#75: Darrell Green | The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players |

#FlashbackFridays! We highlight the #75 Greatest NFL Player of all time. Arguably the fastest person ever in the NFL, Washington Redskins CB Darrell Green left an indelible mark on the game!
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[@dwightlove3704]

To show all of you how fast Green was he clocked a 4.43 in 2011 and that was faster than any DB who attended the NFL COMBINE and he was 50 yrs old!!!!!!!

[@onefastboi14]

Dwight Love Jesus Christ. That's nuts.

[@likestallwomen]

That's amazing bro, that shows you if he wanted to he could still play!

[@41geraldf]

Whoa

[@justincosing9971]

This is a fact!

[@dubstepphene82]

That's how you put respect on his on his name

[@taylordavis812]

his speed made them fail to mention his 7 pro-bowls and his two super bowl rings

[@BlackTrunksPodcast]

💯

[@cprealone]

3 all pro teams as well and his big plays in the playoffs

[@mrmacross]

Well, to some extent, his speed feats amplified his legend. He only has one All-Pro first team selection. So, it's almost like he was more well-regarded after his playing days than when he was actually playing.

[@carlfreeman6687]

75...to low... Sorry... Dude was literally the best corner in football and the fastest for about 20 years. Ran a 4.2 on his 40th bday.

[@jtbue757]

i take hime over D. Sanders because he can "tackle"!

[@puppethound]

Great corner, but not the best, one of the best yes, but not THE best. I love Carl Lewis, he was my idol growing up and I love his simple honesty in his opinion of DG.

[@Anx23]

Grinds my gears when they show old clips but it’s in slomo smh

[@venomf0]

@@puppethound all he said is he wasn't faster than him nothing else. We all know primetime or nighttrain were the best

[@Veggamattic]

@@puppethound THE BEST!!! I'll explain how I am so sure. The way the Redskins played defense through most of Green's years was to put Green on the opponents best receiver and then use the other DB's to play more of a zone or double team others. Green would never have the most interceptions or make the best plays because he was blanketing and shutting down elite WR's. Go back and look at the number of passes Rice caught in games against Green and compare it to how many he averaged the rest of the season and...it's almost ridiculous how effective he was. You also have to consider longevity. THE BEST!!! I can't think of a close second.

[@Colstonewall]

Not only the fastest, also one of the Classiest people on Earth.

[@mikepainter3111]

Pound for pound the greatest Redskin ever!!!

[@alexcarter6446]

Hate that y'all will never be the Redskins again. That's one of the most iconic team names in American sports history and now it's gone forever. Proof right there that political correctness isn't always the best path to take.

[@cvee1990]

What about Sean Taylor?

[@puppethound]

@@alexcarter6446 welcome to cancel culture 2020. My opinion is that they aren't replacing the name because it is racist, they are replacing to take any resemblance of a Native Americans away from culture period. It is what white people did for hundreds of years and now they have some sort of cover up. Sorry but I am a realist, I am a "the glass just has water in it, type of guy'

[@KmoneyGeez]

@@cvee1990 just might be

[@BJ-jh5is]

Idk Sean T was pretty good himself may he rip

[@MrNaturalSez]

I remember Darrell going up against Randy Moss during Randy's rookie(?) season in Minnesota. He knew who Randy Moss was and was darned determined Randy was not going to get a big play against him. Speed, yes... but that effort showed *heart*.

[@xaviervega468]

Randy later on said a 38 year old Darrell Green was the toughest corner he ever faced.

[@user-ue6mg8gp9i]

Redskins got trounced but Moss only had a 5-64-0 on 10 targets: www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199810180min.htm

[@Veggamattic]

Green's #'s vs Jerry Rice are amazing.

[@mojojojoslyfoxharris]

If Darrell Green had decent hands, he'd be up there with Primetime Sanders because Green dropped so many possible interceptions during his career too, but man oh man, he was fast!

[@tijan8948]

Joseph Harris Darrel green was a better cornerback than Deion Sanders. It's not just about interceptions. I remember a diving blocked pass he made at the goal line in the playoffs that saved the game. He's a class act and a champion, which is why he got the Yellow Coat. Not just fast

[@xaviervega468]

I wouldn't say he was better but he was definitely on the same level. Deion did have a couple of edges over him though, like being 4 inches taller and having softer hands.

[@collin355]

Deion was horrible at tackling. Green couldn't catch? He had 56 career interceptions

[@kgthoughts]

Deion image and flash helped propel him....

[@elbowgang9715]

Champ Bailey need some respek put on his name

[@tomfrankiewicz7951]

I like Darrell Green's mantra "Be prepared for that right now moment"

[@thepac12andbig10suck]

this dude played 20 years and was a starting CB at 40

[@dreamer13halloffame44]

Exactly that is crazy

[@kennycarlson9654]

i remember 3 times in the 90s he challenged deion prime time to a race and deion declined and one time at a team practice in 2000 and wouldnt race him lol

[@axelx569]

He was a class act too.

[@Dridenhour98]

Didn't watch him play but the old heads said he was so fast back in the day.

[@King_Kunta]

I always hear that

[@greatriffishere]

He still the fastest player to ever play in the NFL!!! Only Bullet Bob Hayes could compare with the speed of Darrell Green!!

[@puppethound]

Just watch the video and you will see, he caught a hall of famer Tony Dorsett from 20 yards back. DG is fast. Carl Lewis was an 80s Olympic gold medalist in track and field and he says DG is fast.

[@davidbranch7425]

@@puppethound bro if Carl Lewis is saying he is quick, you know he is hella fast.

[@sldffas9957]

Wow. He walked Dorsett DOWN!!

[@MrDevtun]

Eric Dickerson in his prime as well.

[@josheden832]

Roger Martin I don't think Darrell green ever need an angle.......... head start?????? Are you blind

[@jamesvickers9476]

He walked alot of cats down

[@kennyeverett318]

@@jamesvickers9476 dam right, angle..no angle, the truth is he was much faster than most of the WR's in the league!

[@dwightlove3704]

@@MrDevtun Add Jerry Rice to the list as well.

[@Razz415]

A legend. Grew up idolizing Green. Still have a jersey from when I was 10. Named my oldest Darrell. Easily the best man to ever play the game.

[@xaviervega468]

Way too low. NO way is Woodson 41, Deion 34, and Green is only 75. As a lifelong Giants fan I watch Green play against us way too much to believe that. He was easily on the same level as those two.

[@tijan8948]

Xavier Vega Respect Giants fan!! I'm a Skins man, but the Giants always played big! I agree DG should be higher. Multiple championship rings, and the heart of that Defensive squad under Joe Gibbs! Thanks Bro!

[@41geraldf]

True

[@jfalconredskins]

Top 50 at least.

[@agmapleleaf93]

Thank you Just abject bias of the nfl network

[@BreuckelensFinest]

I agree, as great of an athlete as Dieon was, as many interceptions he had & for as many punt returns he brought back to the house, he didn't tackle & for that reason alone, Green should be ahead of him.

[@sitizenkanemusic]

Darrell Green will always be a part of my first NFL memories. I simply just loved the heart and speed the little guy played with! He played for a ridiculously long time- when Charles Woodson retired this year, it kinda reminded me when Green retired in 2002. That highlight when he caught Eric Dickerson- DAMN! I'm not a 'skins fan but Green is one of my favorite DB's of all time and John Riggins is my favorite FB of all time.

[@realloud999]

Well Riggins was a HB for the Redskins...yeah he played FB with the Jets and a little bit with the Redskins but he was known for being a HB

[@sitizenkanemusic]

Tony Bravo Riggins was known more as a great FB- Even Marcus Allen played FB for Bo Jackson during the Al Davis feud.

[@realloud999]

Sitizen Kane yeah he was a beast at FB I'm only 17 but I've seen highlights, absolute monster

[@azizk339]

+Sitizen Kane How crazy is it that this segment neglects to celebrate his playing TWENTY seasons?? (With a single team, no less?)

[@jamesmillott9593]

Yeah I remember him running down Dickerson who rarely got caught once he had a step on the defense and Darrell Green ran him down from like 20 yards back and it only took him like 15 yards to catch him. That being said I don't think he should be much higher on the list. He wasn't as great as Primetime, Woodson, Champ Bailey, Charles Woodson, etc at their peaks but Green was a very very good CB for an insanely longtime. I just don't think he was ever a full fledged shutdown CB at any one point like those guys who deserved like a 99 rating in video games at their peaks where Green was consistently a 87-92 rating CB for pretty much his entire career. As someone else said if he had better hands maybe he's the GOAT CB but because he had bad hands people were never afraid to throw it to his side.

[@LoadPast]

If we're ranking players on how much fun it was to watch them, Darrell Green gets 1st place by a mile.

[@tiosmarket5891]

I met Darrell Green as a kid during a Hospital visit, although I'm a huge washington fan, at the time i didnt really know players but my father did and told me that was him. He shook my hand and said some words of encouragement. I'll always remember his big smile and great final game!

[@jbo22fly]

He still ran a 4.4 at 50 years old.

[@1960317]

Jon B I think he was actually 40 around the year he retired.

[@jeremythompson9122]

40 years old...but thats still incredible

[@AEMoreira81]

No defensive back at the combine that year was that fast.

[@dwightlove3704]

@@AEMoreira81 Yes he clocked a 4.43 the yr of 2011 that was faster than any DB at the NFL COMBINE.

[@kenarthur6253]

Fastest player in NFL history. Also a great, generous man outside of football. Awesome Role Model. Need more like Mr. Green!

[@ForedeckYoda]

I'll always remember him running down Dickerson. Dude was awesome.

[@MRBIG-ts2rm]

20years in the NFL WOW. One of the best of all time.

[@mrkackerwacker]

FINALLY YOU UPLOADED MY MAN D. GREEN.

[@illmadeknight]

As a life long Washington fan, Darrell was one of my absolute favorite players. I remember as a kid looking for #28 knowing he would do something to win the game for me.

[@Toosii2times]

But 75 is way too low And I only saw _one_ other comment point this out and that was a Giants fan

[@puppethound]

top 100 of all time. It's about right. I would say 60 tops. 75 is respectable.

[@davidm.6643]

Great job on all of these…. Well done! 🇺🇸

[@ericunderwood6728]

under rated as usual, top 20 in my opinion

[@puppethound]

nah, I can name 40 players better than DG. I can name 5 corners I rather have than DG. DG is great, but not top 20 in my opinion.

[@justasimplemanworkinghiswa1569]

Gaming with Puppetcabbage Darrell had the longevity.

[@King_Kunta]

Wow he went up head to head with a 9 time Olympian? Sheesh lol, might be the fastest player in history

[@sydboski]

+YongDrizzle Nope Jim Hines was faster.

[@kennyeverett318]

He beat all of the US Olympic team in NFL's Fastest man, also he was the only one to win it multiple years in a row!

[@markquick3332]

Nope, Bob Bullet Hayes

[@parkycod]

Green went to college with my parents and I live right next to TAMUK (then Texas A&I Kingsville). Very cool.

[@commanderjoj6426]

I heard that Darrell Green, on his 50th birthday, ran a 4.4 40. That’s incredible!

[@SpamHusky]

GREATNESS.

[@jeffreytenly9399]

Humble to God for his talent to this day, and gave his heart to the people! God Bless you Darrell!

[@jtbue757]

great DB and a greater man!

[@ddespair]

Easily one of the greats on and off the field.

[@sjaoenvf]

that return was the defining play of that Superbowl run.

[@18Dnick]

Not just fast but one of the greatest to ever step on the field

[@cityhawk]

I would have loved to have seen Darrell Green go up against “Bullet” Bob Hayes in a foot race. That would’ve been worth the price of admission.

[@seecha8970]

We can say goodbye to the style and skill type of every DB on this entire 100 list. The likes of these guys will never be seen again, going forward. Thanks, Goodell and your "hitting a defenseless player" rule.

[@cptgibbs4256]

Despite being in different positions Tyreek Hill reminds me of Darrell as a football player. Both have elite speed yes but more importantly they are both primarily good football players

[@ry-ry1189]

I miss him, he has been my favorite since Day 1.

[@andywhite2348]

One of my absolute heros as a jr high kid. He was undersized and fast like me. Obviously way faster but the point stands lol

[@gerritstell6248]

I remember my playing days. I was one of quickest. But on one turnover, I drew angle on the guy, going away. I caught up with him, but he accelerated away.

[@andan04]

Given that Green is known most for his amazing speed, it's very cool to interview an admiring Carl Lewis through this clip.

[@cityhawk]

I’d like to meet the man that was faster than Darrell Green, because from what I’ve seen, he had the best wheels of any player in the history of the NFL. Yes, I include Deion.

[@bbryant9455]

Big skins fan. Got his jersey. I remember his last season he was 42 years old and was still a solid b plus cornerback.

[@dc1397]

Green was one of my favorite players in the NFL... my Lions had not won a game at RFK for over fifty years or something...I kept thinking why? Darrell Green

[@galehess6676]

putting some moves on the bears on that punt return at 3:58

[@johnsmathers21]

they should bring back that speed competition

[@dwightlove3704]

Green clocked a 45.7 in the 400M that was his ACE IN THE HOLE!!!!!

[@TheDude4077]

4:06 Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera

[@royw-g3120]

When you look at Green he does have small hands even for a guy his size, it does help catching INTs if your paws are massive. A lot those WRs who make those circus catches have massive hands, ODB for one.

[@Will-Parr]

Greatness

[@Jefff72]

I remember a game where Randy Moss had a step on him but Green was able to accelerate and still knock the ball away. Darrel wasn't going to get Mossed.

[@TheDCGuitar13]

Crazy how the greatest corner ever is this far down the list. I love rod. I’m a ravens fan but green is the goat.

[@Fatazz]

My presiding memory of Darrell Green wasn't a big play, wasn't an interception or a return. It was a simple tackle. A running back sweep to the near side and there aren't enough Redskins in site. The screen showed maybe an 8 to 10 square yard area of the field. Suddenly this white, crimson, and gold blur (white jerseys that day) shoots from the right side of the screen, takes both legs out from under the back, and shoots off the left side of the screen so fast you couldn't catch a number. Awesome!

[@tijan8948]

The Best!! Go Skins!

[@coreydean6540]

1983 draft, every team it seemed jockeying for position to get a quarterback. Redskins drafted Darrell Green with the last pick in the first round.

[@musclebone7875]

Darrell Greene was a beast. Should be alot higher, just like Derrick Brooks.

[@damonkinney7081]

This guy should have been in the top 25. What cornerback plays for 20 years at the level he did? Best cb is ever watched.

[@jacobjones5269]

I watched Carl Lewis pass 6 of the worlds greatest sprinters in the last 60 meters of the 1991 100 meters world championships.. Ran a world record 9.86.. What he was talking about, when the stride locks in perfectly?… he made it look easy..

[@darrenphillips4799]

Champ Bailey came out Georgia with fastest combine 40. D.G. beat him in Redskins Training camp. D.G. was in his 17th yr.

[@micahrice5338]

I met car lewis at my junior olympic track meet

[@FEFIFO1984]

The BEST defensive back to EVER PLAY!!!

[@altonwilliams7117]

Heck yeah he ran fast! You would too with Carl Lewis on your tail! 😂

[@tannergriffith9544]

My grampa loved this nfl team Washington redskins even mine

[@krazynuts1714]

Ya right the BALL DEFLATOR

[@upholstery1995]

Wow. A 10.08 m race 🤯 imagine if he would've dedicated to just track. Definitely had a sub-10 second 100 m in his legs.

[@voriandayne-en9gb]

I know who T. Dorset is. But to Catch Erik Dickerson like that? You got it’s sir

[@collinhansen2048]

are these not in order ?

[@cortchiewelch9492]

i believe dorsett was coasting toward the end zone when he got past the last line of defense.

[@tylerjohnson9887]

i wish as a 17 year old skins fan that i could have watched him when he was playing.

[@DepressedCommandersfan1]

W Darrell

[@uncleshannon3039]

Why they lift my boy up like that during that huddle lol

[@tmrevenge]

Guy played against tony dorsett and also played against donovan mcnabb. That's a long career

[@pierregarcon3664]

Looking for his jersey

[@kountzer]

When I was growing up I loved reading the sports section of the Houston newspapers. They had two papers back then. In the spring season those papers would print the best high school track performances in the region & in the state. Ever since he was a freshman Darrell Green was at or near the top of two or three sprint categories. I knew right then he was a great athlete. I wasn't surprised at what he accomplished in college and in the NFL

[@MrHavingfun68]

He was the fastest field speed guy ever to play in the NFL. Maybe not track that would have to go to Bob Hayes, but on the field, I'd take Darrell.

[@xSubParSaucex]

Didn’t Darrell Green run down a young Randy Moss or did I misremember that play, cause I can’t find it anywhere?

[@terrytari1891]

Carl Lewis set up a race with You and Darrell Green on ESPN!

[@MrMathExpert]

Way too low. He is more in the top 30. No CB was better than Darrell Green.

[@DemonKiller913PVP]

Mr. Math Expert never seen prime time play i guess 🙃

[@elbowgang9715]

Deion said what up whats happening

[@tacobellbajablast69]

DemonFragger913 PVP yup

[@chrisrobinson8339]

Deion

[@AHMAD-2324]

No CB was BETTER BOISTOP! Deion Rod Woodson Charles Woodson Champ Bailey We're all better than him.

[@w41duvernay]

If Green was drafted now, he would have gone a lot sooner in the first round. Now everyone knows about everybody in the nfl draft. Back in the early 80's, no one knew who Green was. In the internet age, he would have been a major nfl star.

[@JACPOT3rddd]

w41duvernay I don’t think so tbh, the simple fact that he was only 5’8 5’9 probably would’ve made teams see him as a day two or three nickel corner at best unfortunately....

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

If you made an All-Speed team Green would have to be the first player named to it.

[@smokescream2732]

Top 50 for sure fastest player of all time and one of the hardest hitters of all time maybe didn't have hands but he was 5"8 and played better then every corner he met height was against him and it didn't bother him he was a top corner for almost 20 years I think I set my point

[@sydboski]

He was not the fastest player of all time. I can name 7 players that have run faster.

[@logicaldude3611]

Rarely do sprinters really translate their speed to the football field in such an effective way.

[@skrappost482]

He never beat Carl Lewis because Lewis was pumped full of performance enhancing substances.

[@mrkackerwacker]

W

[@axelx569]

That's a lie.

[@anthonygill4795]

mrkackerwacker no it was cold medicine lol

[@AlejandroSanchez-pl6jw]

Anthony Gill false

[@kennyeverett318]

He beat him on The World's Fastest Athlete...

[@mattbritzius570]

F = m * v^2 Its all about speed for them big hits.

[@azizk339]

Matt Britzius Pedant alert, but I actually teach physics ;) They're easy to confuse, but what you've got there is kinetic energy (times 2). Force is mass*acceleration. Momentum, though, is mass*velocity, and probably what Carl Lewis had in mind.

[@mattbritzius570]

Karl Marx Gretzky Lol, my mistake. Bit of a mental lapse there. All the more egregious since I just finished physics 3 in college if you could believe it. Thankfully I was a little sharper on exam day.

[@Ironfist3113]

No One will be as good as Green and Rice

[@Ironfist3113]

I meant ever

[@calvinwest7785]

green should be way higher the dude was beast

[@JN-ci2hh]

Fastest I’ve seen ever

[@tunasub3886]

Why are all of Darrell Green’s highlights in slow motion? I know he’s fast as lightning but I want to see his real speed

[@user-dl8ur6ry8m]

Can DG come back and teach these kids how to tackle?

[@Briggie]

I still can’t believe him and Champ Bailey played together.

[@nohbuddy1]

The 2000 Redskins had Green, Bailey, Deion Sanders, and Bruce Smith lol

[@ccth22]

The fact that Carl Lewis is his presenter in this says it all…

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

Fastest Cornerback in NFL history

[@shrapnel77]

I put Tootsie Rolls in my socks. It did not make me faster, but I do have diabetes.

[@user-uk1kw4vn6v]

You guys could just publish these in order.. And say you did them 2-3 years ago

[@beheadingtheprophets4145]

I don't get it.

[@Josh-rf4bm]

Beheading The Prophets same

[@steverohwer8323]

He’d turn off the light switch across the room and be under the covers before it got dark.

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

One of the fastest cornerbacks ever

[@sydboski]

He's actually the fastest CB ever.

[@ethanproctor363]

No the fastest

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

Deion Sanders- 😊 👋

[@kennyeverett318]

@@dumisatonyjohnson8145 He was faster than Deon Sanders, his best 100M time was 10:08, a recorded 40 yard dash at 4.19 in his prime, and a 6.09 60 meter dash, Deon was fast but he didn't have Darrell Green speed!

[@davidsuarez3003]

@@kennyeverett318 no he didn’t run that fast would have been a world record.by far.

[@williamtaylor5193]

Darrell was a little faster than Tony D, but Tony didn't hit the burners until it was too late, and he looked over 3 times, which also slowed him down.

[@kennyeverett318]

I think Dorsett ran a sub 4.4 40.….that tells you how fast DG is

[@williamtaylor5193]

@@kennyeverett318 Closer to 4.3. Don't get me wrong, Darrell was faster than Tony, particularly in the longed sprints, but there are a lot variables that come into play when you see a specific clip of Darrell chasing down Tony---- Tony is carrying a football, he's got it in his weaker arm/hand, he nay have been fatigued after 15-20 carries, all of these things come into play.

[@pattrell5257]

The thing about Darrell was--he was this catch almost anyone from behind dynamo, but how good was he as a cover corner?! Was he misassigned and was he a free safety playing corner?!

[@ChuckNorris-tg9gu]

He left out high school so there was someone faster than him in high school😂