Former Linebacker/Pro Wrestler Kevin Greene Joins Packers' Staff

The Green Bay Packers have spent the first part of the offseason fine-tuning their coaching staff, especially on defense. Anyone who watched the team play in 2008 knows this was work that needed to be done.

With Dom Capers in as defensive coordinator and former Carolina defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac now coaching the defensive line, things were looking up. Capers and head coach Mike McCarthy weren't done, however, and they've now made a hire that could be fairly described as "interesting."

When he played, former NFL linebacker Kevin Greene certainly was known for his intensity. He's never had a coaching job before, until now.

The Packers have hired Greene to be their outside linebackers coach. Last year's linebacker coach, Winston Moss, interviewed for other jobs during the offseason but is staying on as the inside linebackers coach. Greene and Moss have spoken, and Greene told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he doesn't anticipate any problems with the two working together on linebackers.

Greene was known for his passion for the game during his career. He was a very productive player for Capers both in Pittsburgh and in Carolina, where he helped lead the Panthers to the NFC Championship in just their second year (coincidentally, they lost that NFC title game at Lambeau Field).



When football wasn't enough physical contact, Greene joined up with his buddy and former Bear/Packer Steve McMichael, who had migrated to professional wrestling. While with World Championship Wrestling, McMichael and Greene teamed to face legends Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. This YouTube will show you the final nine minutes or so of the match, including the shocking conclusion.



Good thing the ref wasn't looking when Mongo waffled his buddy with the briefcase, eh? Legend has it that Greene was basically forced to stop wrestling when teams put clauses in their contracts with him.

I didn't bother to look it up, but I'm guessing Greene is the first former pro wrestler to work as a coach for the Packers.

To say the very least, this is an intriguing move. There's no doubt he understand Capers' defense, and he certainly played the game "the right way". But can he relate to today's athletes? Will he resort to so many fire and brimstone speeches that no one takes him seriously? Will he hit A.J. Hawk in the head with a chair for missing a tackle?

On the bright side, the Packers appear to be loading up on experienced coaches around Greene. It should be a good group for him to learn from.