Growing up in the 70s “Mean” Joe Greene was idolized by most up-and-coming defensive linemen in the NFL.
For Howie Long, that admiration was fully realized as a rookie for the Oakland Raiders.
Long explained that the meeting was thanks to Greene’s connection with his teammate Cedrick Hardman.
“Joe Greene was his roommate, teammate at North Texas State,” Long said on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast. “When you’re at Villanova you get a lot of Pittsburgh news and a lot of Pittsburgh games and to have dinner with him was an amazing thing as a rookie.