Chad Greenway
Encyclopedia
Chad Greenway is an American football
player who plays linebacker
for the Minnesota Vikings
of the National Football League
. He played college football
for the Iowa Hawkeyes
from 2002 to 2005.
season in 2001 at the University of Iowa
. As a redshirt freshman in 2002, he suffered a knee injury that required surgery and did not play in the first four games.
In 2003, he started at outside linebacker in all 13 games and was named second team All-Big Ten
. Greenway was named the Big Ten Conference
co-Defensive Player of the Week vs. Arizona State, and won the Hustle Team Award at Iowa.
In 2004, he was named a first team All-American
by Pro Football Weekly, a second team All-American
by CNNSI.com, and a third team All-American
by CollegeSportsReport.com. Within the conference, Greenway was named first team All-Big Ten
and selected as a first team all-Big Ten
player by Collegefootballnews.com. Greenway was selected by the team as Iowa's Special Teams Player of the Year, won the Hustle Team Award for defense, and was one of three juniors selected to the team Leadership Council for 2004 season.
In 2005, Greenway was named Preseason All-America by The Sporting News, NationalChamps.net, and was named to the preseason honorable mention All-America squad selected by NationalChamps.net. He was ranked as the #2 outside linebacker by The Sporting News, and named to Bronko Nagurski
Watch List and Lott Trophy Watch List.
His high school career start in Mount Vernon, South Dakota, where he led Mount Vernon and Stickney to two state championships. He also tied the Mt. Vernon record for most points at 34.
, where he was drafted by the Vikings with the 17th pick in the first round. Greenway selected #52 as his jersey number for the Minnesota Vikings
. In training camp, he was listed as a second string linebacker on the depth chart.
In Minnesota's first preseason game against Oakland
, Greenway tore his ACL
playing special teams on a kickoff return. He missed the entire 2006 NFL season
with the injury.
Chad Greenway started the 2007-2008 as the Minnesota Vikings starting weakside linebacker
.
In Greenway's first NFL game on September 9, 2007 against the Atlanta Falcons
Greenway recorded 10 tackles.
Greenway completed the 2007 NFL season with 105 tackles with two forced fumbles along with two interceptions with one touchdown.
In 2008, Greenway had another impressive season finishing with 5.5 sacks and lead the team with 115 tackles. He also deflected 5 passes.
On February 21, 2011 the Vikings announces that Greenway was designated as their franchise player
for 2011.
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...
player who plays linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. 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...
for the Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
from 2002 to 2005.
College career
Greenway redshirted his freshmanFreshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
season in 2001 at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. As a redshirt freshman in 2002, he suffered a knee injury that required surgery and did not play in the first four games.
In 2003, he started at outside linebacker in all 13 games and was named second team All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
. Greenway was named the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
co-Defensive Player of the Week vs. Arizona State, and won the Hustle Team Award at Iowa.
In 2004, he was named a first team All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
by Pro Football Weekly, a second team All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
by CNNSI.com, and a third team All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
by CollegeSportsReport.com. Within the conference, Greenway was named first team All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
and selected as a first team all-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
player by Collegefootballnews.com. Greenway was selected by the team as Iowa's Special Teams Player of the Year, won the Hustle Team Award for defense, and was one of three juniors selected to the team Leadership Council for 2004 season.
In 2005, Greenway was named Preseason All-America by The Sporting News, NationalChamps.net, and was named to the preseason honorable mention All-America squad selected by NationalChamps.net. He was ranked as the #2 outside linebacker by The Sporting News, and named to Bronko Nagurski
Bronko Nagurski
Bronislau "Bronko" Nagurski was a Canadian-born American football player. He was also a successful professional wrestler, recognized as a multiple-time world heavyweight champion.-Youth and collegiate career:...
Watch List and Lott Trophy Watch List.
His high school career start in Mount Vernon, South Dakota, where he led Mount Vernon and Stickney to two state championships. He also tied the Mt. Vernon record for most points at 34.
Minnesota Vikings
Chad Greenway entered the 2006 NFL Draft2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
, where he was drafted by the Vikings with the 17th pick in the first round. Greenway selected #52 as his jersey number for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. In training camp, he was listed as a second string linebacker on the depth chart.
In Minnesota's first preseason game against Oakland
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Greenway tore his ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
playing special teams on a kickoff return. He missed the entire 2006 NFL 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...
with the injury.
Chad Greenway started the 2007-2008 as the Minnesota Vikings starting weakside linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
.
In Greenway's first NFL game on September 9, 2007 against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Greenway recorded 10 tackles.
Greenway completed the 2007 NFL season with 105 tackles with two forced fumbles along with two interceptions with one touchdown.
In 2008, Greenway had another impressive season finishing with 5.5 sacks and lead the team with 115 tackles. He also deflected 5 passes.
On February 21, 2011 the Vikings announces that Greenway was designated as their franchise player
Franchise Tag
In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag and one...
for 2011.