Best NFL Players of All Time: Darrell Green. Ranking the Top Players in History. Place a bet on an NFL football game now.

Best NFL Players of All Time: Darrell Green

Unlike Deion Sanders, Darrell Green didn’t pretense. He wasn’t idolized like Mel Blount or Rod Woodson either. But Green didn’t stop for 20 years after joining the Redskins in 1983. The 5-foot-8 cornerback from Texas A&I displayed his elite speed.

Simply put, Green was among the greatest cover performers in history. His ability to shut down much bigger receivers was mostly attributed to his tremendous speed, but it wasn’t his only strength. In addition, Green possessed excellent hands, instincts, and the ability to step up to the plate when it mattered most.

Let us commence with his NFL debut in 1983. On this Monday night, the Washington Redskins were facing their bitter foe, the Dallas Cowboys, whose dynamic offense was led by the tough Tony Dorsett. Dorsett broke loose on the near sidelines in the second quarter and began to gallop. He had sprinted past Redskins defenders, and Green was the only player from Washington chasing after him with any kind of speed or intent, so a score looked imminent.

But Green had to come around to try to outrun the swift Dorsett because he was on the other side of the field. It was evident from elementary school geometry that Green was running the right triangle’s hypotenuse length. Dorsett was moving quickly. But Green was consuming yardage with every step they took together. After a 77-yard rush, he tackled Dorsett, and the Cowboys had to settle for a field goal.

At-play might be the catalyst for an outstanding debut campaign. In 16 games, Green would start and amass 109 tackles along with two interceptions. He played a significant role in a team that would dominate the regular season with a 14-2 record, defeat the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional playoffs, and hold off a comeback by the San Francisco 49ers to win the NFC championship.

In Super Bowl XVIII in Tampa, Florida, the Redskins were heavy favorites to defeat the Los Angeles Raiders, but they were crushed, 38–9.

“We would return and capture a few Super Bowl titles, and they are emotions that hold immense significance for me,” stated Green. It’s incredibly fulfilling to play this sport and win a championship. However, it hurt a lot that day that we lost to the Raiders. We had played so brilliantly this season that we anticipated winning. However, they snatched it away from us because they were more prepared than we were.

Green’s role in the Redskins defense increased as his career developed. He never lost his speed—he took home four NFL fastest man titles—but he did acquire the skills necessary to compete against larger receivers on their field. He would not try to outmaneuver a man who might have weighed forty pounds more than him or engage in hand fighting. Alternatively, he would use the outer coverage strategy to trick the opposing quarterback into thinking the receiver was open. Green would lunge in and either steal or knock down passes as they were in the air.

The opposition cornerbacks were aware of Green’s abilities. Eric Allen, a former cornerback for the Eagles, Saints, and Raiders, faced Green for 14 years and learned how he performed his job.

Allen stated, “He was able to see the quarterback via the receiver by using his speed.” “the offered him an advantage because he could see the ball and break on it if the pressure was building quickly and the quarterback had to throw early.”

Green was a very physical player in spite of his small stature. When receivers ran short routes over the middle, he knew how to jump on them, and if they hit him with a double move, he had the speed to catch up and make the play. Because he was too fast for offensive lineman trying to open up space for the running back, he was particularly adept at handling the screen pass. With little or no benefit, he pulled the play to a halt as he effortlessly raced past them.

Green played a key role in the Redskins’ playoff victories over the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings during Washington’s 1987 championship season. Few believed the Redskins had a chance to visit Soldier Field and win because Chicago still possessed an excellent defense that season. Despite having a broken rib, Green nevertheless returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown while the game was tied 14–14 in the third quarter.

About the last thirty yards of that run, Green recalls, “I could really feel it.” However, you could see the end zone and the progression of the blocking. I was ignoring the ache with my thoughts. My thoughts were focused on avoiding contact and entering the end zone.

The Redskins prevailed 21–17 by holding on.

A week later, in the NFC Championship Game against Minnesota’s Darrin Nelson, Green forced a crucial interception that sealed Washington’s 17–10 triumph. From there, the Redskins won Super Bowl XXII against the Denver Broncos with ease, 42–10. “That day, we were a self-assured group,” stated Green. “After the 1983 season, we played the Raiders in the Super Bowl, and we had been beaten pretty badly. Coach Gibbs, I believe, had us as prepared as any team could have been.” They had the early advantage, but in the second quarter, we outscored them. That was it, and we emerged victorious.

After the 1991 season, the Redskins won another championship when they defeated the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI, 37–14. Green played until the 2002 season, finishing with 54 interceptions and earning the respect of NFL receivers for two decades with his style of play. His career would go on to become a model of consistency.

Best NFL Players of All Time: Darrell Green Stats

Regular Season

Year	Age	Tm	Pos	No.	G	GS	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	Fmb	FR	Yds	TD	Sk	Comb	Solo	Ast	TFL
1983	23	WAS	LCB	28	16	16	2	7	0	7			1	1	0	0	0	109
1984	24	WAS	LCB	28	16	16	5	91	1	50			0	0	0	0	0	88
1985	25	WAS	LCB	28	16	16	2	0	0	0			2	1	0	0	0	84
1986	26	WAS	LCB	28	16	15	5	9	0	7			1	1	0	0	0	70
1987	27	WAS	LCB	28	12	12	3	65	0	56			0	1	26	1	0	48
1988	28	WAS	RCB	28	15	15	1	12	0	12			1	1	0	0	1	63
1989	29	WAS	RCB	28	7	7	2	0	0	0			1	1	0	0	0	29
1990	30	WAS	RCB	28	16	16	4	20	1	18			0	0	0	0	0	78
1991	31	WAS	RCB	28	16	16	5	47	0	24			0	0	0	0	0	79
1992	32	WAS	RCB	28	8	7	1	15	0	15			0	0	0	0	0	35
1993	33	WAS	RCB	28	16	16	4	10	0	6		0	0	2	86	1	0	89
1994	34	WAS	RCB	28	16	16	3	32	1	27		0	0	0	0	0	0	55	52	3
1995	35	WAS	RCB	28	16	16	3	42	1	22		0	0	0	0	0	0	53	48	5
1996	36	WAS	RCB	28	16	16	3	84	1	68		3	0	1	15	0	0	62	57	5
1997	37	WAS	RCB	28	16	16	1	83	1	83		0	0	0	0	0	0	54	41	13
1998	38	WAS	RCB	28	16	16	3	36	0	36		0	0	0	0	0	0	65	64	1
1999	39	WAS	RCB	28	16	16	3	33	0	25	15	0	0	1	4	0	0	56	50	6	0
2000	40	WAS	DB	28	13	2	3	35	0	33	8	2	0	0	0	0	0	24	23	1	0
2001	41	WAS	DB	28	16	4	1	0	0	0	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	37	33	4	5
2002	42	WAS	DB	28	16	4	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	24	22	2	2
Career					295	258	54	621	6	83	33	5	6	10	131	2	1	1202	390	40	7

Playoffs

Year	Age	Tm	Pos	G	GS	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	Fmb	FR	Yds	TD	Sk	Comb
1983	23	WAS	LCB	3	3	1	72	1	72	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
1984	24	WAS	LCB	1	1			0			0	0	0	0	0	0
1986	26	WAS	LCB	3	3	1	17	0	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1987	27	WAS	LCB	3	3			0			0	0	0	0	0	0
1990	30	WAS	RCB	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
1991	31	WAS	RCB	3	3	2	32	1	32	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
1992	32	WAS	CB	1	0							0	0	0	0	0
1999	39	WAS	CB,RCB	2	2	1	12	0	12	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
Career				18	17	6	133	2	72	6					0	0	8

 

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