Donnie Green facts for kids
| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||
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| Personal information | |||
| Born: | July 21, 1948 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| Died: | August 28, 2019 (aged 71) Hagerstown, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||
| Weight: | 272 lb (123 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| High school: | Crestwood High School, Chesapeake, Virginia | ||
| College: | Purdue | ||
| NFL Draft: | 1971 / Round: 5 / Pick: 107 | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||
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Donnie Gerald Green (born July 21, 1948 – died August 28, 2019) was a talented American football player. He played as an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL). Donnie played for the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Purdue University. The Buffalo Bills picked him in the 1971 NFL Draft.
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Donnie Green's Early Life
Donnie Green was born on July 21, 1948. He grew up in Annapolis, Maryland. He was one of nine children. When he was 10, his mother passed away. Donnie then moved to Chesapeake, Virginia, to live with his father. In Virginia, he attended Crestwood High School. There, he played both football and basketball.
College Football Career
Donnie Green was a top player at Crestwood High School. He was recruited by Purdue University to play college football. In 1970, Green was named an All-American. This means he was one of the best players in the country. He was also chosen as a team captain in his senior year.
Purdue's Strong Seasons
In 1969, Green's blocking helped his team finish with a great 8-2 record. Their coach was Jack Mollenkopf. The team's quarterback was Mike Phipps. Phipps later became a first-round draft pick in the NFL. That 1969 Purdue team was ranked number 18 in the national polls.
Donnie Green studied Physical Education at Purdue. In his senior year, 1970, Purdue had a 4-6 record. A big highlight was their 26-14 upset win over Stanford. Some of Green's teammates at Purdue also went on to play in the NFL. These included quarterback Gary Danielson, running back Otis Armstrong, and wide receiver Darryl Stingley.
Playing in the NFL
The Buffalo Bills drafted Donnie Green in 1971. He was the 107th player chosen overall. This was one round after Jim Braxton. Braxton would become a key player alongside O. J. Simpson in the Bills' famous "Electric Co." offense.
Rookie Season and Improvements
In his first NFL season, Green played in ten games. He started nine of them. The Bills had a tough year, finishing with a 1-13 record. Their coach was Harvey Johnson. After that season, Lou Saban became the new head coach. Saban made Green the full-time starter at right tackle. The Bills then improved to a 4-9-1 record.
The "Electric Co." Offensive Line
The next season, 1973, the Bills got even better. They finished with a 9-5 record. Donnie Green was a big part of their success. He played on the offensive line with Dave Foley, Reggie McKenzie, Bruce Jarvis, and Joe Delamielleure. This strong offensive line helped O. J. Simpson rush for an amazing 2,003 yards in one season.
In 1974, Green started 10 games. He even caught one pass for a yard from quarterback Joe Ferguson. This happened in a game against the Miami Dolphins.
Later NFL Years
The 1975 season was Green's last as a full-time starter. He started all 14 games that year. In 1976, he started eleven games. He then played for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1977 as a backup player. In 1978, he played for the Detroit Lions in some games. Donnie Green retired from professional football after the 1978 season.
After Football and Passing
After his football career, Donnie Green faced challenges. He later worked as a night monitor in a shelter in Hagerstown, Maryland.
On August 28, 2019, the Buffalo Bills announced that Donnie Green had passed away.
