Ernie Green (football player)
| Date of birth | October 15, 1938 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Columbus, Georgia, USA |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Running back, Fullback |
| College | Louisville |
| NFL draft | 1962 / Round: 14 / Pick: 196 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1962 | Green Bay Packers |
| 1962–1968 | Cleveland Browns |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Pro Bowls | 2 |
| Career stats | |
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Ernest "Ernie" Green (born October 15, 1938) is a former American football fullback for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League.
Green was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia, and attended Spencer High School there.
Green attended the University of Louisville from 1958 to 1961, rushing for more than 1,500 yards in his college football career with the Cardinals and twice leading the team in that department. He also excelled in baseball, spurning contract offers in order to remain on the gridiron.
In 1962 the reigning world champion Green Bay Packers drafted Green in the 14th round of the 1962 NFL Draft, but during training camp they traded him to the Cleveland Browns where he would make a name for himself as one of the league's top running backs.
After seeing only limited action as a rookie in 1962, Green was installed in the Cleveland backfield the following year alongside legendary Hall of Famer Jim Brown. He finished his first full season of action with 526 rushing yards, and also caught 28 passes out of the backfield. Even more importantly, he also helped open holes for Brown to gain a then-NFL record 1,863 yards. In 1964, the two helped the Browns capture their fourth NFL championship, capping the year with a stunning 27-0 shutout of the Baltimore Colts at the 1964 NFL Championship Game.
Following Brown's retirement in July 1966, Green was switched from halfback to fullback and teamed with another future Hall of Famer, Leroy Kelly, to continue to give Cleveland one of the most dangerous backfield combinations in the NFL. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the next two seasons, and was twice named an NFL All-Pro.
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