Growing up in the 1970s, “Mean” Joe Greene was idolized by most of the NFL’s aspiring defensive linemen.
Howie Long fully lived up to this admiration as a rookie with the Oakland Raiders.
Long explained that the meeting was due to Greene’s connection with teammate Cedrick Hardman.
“Joe Greene was his roommate, his teammate at North Texas State,” Long said on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast. “When you’re at Villanova, you get a lot of Pittsburgh news and a lot of Pittsburgh games, and as a freshman, it was incredible to have dinner with him.”
One can imagine why Long was so intrigued by Greene. Not only was Greene a Penn State native, but he was also one of the most dominant forces of his era, winning four Super Bowls and appearing in ten Pro Bowls. Long would obviously develop into one of the best players of all time in his own right, appearing in eight Pro Bowls and winning one Super Bowl.
Given the rivalry between the teams at the time, it might seem odd that a Steeler and a Raider would have dinner together. Long went on to explain that it’s not unusual for players at similar positions to be friends, although it doesn’t happen all that often.
“Not that I know of,” Long said when his son asked if players hung out with opposing players in the offseason. “It’s us against everyone. The first conversation I had with John Elway was the night before I retired at the Super Bowl.”
Obviously, an exception was made for the Steelers legend that Long looked up to during his college days. However, had Greene been an offensive player, Long would not have been so welcoming.
“I won’t have an offensive guard,” Long said when asked what meeting Greene would make different.
Overall, it sounds like Long really appreciated their meeting and still does, and that he and Greene were able to be friends rather than rivals for one night.
