Professional Football Player. For fourteen seasons (1960 to 1973), he played at the punter position in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears. Among one of the earliest pure punters in the NFL, he paved the way for such players as Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy. Born Bobbie Joe Green, he was raised in Oklahoma, where he attended College High School and later played collegiate football at the University of Florida. Selected by the San Francisco 49ers during the 9th round of the 1959 NFL Draft, he ended up with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the initiation of his professional career. During his rookie season (1960), he led the NFL in punts with 64, total punt yards with 2,829 and longest punt at 74-yards. He experienced a world championship as a member of the 1963 NFL Champion Chicago Bears. In 1966, he led the league with 80 punts and 3,358 punt yards and in 1970, he achieved Pro-Bowl honors. In 187 regular season games, he compiled 970 punts for 41,317 yards. At the time of his retirement, Green held several punting records by a Chicago Bear. He went on to become an advertising executive, in addition to serving as a part-time kicking coach at the University of Florida. He died from a heart attack.
Professional Football Player. For fourteen seasons (1960 to 1973), he played at the punter position in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears. Among one of the earliest pure punters in the NFL, he paved the way for such players as Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy. Born Bobbie Joe Green, he was raised in Oklahoma, where he attended College High School and later played collegiate football at the University of Florida. Selected by the San Francisco 49ers during the 9th round of the 1959 NFL Draft, he ended up with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the initiation of his professional career. During his rookie season (1960), he led the NFL in punts with 64, total punt yards with 2,829 and longest punt at 74-yards. He experienced a world championship as a member of the 1963 NFL Champion Chicago Bears. In 1966, he led the league with 80 punts and 3,358 punt yards and in 1970, he achieved Pro-Bowl honors. In 187 regular season games, he compiled 970 punts for 41,317 yards. At the time of his retirement, Green held several punting records by a Chicago Bear. He went on to become an advertising executive, in addition to serving as a part-time kicking coach at the University of Florida. He died from a heart attack.
Bio by: C.S.
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