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Jacob Green

Jacob Green (born January 21, 1957) is an former professional who excelled as a , most notably with the of the () from 1980 to 1991. A standout at , where he set school records for career sacks (38) and forced s (12) while earning first-team All-American honors in 1979, Green was selected tenth overall in the by the Seahawks. Over his 12-year career, which included a brief stint with the , he amassed 115.5 unofficial sacks—ranking third all-time in history at the time of his retirement—and established Seahawks franchise records for career sacks (115.5), recoveries (17), and games started (176). Green earned two selections (1986 and 1987) and was inducted into the in 1995, recognizing his pivotal role in the team's early defensive success. Beyond football, Green has contributed to community service, raising millions for and serving as of major gifts and endowments for the 12th Foundation at Texas A&M, where he was enshrined in the in 2019.

Early life and education

Early life

Jacob Green was born on January 21, 1957, in Pasadena, Texas. Green grew up in the Houston area in a hardworking family environment shaped by his parents' influence. His father owned Green Brothers Landscaping, a business that emphasized diligence and physical labor, providing Green with early exposure to outdoor activities such as driving dump trucks and tractors during his childhood summers. This supportive upbringing instilled values of perseverance and family unity, as his parents encouraged his pursuits amid their own entrepreneurial efforts. During his early years, Green developed an initial interest in , starting to play the sport to spend time with neighborhood friends and engage in local sports activities. These childhood experiences laid the foundation for his later athletic development.

High school career

Jacob Green attended in , , where he graduated in 1976. As a standout , Green served as captain of the Kashmere football team, earning recognition as a Blue Chip All-State athlete and a first-team selection on the Houston Chronicle's 1970s All-Decade Team. His dominant performances on the field drew widespread attention from college scouts, leading to recruitment by numerous powerhouse programs, including Texas A&M, where he ultimately signed to play. During his junior year at Kashmere, Green met his future wife, Janet, who was a sophomore at the time.

College career

Early years at Texas A&M

Jacob Green enrolled at in 1976 after a standout high school career at in , where he earned all-state honors as a defensive . He joined the Aggies that fall under head coach , initially redshirting his freshman season to adjust to the collegiate level and build strength for the defensive end position. In the 1977 season, Green's sophomore year, he emerged as a key contributor on the defensive line, anchoring the unit alongside fellow lineman . The Aggies compiled an 8-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the , starting strong with three wins before a 41-3 loss to No. 3 , after which the defense improved significantly over the final games. Green's early performances helped stabilize the front four against tough opponents, including ranked teams like , contributing to the team's invitation to the , where they fell 28-47 to despite an initial 14-0 lead. Green's development continued into the season, where he earned first-team All-Southwest Conference honors as a junior and served as team captain, solidifying his role as a disruptive force on the Aggies' with 13 sacks. Under Bellard's guidance early in the year before Tom Wilson took over as interim coach, the team achieved an 8-4 record (4-4 in conference) and earned a No. 19 ranking in the final . Notable contributions included helping secure upsets and a 28-12 victory over No. 19 Iowa State in the Hall of Fame Bowl, showcasing his growing prowess in pass rushing and run that laid the foundation for his later accolades.

Senior season and All-American honors

Green's senior season in 1979 marked his pinnacle at Texas A&M, where he amassed 134 tackles, a school-record 20 sacks, and six forced fumbles—also a single-season program record at the time, while serving as team captain. These efforts earned him first-team All-American recognition from multiple outlets and his second consecutive All-Southwest Conference selection, highlighting his transition to one of college football's elite defensive ends. By season's end, Green's career totals stood at 38 sacks—second in Aggie history—and 12 forced fumbles, the latter remaining a school record. Green's disruptive presence was instrumental in Texas A&M's 6-5 record and 4-4 finish, as his total pressured quarterbacks into mistakes and bolstered the Aggies' defensive rankings. His standout performance not only elevated the team's competitiveness but also positioned him as a top prospect, leading to his selection as the 10th overall pick in the 1980 by the .

Professional career

Seattle Seahawks tenure

Jacob Green was selected by the in the first round, tenth overall, of the , following a standout college career at Texas A&M that showcased his pass-rushing prowess. Wearing jersey number 79 throughout his tenure, Green quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the Seahawks' defensive line, serving as the left in a 4-3 scheme. In his rookie season of 1980, he recorded 6.0 sacks and earned sixth place in voting for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, signaling his immediate impact. Green's production peaked in the mid-1980s, forming part of the Seahawks' renowned "Die Hards" defensive line alongside Jeff Bryant and Joe Nash, which emphasized relentless pressure on quarterbacks and run-stopping. Key seasons included 1981, when he amassed 12.0 sacks and a league-leading 6 forced fumbles; 1983, with a career-high 16.0 sacks and a 73-yard return for a against the ; 1984, featuring 13.0 sacks and a playoff-high 2.5 sacks against the ; and 1985, where he tallied 13.5 sacks and 8 forced fumbles. His consistency continued with 12.0 sacks in 1986, earning his first selection and setting a franchise single-game record of 4.0 sacks against the , followed by 9.5 sacks and a second nod in 1987. Later highlights included 12.5 sacks in 1990, helping anchor the defense during multiple playoff runs. Over 12 seasons with the Seahawks from 1980 to 1991, Green appeared in 178 games, starting 176, and contributed to four playoff appearances in 1983, 1984, 1987, and 1988, where the team's defenses relied on his ability to disrupt passing and running plays. He holds the Seahawks franchise record for career sacks with 115.5 (97.5 official since 1982), which ranked third among players from 1982 to 1991, along with 30 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions returned for touchdowns. Green's tenure solidified the Seahawks' defensive identity in their early franchise years, emphasizing physical, gap-control strategies that limited opponents' offensive efficiency.

San Francisco 49ers stint

After spending 12 seasons with the , where he established himself as one of the NFL's premier ers, Jacob Green was released by the team on October 27, 1992, amid a 1-7 start and efforts to integrate younger defensive talent following his recovery from a . The 35-year-old veteran, seeking to continue his career and pursue a championship opportunity, signed with the the next day to bolster their as they aimed for a deep playoff run. Green appeared in two regular-season games for the 49ers late in the campaign, recording no sacks, tackles, or other defensive statistics in a reserve role behind the team's established front. The 49ers, who finished the season 14-2 and earned the NFC's top seed, advanced to the divisional playoffs but were eliminated by the ; Green did not dress for postseason action. Following the 49ers' playoff exit, Green announced his retirement from the in the offseason, concluding a 13-year professional career at age 35.

Records, honors, and legacy

Career statistics and records

Jacob Green amassed 115.5 sacks during his 13-year career, spanning 180 games with the and , ranking him third all-time in sacks upon his retirement in 1992 behind only and . He also recorded 3 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, along with 30 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries, including two defensive touchdowns. At Texas A&M, Green totaled 38 sacks and 12 forced fumbles over his college career, establishing himself as a dominant pass rusher in the . Green holds several key records, including the Seattle Seahawks' all-time sack lead with 115.5, a mark that remains unbroken as the franchise record (including estimated pre-1982 sacks). At Texas A&M, he set the single-season sack record with 20 in 1979 and the career forced fumbles record with 12. These achievements occurred amid the NFL's evolving statistical tracking, as sacks were not officially recorded until the 1982 season; Green's pre-1982 production, estimated at 18 sacks in his first two years, is thus unofficial and retroactively compiled by sources like Pro Football Reference (updated in 2021), placing him behind contemporaries like (who debuted in 1985) and (who started in 1981) in the early era of formalized pass-rush metrics.

Awards and recognitions

During his time at , Jacob Green earned first-team All-American honors in 1979 after leading the team with a school-record 20 sacks that season. He was also a two-time All-Southwest Conference selection, earning the accolade in 1978 and 1979 for his dominant defensive performances that helped the Aggies reach two bowl games. In the , Green received recognition for his consistent excellence as a pass rusher with the . He was selected to the twice, in 1986 and 1987, during seasons in which he recorded double-digit sacks and anchored the defensive line. Green earned honors on four occasions: second-team selections by the Newspaper Enterprise Association in 1983 and the in 1985, a first-team nod from in 1984, and a first-team selection from and UPI in 1987. As a in 1980, he finished sixth in Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after contributing 6.0 sacks in his debut season. Following his playing career, Green was inducted into the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor on September 3, 1995, becoming the second defensive player enshrined by the franchise in recognition of his 12 seasons and franchise records in sacks and starts. In 2019, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the National Football Foundation's class, honoring his collegiate impact with 38 career sacks, the second-most in Texas A&M history at the time. The Seahawks further acknowledged his legacy in 2019 by naming him the franchise's inaugural Legend of the Year.

Personal life and post-retirement

Family and residence

Jacob Green met his wife, , in high school in , . The couple has three daughters—Janelle, , and Jillian—who provided strong family support throughout Green's career, including the births of the daughters during his tenure with the . Shared family interests in athletics are evident, as Janelle played soccer for Texas A&M and later married former defensive Red Bryant. Following his retirement from professional football, Green and his family have resided in .

Business and charitable work

Following his retirement from the in 1993, Jacob Green joined his father's landscaping business in , , where he contributed to its operations for several years. This venture allowed Green to return to familiar roots while transitioning from professional athletics to private enterprise. In subsequent years, Green shifted his professional focus to and institutional development at his alma mater. As of 2025, he serves as Vice President of Principal Gifts for the Texas A&M 12th Man Foundation, a role in which he leads initiatives to support the university's athletic programs, leveraging his prominence as a former All-American to engage donors and secure endowments for student-athletes. Residing in , Green has emphasized building long-term financial resources for Aggie athletics through major gift campaigns. Green's charitable work centers on cancer research and youth support, driven by personal loss. He hosts the annual Jacob Green Charity Golf Classic, a celebrity tournament benefiting the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in memory of his father, Jacob Green Sr., who died from pancreatic cancer in 1984. The event has raised millions overall for cancer research and patient support programs since its inception, including more than $290,000 during its 2011 edition alone and over $1 million in 2025. Additionally, Green supports the Jaycee's Children's Center in Houston—a facility aiding at-risk youth that is named in honor of his father—and participates in various community events to promote child welfare and local causes.

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