowl player and was named to NFL All-Pro teams in 1974 and 1975. He was named All-AFC five times. He also led the Steelers six times in sacks with a career total of 73.5 (sacks were an unofficial stat at the time). [ [http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=243 profootballhof.com] ] According to records kept by the Steelers, Greenwood's highest single-season sack total was 11, which he reached in 1974. [ [http://news.steelers.com/MediaContent/2006/08/10/06/Steelers_Records_67312.pdf steelers.com] ] He further had 14 fumble recoveries in his career, including 5 in 1971, which tied for the NFL lead. Greenwood was one of the more quiet players on the Steelers defense. He had 4.7 in the 40-yard dash, and that speed allowed him to dominate his position.

His Super Bowl play was exceptional, too. In Super Bowl IX against the Minnesota Vikings, he batted down three passes from Fran Tarkenton. In Super Bowl X against the Dallas Cowboys, he sacked Roger Staubach three times. [ [http://archive.profootballweekly.com/content/archives/features_2000/sb_allteam_011501.asp profootballweekly.com] ] Greenwood played in all four of the Steelers Super Bowl victories in the 1970s. Unofficially, Greenwood had five sacks in the four Super Bowl appearances.

Besides his playing ability, Greenwood was known for wearing gold-colored shoes on the football field. (By today's NFL rules, Greenwood would be fined since it would not be in uniform with the rest of the team.) Greenwood was called “Hollywood Bags” because he claimed he kept his bags packed and ready so he could leave for Hollywood at a moment's notice. [ [http://www.samepageproductions.com/STEELER_YEARS_Treatment.pdf samepageproductions.com] ] 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 didn't make it in, 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.

After football

Greenwood is now the president of an electrical and plumbing supplies company. On Thursday, July 20, 2006 at the regularly scheduled board meeting, L.C. Greenwood was nominated to the Pittsburgh Parking Authority Board.

References

External links

* [http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=243 Biography] as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKAkyT-o3_M An '80s beer commercial] featuring L. C. Greenwood & Bert Jones.