Greg Lloyd facts for kids
| No. 95 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | May 26, 1965 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 228 lb (103 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Peach County (Fort Valley, Georgia) | ||||||||||
| College: | Fort Valley State | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1987 / Round: 6 / Pick: 150 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Gregory Lenard Lloyd Sr. (born May 26, 1965) is a former American football player. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Most of his career was with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl five times and was named to the All-Pro team three times.
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College Football Journey
Greg Lloyd went to Fort Valley State University. While there, he was a top player in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). He was chosen as an All-SIAC player three times. He was also named his team's Defensive MVP three times. In his final year, he was the SIAC Player of the Year. He was also selected as a first-team All-American.
Playing in the NFL
Greg Lloyd did not get an invitation to the main NFL tryout event, the NFL Scouting Combine. However, he did play in the Heritage Bowl, an All-Star game for players from historically black colleges. Scouts from the Pittsburgh Steelers watched a video of him. They were very impressed by how he played across the whole field. They also noticed his strong and determined playing style.
A Steelers scout, Tom Donahoe, traveled to Fort Valley State to watch Lloyd practice. He was even more impressed after seeing him in person.
Joining the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers picked Greg Lloyd in the sixth round of the 1987 NFL draft. He was the 150th player chosen overall. He was the 28th linebacker picked that year. The Steelers' coach at the time was Chuck Noll.
In July 1987, Lloyd hurt his left knee during training camp. This injury kept him from playing his entire first season in 1987. He also missed most of the 1988 season because of it.
Becoming a Star Player
Greg Lloyd became a starting outside linebacker in the 1989 season. He quickly became a standout player. After the retirement of David Little, Lloyd became the passionate leader of the Steelers' defense. He and cornerback Rod Woodson were drafted together. They became two of the most exciting and dominant defensive players in the NFL.
Later Years and Retirement
Lloyd missed the entire 1996 season due to another knee injury. He returned as a starter in the 1997 season. However, he missed several games that year because of a staph infection. During his career, he was selected for five Pro Bowls. He also made three NFL All-Pro teams.
Lloyd left the Steelers in 1998. He then played for the Carolina Panthers before he retired. Even when he was injured, Lloyd continued to help the Steelers' defense. He taught younger linebackers like Chad Brown and Jason Gildon how to play the Steelers' way.
In 2020, the Steelers honored him by adding him to their Hall of Honor.
Personal Life and Interests
Greg Lloyd was born in Miami, Florida. He moved to Fort Valley, Georgia, when he was two years old. He grew up with his aunt and many siblings. He started playing football when he was six. In high school, he played both fullback and linebacker.
Greg Lloyd has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He now teaches this martial art. His son, Greg Lloyd Jr., also played football as a linebacker. He wore the same number 95 as his father.
