Ahman Green facts for kids
Green with the Packers in 2003
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| No. 30, 34 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | February 16, 1977 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 218 lb (99 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Omaha Central (Omaha, Nebraska) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Nebraska (1995–1997) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1998 / Round: 3 / Pick: 76 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at CFL.ca (archive) | |||||||||||||
Ahman Rashad Green (born February 16, 1977) is a former American football player. He was a running back for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Ahman played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was recognized as an All-American in 1997.
The Seattle Seahawks picked Green in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft. He played for them for two seasons. Then, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers, where he spent eight of the next ten seasons. Green also played for the Houston Texans. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl four times while with the Packers. He holds the Packers' record for most rushing yards. Until late 2022, he was the head esports coach at Lakeland University.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Ahman Green was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He went to Omaha Central High School. There, he was named a high school All-American. He was also the state's 'Player of the Year' in his senior year.
Besides football, Ahman was also a talented track and field athlete. He still holds one of the fastest times for the 100-meter dash in Nebraska's history. He also competed in Powerlifting in high school. He placed second in a national powerlifting championship.
College Football Career
Ahman Green was a star running back for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was a key player on two teams that won national championships.
Freshman Year Success (1995)
As a freshman, Ahman rushed for 1,086 yards. This is still the school record for a freshman. He scored 13 touchdowns. He was named a freshman All-American. He also earned 'Freshman of the Year' honors in his conference.
Sophomore Season (1996)
In 1996, Ahman led his team with 917 rushing yards. He scored seven touchdowns. He had a career-best game with 214 yards against Iowa State University.
Junior Year Championship (1997)
As a junior, Ahman helped Nebraska win another national championship. He was named second-team All-America. He ran for 1,877 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. He had 12 games in a row where he rushed for over 100 yards. He was also a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. This award goes to the best college running back.
During his college career, Ahman gained 3,880 rushing yards and scored 42 touchdowns. Both of these totals are second-highest in Cornhuskers history. One of his best games was in the Orange Bowl in 1998. He rushed for an Orange Bowl record of 206 yards and two touchdowns. This helped Nebraska win 42–17 against #3 Tennessee. Ahman was named the 1998 Orange Bowl MVP.
Bowl Game Highlights
Ahman played in a bowl game every year at Nebraska.
- In the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, he rushed for 68 yards and one touchdown.
- In the 1996 Orange Bowl, he rushed for 52 yards.
- In the 1998 Orange Bowl, he rushed for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
Professional Football Journey
Ahman Green had a long and successful career in the NFL.
Starting with the Seattle Seahawks (1998-1999)
The Seattle Seahawks picked Ahman in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Even though he ran for many yards per carry, he didn't get a lot of playing time. This was because a veteran player, Ricky Watters, was ahead of him.
Becoming a Green Bay Packers Star (2000-2006)
In 2000, Green was traded to the Green Bay Packers. He quickly became a key player. He was chosen for the NFL Pro Bowl four times, from 2001 to 2004. He broke several team records. From 2000 to 2004, Ahman gained more total yards than any other NFL player.
In 2003, he had his best professional season. He set a Green Bay franchise record by rushing for 1,883 yards. He also became the first player in NFL history to achieve certain stats in one season. These included at least 1,850 rushing yards, averaging 5.0 yards per carry, scoring 20 touchdowns, and catching 50 passes. He also threw a touchdown pass in 2004. Ahman is one of only two players in NFL history to have two touchdown runs of 90 yards or more.
Time with the Houston Texans (2007-2008)
In 2007, Green signed a contract with the Houston Texans. He was expected to be their main running back. Over two seasons with the Texans, he rushed for 554 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 25 passes for 155 yards. He was released by the Texans in 2009.
Return to Green Bay (2009)
Ahman Green rejoined the Green Bay Packers in October 2009. He wore number 34, the same number as his idol, Walter Payton. On November 8, 2009, Green broke Jim Taylor's record. He became the all-time leading rusher in Packers history. In his final NFL season, he mostly played a backup role. He rushed for 160 yards and one touchdown.
Later Football Leagues (2010-2011)
In 2010, Green played for the Omaha Nighthawks in the United Football League. He started 8 games for the team. In 2011, he signed a contract with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. However, he was released during training camp due to an injury.
Retirement from Football
Ahman Green officially announced his retirement from football in August 2011. He finished his NFL career with 9,205 rushing yards and 60 rushing touchdowns. He also had 2,883 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns.
Green Bay Packers Records
Ahman Green holds several important records for the Green Bay Packers:
- Most rushing yards in a career: 8,322
- Most rushing yards at Lambeau Field (the Packers' home stadium) in a career: 4,507
- Most rushing yards in a single game at Lambeau Field: 218 yards against the Denver Broncos in 2003
- Longest run from scrimmage at Lambeau Field: 98 yards against the Denver Broncos in 2003
- Most rushing yards in a single season: 1,883 in 2003
Awards and Honors
Ahman Green received many awards throughout his career.
High School Honors
- Gatorade Circle of Champions Nebraska Player of the Year (1995)
- Offensive Player of the Year (1994)
- Nebraska Male High School Athlete of the Year (1994–95)
- 2× First-team All-Nebraska
- Parade All-American
- USA Today First-team All-American
College Achievements
- 2× Bowl Alliance national championships (1995, 1997)
- 2nd Team All-American (1997)
- 1998 Orange Bowl MVP
- Big 8 Offensive Freshman of the Year (1995)
- Finalist for the Doak Walker Award (1997)
- First-team All-Big 12 (1997)
- First-team All-Big 8 (1995)
Professional Accolades
- 4× Pro Bowl selection (2001–2004)
- NFC Offensive Player of the Year (2003)
- Inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
Personal Life and Interests
Ahman Green was named after former NFL wide receiver and broadcaster Ahmad Rashad. His uncle, Michael Green, also played football at Nebraska.
In 2003, Ahman earned his college degree in geography from the University of Nebraska. He took some classes at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.
In 2012, Green was inducted into the University of Nebraska Football Hall of Fame. In 2014, he was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Football Hall of Fame.
Ahman Green still lives in Green Bay. He is a big video-gamer and a fan of comic books. His nickname is "Batman", and he even has a tattoo of the superhero. He runs a sports training center in Green Bay. He also helps the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Association. From 2012 to 2014, Green was a co-owner of the Green Bay Blizzard, an arena football team.
In February 2020, Green became the head coach for Lakeland University's new varsity esports team. In November 2021, he hosted the finals of the first Mid-America Gamers Expo.
