Syracuse to Retire Tim Green's Jersey at Clemson Game

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The No. 72 jersey of Syracuse University all-time sacks leader Tim Green will be retired by the Orange football program at halftime of the team's Sept. 14 home opener versus Clemson, Syracuse Director of Athletics John Wildhack announced today.

Green is the first predominantly defensive player in the 129-year history of the program to have his jersey retired and the sixth overall. Green joins Larry Csonka (39), John Mackey (88), Donovan McNabb (5), Don McPherson (9) and Joe Morris (47) as former Syracuse standouts in that elite group. The No. 44, worn by 25 players, including legendary running backs Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little, is also retired.

Green tallied a school-record 45.5 sacks and 341 career tackles, the most for a Syracuse down lineman, from 1982-85 to help the Orange begin their football resurgence under head coach Dick MacPherson. A member of Syracuse's All-Century Team, Green posted three of the four highest season sack totals in Orange history. In addition, he's responsible for three of the top four tackling seasons ever by an SU down lineman.

"I humbly accept this great honor not on behalf of myself but on behalf of Coach Mac, his entire coaching staff, including strength coach Mike Woicik, my teammates and of course – George O'Leary," Green said. "Without them, any success I had on the football field would not have been possible.

"I also want my fellow Syracuse Orange fans to know how much I have enjoyed their kindness and support through the years. This recognition is especially sweet because it comes during another era of rebirth to greatness for the SU football program. I want to thank John Wildhack and the current administration for this incredible tribute."

During his time on campus, Green also excelled in the classroom. He majored in English and was a Rhodes Scholarship finalist as a senior. He is the only two-time CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American in program history, earning the award in both 1984 and 1985.

"Tim Green is one of the most accomplished student-athletes in the history of Syracuse University. He was one of the most important recruits of the Coach Mac era, a Syracuse native who opted to play for his hometown team and help rebuild our program," Wildhack said. "Tim's academic accomplishments are incredibly impressive as well, which speaks volumes about his diverse talents."

Now 55 years old, Green revealed on "60 Minutes" last November that he's living with a slow-progressing version of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as ALS. Green and his family have started a fundraising effort for ALS research at Massachusetts General Hospital called Tackle ALS. To date, Tackle ALS has generated more than $2.1 million for ALS research.

"Tim's courage and optimism in dealing with ALS is truly inspiring," Wildhack said. "It is only fitting that a person of his achievement be celebrated at one of the most-anticipated home games in recent history."

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A graduate of Liverpool High School where he played for George O'Leary, Green elected to join his former coach – who had since become an assistant on Coach Mac's staff – at SU in 1982. Green made an instant impact as a freshman, starting at nose guard and notching 58 tackles.

Green followed up his inaugural season with a breakthrough sophomore campaign. He racked up 94 tackles and 14.5 sacks to earn his first of three All-America awards. Green's dominant presence helped Syracuse to a 6-5 record after three sub-.500 seasons, including wins over No. 13 Boston College and No. 14 West Virginia.

In 1984, Green cemented his legacy as one of college football's most fearsome defenders. He collected 101 tackles, the second-most by a Syracuse down lineman, and eclipsed his own school record with 15 sacks. Against Nebraska, Green made 12 tackles to lead an Orange defense that smothered the top-ranked Cornhuskers in a historic 17-9 victory at the Carrier Dome. He terrorized Maryland and Rutgers, logging three sacks apiece against the Terrapins and Scarlet Knights. After the season, Green was voted a first-team All-American by Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly and USA Today. He received third-team honors from Football News and the Associated Press.

Green capped his career with another stellar season in 1985, adding 88 tackles and 13.5 more sacks to his stat line. He powered an Orange defense that posted three shutouts, as Syracuse went 7-5 and earned a berth in the Cherry Bowl opposite Maryland. For his efforts, Green was voted the ECAC co-Player of the Year and a unanimous first-team All-American.

Following his Orange career, Green was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He played eight seasons (1986-93) for the Falcons, logging 24 sacks and nine fumble recoveries in 99 games as a defensive end and outside linebacker.

After retiring from the NFL, Green returned to Central New York and graduated from SU's College of Law in 1994. His post-football career has included working as a commentator for the "NFL on FOX" and National Public Radio. He's a New York Times best-selling author and an accomplished lawyer. Green has written 38 books and teamed up with New York Yankees great Derek Jeter in 2017 to pen the "Baseball Genius" series.

Green was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2011, Green received the NCAA's Silver Anniversary Award, presented annually to six former student-athletes for distinguished career accomplishments on the 25th anniversary of their college graduation.

"Tim is the epitome of what it means to be a Syracuse University student-athlete," Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said. "What he's done on the field and in life after football speaks for itself. He's very deserving of this honor."

Green and his wife, Illyssa, reside in Skaneateles, N.Y. They have five children – Thane, Tessa, Troy, Tate and Ty. Like his father, Troy also played football at Syracuse. Green's daughter, Tate, is currently a member of the Harvard women's lacrosse team.

Fans are invited to help celebrate Green when he returns to campus this fall. Season tickets for Syracuse's six home games, including the Sept. 14 matchup with Clemson, at $100 for Syracuse University Young Alumni (Class of 2015 to Class of 2019 graduates) and $125 for the general public. They are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

Syracuse Football Retired Numbers & Jerseys
2005 – No. 44 (25 players)
2007 – Larry Csonka (39)
2007 – John Mackey (88)
2013 – Donovan McNabb (5)
2013 – Don McPherson (9)
2018 – Joe Morris (47)
2019 – Tim Green (72)

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Syracuse University Athletics

Syracuse to Retire Tim Green's Jersey at Clemson Game

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