L.C. Greenwood—Is He a Hall of Famer?

By John Turney 

When former Pittsburgh defensive end L.C. Greenwood passed away 10 years ago, Steelers' scout Bill Nunn paid him one of the highest compliments. He compared him to teammate and Hall-of-Fame linebacker Jack Ham, calling the two "quiet assassins."

"Neither one of them would say a word, or put on a show for you," Nunn said. "They both just went about their business quietly. But when they got on the field, as far as playing ability, playing aggressively, being tough, they were both in the same category as any of the Hall of Famers. He had a lot of qualities of the Hall of Famers and probably should be in there."

Nunn should know. He's in the Hall, elected in 2021. But L.C. Greenwood? Still waiting.

A six-time Hall finalist, he never reached the final reduction to the "yes/no" round of voting, though he did make it past the first cut to 10 three times. So, at least he's had his case heard multiple times by voters. However, each time he's fallen short.

The pertinent question is: Why? If he was a finalist so often, why couldn't he cross the finish line?

For an answer, I'd suggest you look at the candidacy of another Steeler, and that's Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Lynn Swann. The elements of Greenwood's case are similar. Both were All-Pros and Pro Bowl players in the regular season but really shined in the playoffs, particularly Super Bowls. 

For years, voters and fans debated Swann's case (and still do), insisting his regular-season stats fall short of what many think is Hall-of-Fame worthy. But his greatness and dominance were apparent in postseason play, especially Super Bowls, when he made spectacular catches so important that, without them, the Steelers don't win four Super Bowls. 

It's as simple as that.

The same can be said of Greenwood.

Though unofficial, his career sacks were known to Hall voters in the 1990s and early 2000s. They were included in club press releases in the 1970s and remained in media guides for decades afterward. While many of those years were excellent, they didn't add up to 100... and that may have been a threshold for an edge rusher.

Greenwood's single-season high in sacks was 11, achieved in both 1971 and 1974. He also had nine in 1978 and 8-1/2 in 1973 for a career total of 82, which is good ... but he was more of an "eye-test" player. His consistent pressure and quarterback hurries were more noticeable than the sack totals, and his irrepressible pass rush was unmistakable in the playoffs, especially in Super Bowls IX and X.

Though he had no sacks in Super Bowl IX -- no Steeler did --  he batted down three passes and repeatedly flushed Fran Tarkenton from the pocket in a game the Steelers won, 16-6, and held Minnesota to nine first downs and 119 yards in offense.

"If you want my opinion," Ham said afterward, "the front four won the game. They were just outstanding. L.C. Greenwood really contained Tarkenton, and that was part of our defensive game plan."

The next year L.C. and the Steel Curtain were all over Roger Staubach, sacking the Dallas quarterback seven times -- including four by Greenwood -- en route to a 21-17 victory. 

Had there been an award for Super Bowl Defensive Player of the Game, Greenwood easily could've won it in both the 1974 and 1975 Super Bowls. He played as well as any defensive Steeler, including Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Ham, Blount ... anyone you can name. All told in the playoffs, he was credited with more than 10 sacks -- one of the few players to reach double digits in postseason play. 

Like Swann, Greenwood played his best when the game was on the line.

But all this is not to diminish his regular-season accomplishments. They were plentiful, too. As a member of the NFL's best defense, he was a consensus first-team All-Pro twice and a six-time Pro Bowler. Opponents couldn't run on the Steel Curtain, and when they tried to pass, their quarterbacks were sacked, knocked down or picked off.

No matter which defense you think was the NFL's best ever, the 1970s' Steelers always are in the conversation. Its defensive line was relentless, with Greenwood second only to Hall-of-Fame defensive tackle "Mean Joe" Greene as its best rusher.

"I leaned on L.C. a lot,” Greene said. "Some of the things I was able to do on the field were definitely because of his presence. We helped each other out."

A collegiate standout at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Greenwood was the 238th draft pick in 1969 and spent a couple of seasons in Pittsburgh as a rotational player at defensive end before earning a starting job in 1971. He added his signature gold-colored shoes in 1972 and, by 1973, was making the Pro Bowl almost every year.

"L.C. is a thinking man's player," said Steelers' assistant George Perles. "He likes to set guys up and then get past them. I've seen quarterbacks get off the deck, and you can tell by the expression on their faces they have no idea where he came from or how he got there so fast. .. it's because Greenwood won the battle of wits."

The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Greenwood used height and quickness to compensate for a lack of bulk. He also had a secret weapon -- extremely long arms that kept tackles away and helped him execute pass-rush moves other defensive ends could not. Though arm length was infrequently addressed then, it mattered as much as it does today and gave Greenwood an advantage over most of his peers. 

So much so that, in addition to his yearly postseason honors, Greenwood was named to the 1970s' all-decade team and the Super Bowl’s Silver Anniversary team.

That should draw the attention of Hall voters, and it has. As mentioned, selectors were sufficiently intrigued to consider Greenwood six times as a finalist. But he hasn't been discussed since 2006, his last year of modern-era eligibility, and never as a senior candidate. 

In the end, the most likely explanation for Greenwood's Hall omission is "Steelers' backlash" to so many players in Canton from the 1970s' dynasty. There are 10, one short of the 1960s' Packers, who won five titles.

Nevertheless, with Greenwood in the senior pool, it's time to give him one last look to see if a player with four rings, six Pro Bowls, two All-Pros and an all-decade selection should be outside the Hall of Fame looking in. Too many Steelers or not, the Hall should be reserved for how well an individual performs, not whom he played for.

L.C. Greenwood performed like a Hall of Famer, and it's time he had a Gold Jacket to match his shoes.

Career stats—