Steel Curtain architect L.C. Greenwood's Hall of Fame case shines, fueled by remarkable stats and undeniable impact on a dynasty.
What is known about voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior finalists – Bill Belichick did not receive the required 40 votes from the 50 electors to gain election.
Reports that Belichick is not a first-ballot Hall of Famer stunned many around the NFL when word of the snub leaked last week. After all, Belichick has won a record eight Super Bowls, six as the New England Patriots’ head coach and two as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants.
Belichick was one of five people on the ballot along with Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former players Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood. The announcement of who makes the Hall will be on Thursday night during the NFL Honors event in San Francisco.
Greenwood is the most removed from the NFL among the five candidates, retiring after the 1981 season from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nevertheless, many who watched Greenwood believe he is long overdue for induction into the Hall of Fame.
Greenwood was a two-time All-Pro defensive end and was selected to six Pro Bowls during a 13-year career that began in 1969, when he was drafted in the 10th round from Arkansas AM&N, now known as Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Greenwood was an integral part of the “Steel Curtain” defense that helped Pittsburgh win four Super Bowls in a six-year span from 1974-79. He was selected to the NFL’s all-1970s team.
Sacks were not considered as an official NFL statistic during Greenwood’s time, but researchers have determined he had 78 in his career. Greenwood also recovered 14 fumbles, including five in 1971.
The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Greenwood ran a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and lined up next to Hall of Famer Joe Greene throughout most of his career.
"In my view, when L.C. was playing, he was easily in the top three, four defensive ends that were playing during that time," Greene told the Steelers’ website. “With L.C. beside me, and us working together, we accomplished some pretty good things together. I emphasize together because our ability to communicate and work together on certain things and different times during games, we worked against different formations and knew what was happening.”
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