Auburn: 1983-84
NFL: 1985-99
Teams: Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers
Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 5x Pro Bowl, 2x All-Pro, 1990s All-Decade team
Kevin Greene first joined the ROTC at Auburn, not the football team. He attempted to walk on as a punter in 1980 but did not make the team. He tried out again in 1983, made the team, and by 1984 was a star outside linebacker. Greene was drafted in the fifth round of the 1983 draft by the Rams.
He began his career as a special teamer, but in Year 2 he recorded seven sacks. In 1989 he recorded 16.5 sacks and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time. He never surpassed that career high, but he did lead the league with 14.0 sacks in 1994 as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Though he played just three years in Pittsburgh, he went into the Hall of Fame as a Steeler.
Auburn: 1945
NFL: 1946-57
Teams: Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions
Accomplishments: Hall of Fame, 1x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro, 4x NFL Champ, 4x AAFC Champ
Gatski’s collegiate career at Marshall was interrupted by a year of service in World War II. When he returned, he enrolled at Auburn because Marshall had not started its football program back up. Gatski then went on to the NFL after one year at Auburn and played both center and linebacker for the Browns.
He was unbelievably durable, never missing a game in his entire pro career. He was also the ultimate winner, playing in 11 championship games over his 12-year career, and winning eight of them.