Ahman Green
Encyclopedia
Ahman Rashad Green is a retired American football
running back
. He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers
. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks
in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Nebraska
.
Green has also played for the Houston Texans
, and was a four-time Pro Bowl
selection with the Packers.
, and attended Omaha North before transferring to Omaha Central
for high school. He was a high school All-American selection and state 'Player of the Year' as a senior.
and three year starter for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers
. He was an integral component and key contributor on two national championship squads.
and quarterback Tommie Frazier
. But Green's freshman year at Nebraska was certainly a memorable one. He was a major contributor during Nebraska's 1995 Championship run. He rushed for 1,086 yards (still the school's single-season freshman rushing record) and 13 touchdowns on 141 carries (7.7 avg.) and was honored as a freshman All-America selection by Football News. In addition, he earned Big Eight all-conference and 'Freshman of the Year' honors.
.
recognition and was named second-team All-America by the Associated Press and The Sporting News as Nebraska again captured the national championship. He was a finalist for the 'Doak Walker Award,' the annual honor for college football's top running back in 1997. During that campaign he carried the ball 278 times for 1,877 yards (6.8 avg.) and 22 touchdowns (a school record for juniors). He posted 12 consecutive 100-yard games, including three contests with over 200 yards (he also had 99 yards on nine carries in the opener against Akron).
During his collegiate career, Green compiled 3,880 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns, both totals good for second place on the Cornhuskers' all-time list. He also posted 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 35 catches. Green's most memorable collegiate performance was on January 2, 1998 in the Orange Bowl. He rushed for an Orange Bowl record 206 yards and two touchdowns in 42-17 Orange Bowl victory over third ranked Tennessee, breaking the previous 20 year old record of 205 yards held by Arkansas
running back Roland Sales
. The tandem of Scott Frost
and Green easily outperformed Tennessee's offensive stars: Peyton Manning
, Jamal Lewis
and Peerless Price
. The exceedingly lopsided and decisive nature of this victory contrasted sharply with the also unbeaten Michigan Wolverines
' close Rose Bowl victory over the Ryan Leaf
's Washington State
squad. The discrepancy between the bowl game performances of these two undefeated teams allowed Nebraska to rally from behind in the polls, where Nebraska had fallen behind Michigan after Nebraska's close overtime victory over Missouri, and claim a share of the national title. The performance marked the Cornhuskers' record-setting third national championship in four years.
in the third round (76th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft
by the Seattle Seahawks
. Although Green produced a high rushing average (6.0 in 1998 and 4.6 in 1999) he had difficulty earning significant playing time behind established veteran Ricky Watters
.
for Fred Vinson
and a sixth round pick. He was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl
every year from 2001 to 2004 and broke several franchise records. From the time he joined the Packers in 2000 up through the end of the 2004 season, Green gained more yards from scrimmage (9,036) and rushing yards (6,848) than any other NFL player. In 2003, he had his best year as a professional and set the Green Bay franchise record by running for 1,883 yards in the regular season. He threw a touchdown pass on October 17, 2004
vs. the Detroit Lions
. During his time with the Packers, Green became one of two players in NFL history to have two touchdown runs of 90 or more yards (Bo Jackson
is the other). Despite his injury-shortened 2005 season, the Packers re-signed Green to a one-year, $2 million contract, with an extra $3 million in incentives. After the 2006 season he became a free agent
.
. He was reunited with his former head coach and former Texans' assistant head coach Mike Sherman
along with former Packers running back Samkon Gado
. He was asked to handle the bulk of the load at running back after a 2006 season
in which the Texans used a "running back by committee" approach, with a lot of success.
On February 10, 2009, Green was released by the Texans.
, Green chose to wear No. 34 in honor of former Chicago Bears
running back Walter Payton
. On November 8, 2009 Green broke Jim Taylor's record to become the all time leading rusher in Packer history.
, Green publicly campaigned to join the Omaha Nighthawks
of the United Football League. Green was subsequently included in the Nighthawks' 40-man protected roster.
of the Canadian Football League
announced they signed Green to a tryout contract. On March 9, 2011, it was announced that he had signed a two-year contract with the Alouettes. Green was released on the first day of training camp on June 5, 2011.
cited the left-handed Green's unwillingness to switch the ball to his right arm when running plays to the right side. He has incorporated special arm bands to help keep the ball in his control. It has also been said that Green possibly has a condition called hyperhidrosis
, which is the overproduction of sweat, and that this has also contributed to his tendency to fumble. Green has dismissed that notion as simply an excuse and a non-issue.
and current broadcaster Ahmad Rashad
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. He is the all-time leading rusher for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
in the 3rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
.
Green has also played for the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and was a four-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection with the Packers.
Early years
Green was born in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, and attended Omaha North before transferring to Omaha Central
Omaha Central High School
Omaha Central High School, originally known as Omaha High School, was founded in 1859.The current building, located in Downtown Omaha, Nebraska, was designed by John Latenser, Sr. and built between 1900 and 1912...
for high school. He was a high school All-American selection and state 'Player of the Year' as a senior.
College career
Green was a standout running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and three year starter for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
. He was an integral component and key contributor on two national championship squads.
Freshman (1995)
As a freshman, Green was perhaps overshadowed by his backfield mates running back Lawrence PhillipsLawrence Phillips
Lawrence Lamond Phillips is a former professional American football and Canadian football running back. Phillips's trouble with the law and inability to produce in the NFL have led many critics to label him as a bust....
and quarterback Tommie Frazier
Tommie Frazier
Tommie James Frazier, Jr. is a former American football player and coach in the United States. He played quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers....
. But Green's freshman year at Nebraska was certainly a memorable one. He was a major contributor during Nebraska's 1995 Championship run. He rushed for 1,086 yards (still the school's single-season freshman rushing record) and 13 touchdowns on 141 carries (7.7 avg.) and was honored as a freshman All-America selection by Football News. In addition, he earned Big Eight all-conference and 'Freshman of the Year' honors.
Sophomore (1996)
During his sophomore season in 1996, Green compiled a team-leading 917 yards on 155 carries and seven touchdowns, despite a turf toe injury. It was during the 1996 season that he posted a career-high 214 yards against Iowa State UniversityIowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
.
Junior (1997)
As a junior, Green garnered All-Big 12 ConferenceBig 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
recognition and was named second-team All-America by the Associated Press and The Sporting News as Nebraska again captured the national championship. He was a finalist for the 'Doak Walker Award,' the annual honor for college football's top running back in 1997. During that campaign he carried the ball 278 times for 1,877 yards (6.8 avg.) and 22 touchdowns (a school record for juniors). He posted 12 consecutive 100-yard games, including three contests with over 200 yards (he also had 99 yards on nine carries in the opener against Akron).
During his collegiate career, Green compiled 3,880 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns, both totals good for second place on the Cornhuskers' all-time list. He also posted 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 35 catches. Green's most memorable collegiate performance was on January 2, 1998 in the Orange Bowl. He rushed for an Orange Bowl record 206 yards and two touchdowns in 42-17 Orange Bowl victory over third ranked Tennessee, breaking the previous 20 year old record of 205 yards held by Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
running back Roland Sales
Roland Sales
Roland Sales is a former running back for the University of Arkansas and he was an 11th round draft pick in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He only played one season in the NFL, but his career is significant because in the 1978 Orange Bowl, Sales set an Orange Bowl rushing record of...
. The tandem of Scott Frost
Scott Frost
Scott Andrew Frost is an American football coach. He played collegiately for Nebraska as a quarterback. He was drafted in the third round by the New York Jets and played six years in the National Football League as a defensive back with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers and...
and Green easily outperformed Tennessee's offensive stars: Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
, Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lafitte Lewis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens fifth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
and Peerless Price
Peerless Price
Peerless Jilo Price is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
. The exceedingly lopsided and decisive nature of this victory contrasted sharply with the also unbeaten Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
' close Rose Bowl victory over the Ryan Leaf
Ryan Leaf
Ryan David Leaf is a former American football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for four seasons...
's Washington State
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
squad. The discrepancy between the bowl game performances of these two undefeated teams allowed Nebraska to rally from behind in the polls, where Nebraska had fallen behind Michigan after Nebraska's close overtime victory over Missouri, and claim a share of the national title. The performance marked the Cornhuskers' record-setting third national championship in four years.
Seattle Seahawks
Green was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the third round (76th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. Although Green produced a high rushing average (6.0 in 1998 and 4.6 in 1999) he had difficulty earning significant playing time behind established veteran Ricky Watters
Ricky Watters
Richard "Ricky" James Watters is a former American football running back who played for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. Watters played college football at the University of Notre Dame where he played wide receiver on the...
.
Green Bay Packers
In 2000, Green was traded along with a fifth round draft pick to the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
for Fred Vinson
Fred Vinson (American football)
Fred Vinson , is a former American football defensive back.He is the cousin of National Football League safety Corey Chavous and is also related to Barney Chavous, former defensive end/defensive tackle for the Denver Broncos.- High school & college :When he was ten years old, Vinson competed in the...
and a sixth round pick. He was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
every year from 2001 to 2004 and broke several franchise records. From the time he joined the Packers in 2000 up through the end of the 2004 season, Green gained more yards from scrimmage (9,036) and rushing yards (6,848) than any other NFL player. In 2003, he had his best year as a professional and set the Green Bay franchise record by running for 1,883 yards in the regular season. He threw a touchdown pass on October 17, 2004
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
vs. the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. During his time with the Packers, Green became one of two players in NFL history to have two touchdown runs of 90 or more yards (Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson
Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former American baseball and football player. He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports, and also won the Heisman Trophy in 1985....
is the other). Despite his injury-shortened 2005 season, the Packers re-signed Green to a one-year, $2 million contract, with an extra $3 million in incentives. After the 2006 season he became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
Houston Texans
On March 4, 2007 Green signed a four-year, $23 million deal with the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was reunited with his former head coach and former Texans' assistant head coach Mike Sherman
Mike Sherman
Michael Francis "Mike" Sherman is the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies football team. Prior to coaching the Aggies, he served as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from the 2000–05 seasons. Sherman led the Packers to five consecutive winning seasons from 2000–04 and three divisional titles...
along with former Packers running back Samkon Gado
Samkon Gado
Samkon Kaltho Gado is an Nigerian-American running back of American football who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Liberty....
. He was asked to handle the bulk of the load at running back after a 2006 season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
in which the Texans used a "running back by committee" approach, with a lot of success.
On February 10, 2009, Green was released by the Texans.
Return to Green Bay
Ahman Green officially re-signed with the Green Bay Packers on October 21, 2009 after the Packers placed running back DeShawn Wynn on injured reserve. With his former number, 30, taken by fullback John KuhnJohn Kuhn
John Allen Kuhn is an American football fullback, currently playing for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2005. John attended Dover Area High School in Dover, Pennsylvania...
, Green chose to wear No. 34 in honor of former Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
running back Walter Payton
Walter Payton
Walter Jerry Payton was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League for thirteen seasons. Walter Payton was known around the NFL as "Sweetness". He is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs in the history of American football...
. On November 8, 2009 Green broke Jim Taylor's record to become the all time leading rusher in Packer history.
Omaha Nighthawks
In an interview on radio station KOZNKOZN
KOZN is a sports talk station in Omaha, Nebraska. The station broadcasts at 1620 kHz on the AM dial. It is owned by NRG Media, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The station originally signed on as KAZP, an expanded band station of KOIL 1180, owned by Mitchell Broadcasting, in September 1999...
, Green publicly campaigned to join the Omaha Nighthawks
Omaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
of the United Football League. Green was subsequently included in the Nighthawks' 40-man protected roster.
Montreal Alouettes
On February 7, 2011, the Montreal AlouettesMontreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
announced they signed Green to a tryout contract. On March 9, 2011, it was announced that he had signed a two-year contract with the Alouettes. Green was released on the first day of training camp on June 5, 2011.
Fumbles
Green has struggled with a reputation for being fumble-prone though later on in his NFL career he fumbled less. Former Green Bay star LeRoy ButlerLeRoy Butler
LeRoy Butler, III is a former American football strong safety who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers . He spent his childhood in Jacksonville, Florida, challenged by physical problems that forced him to wear leg braces and use a wheelchair at times while undergoing therapy...
cited the left-handed Green's unwillingness to switch the ball to his right arm when running plays to the right side. He has incorporated special arm bands to help keep the ball in his control. It has also been said that Green possibly has a condition called hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is the condition characterized by abnormally increased perspiration, in excess of that required for regulation of body temperature.-Classification:Hyperhidrosis can either be generalized or localized to specific parts of the body...
, which is the overproduction of sweat, and that this has also contributed to his tendency to fumble. Green has dismissed that notion as simply an excuse and a non-issue.
Personal
Green was named after former NFL wide receiverWide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and current broadcaster Ahmad Rashad
Ahmad Rashad
Ahmad Rashād is an American sportscaster and former professional football player. An All-American running back and wide receiver from Oregon known as Bobby Moore, Rashad was the fourth overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals...
.