SANTA CLARA, Calif. --- A difference-maker on and off the field of play, Texas A&M legend Jacob Green was one of 13 players and two standout coaches named to the 2019 induction class for the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation announced on Monday.
One of the greatest defensive players in the former Southwest Conference, Green terrorized quarterbacks while setting multiple sack records at Texas A&M. He becomes the 11th Aggie player elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
“I’ve had the opportunity to play with a lot of great players and be coached by some of the greatest coaches that have ever came through Texas A&M,” Green said. “For me to be going to the College Football Hall of Fame with the list of guys that are going in is really unbelievable. I am so honored to be in the conversation with this unique group of guys. It’s really special and I’m excited about it. I know Coach Slocum fought long and hard to get my name on the ballot and just being nominated was a great honor, but to actually be up there with the guys that I’ve watched walk across that stage it will be a great night. At the end of the day, it’s an honor that puts things in perspective and I’m thankful for all the support over the years, especially from my family, but also for all the people at Texas A&M. It’s a big day for all of us.”
Longtime Texas A&M coach and 2012 NFF Hall of Famer R.C. Slocum said, “This is a well-deserved honor for one of the great players in Texas A&M football history. Jacob became a starter as a true freshman and was a big factor in the Aggie defense for four years. He earned All-America honors, but not only was he a great player, he was a team leader with great character. Jacob is a great addition to the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame.”
Green was named a first-team All-American in 1979 after recording 20 sacks, which still stands as a Texas A&M single-season record. He finished his career as the Aggies’ all-time leader with 38 career sacks, which currently ranks second in the school record books and remain the most by a Texas A&M defensive lineman. A two-year team captain, Green owns the Texas A&M record with 12 career forced fumbles, and his 22 tackles against Baylor in 1979 were an Aggie single-game record (currently tied for third). He finished his career with 283 total tackles.
The two-time All-Southwest Conference selection guided the Aggies to a pair of bowl games, including a victory over No. 19 Iowa State in the 1978 Hall of Fame Classic that helped A&M take over the No. 19 spot in the final AP rankings. During the 1979 season, Green led the Aggies to upsets over No. 6 Penn State and No. 6 Texas. A member of Texas A&M’s All-Decade Team for the 1970s, he is enshrined in the Texas A&M Athletic, Southwest Conference, State of Texas Sports and Texas African-American halls of fame.
The Seattle Seahawks selected Green with the 10th overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, and he spent 12 years with the Seahawks before a short stint with the San Francisco 49ers. A member of the Seahawks Ring of Honor, he went to two Pro Bowls and finished his career third on the NFL’s all-time sacks list with 97.5.
“On behalf of Texas A&M Athletics, I want to congratulate Jacob Green on his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame,” Texas A&M Director of Athletics Scott Woodward said. “Jacob was a legend during his playing days at A&M, and he continues to have an enormous impact on the Department of Athletics in his role with the 12th Man Foundation. We are thrilled that his legacy will now live on forever in the College Football Hall of Fame.”
Active in the community, Green has helped raise millions of dollars for cancer research and remains involved with Jaycee’s Children’s Center in his hometown of Houston, which is named for his father who passed away from cancer. He was also the recipient of the Seattle Distinguished Community Service Award in 2000. Ever loyal to his alma mater, Green currently serves as Vice President of Major Gifts and Endowments for the 12th Man Foundation at Texas A&M.
12th Man Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Travis Dabney said, “I could not be more thrilled for Jacob and his family on this prestigious and well-deserved recognition. In addition to his tremendous football career, Jacob has cemented his legacy at Texas A&M with the relationships he has developed through his dedicated service to the 12th Man Foundation. It has been an honor and privilege to work with him the past 13 years, and I’m proud to consider Jacob, Janet and their family as an extension of my own. The 12th Man Foundation and Texas A&M Athletics are incredibly fortunate to have someone as special as Jacob Green.”
The inductees were selected from the national ballot of 76 All-America players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and the 100 players and 32 coaches from the divisional ranks.
“We are extremely proud to announce the 2019 College Football Hall of Fame Class,” said Archie Manning, NFF Chairman and a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Mississippi. “Each of these men has established himself among the absolute best to have ever played or coached the game, and we look forward to immortalizing their incredible accomplishments. The Class will be part of a momentous year as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of college football this season.”
The announcement of the 2019 Class was made today live on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” in Santa Clara, California, the site of the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship, which will be played tonight at Levi's Stadium between No. 1 Alabama (14-0) and No. 2 Clemson (14-0).
The tradition of announcing the College Football Hall of Fame class in conjunction with the CFP National Championship began in 2015 before the inaugural CFP title game in Dallas. The 2019 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 62nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 10, 2019, at the New York Hilton Midtown. The inductees will also be recognized at their respective collegiate institutions with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the fall. Their accomplishments will be forever immortalized at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
“We would like to thank CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock and his staff for the continued opportunity to announce the Hall of Fame Class in conjunction with the championship game,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “We are also grateful for the guidance, knowledge and vision of honors court chairmen Archie Griffin (FBS) and Jack Lengyel (divisional) for the essential role that they each play in guiding the committees in the selection of the inductees.”
Aggies in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame:
Player, Position, Lettered (Year Inducted):
John Kimbrough, Fullback, 1939-40 (1954)
Joe Routt, Guard, 1935-37 (1962)
Joel Hunt, Halfback, 1925-27 (1967)
Joe Utay, Halfback, 1905-07 (1974)
John David Crow, Halfback, 1955-57 (1976)
Charlie Krueger, Tackle, 1955-57 (1983)
Jack Pardee, Fullback, 1954-56 (1986)
Dave Elmendorf, Defensive Back, 1968-70 (1996)
Ray Childress, Defensive Line, 1981-84 (2010)
Dat Nguyen, Linebacker, 1995-98 (2017)
Jacob Green, Defensive Line, 1977-79 (2019)
Coaches, Years at A&M (Year Inducted):
Dana X. Bible, 1917, 1919-28 (1952)
Madison Bell, 1929-33 (1955)
Homer Norton, 1934-46 (1971)
Paul “Bear” Bryant, 1954-57 (1986)
R.C. Slocum, 1989-2002 (2012)
Other NFF honors:
NFF Chris Schenkel Award – Dave South, 1985-2016 (2018)
NFF National Scholar-Athlete – Dave Elmendorf, 1968-70 (1970)
NFF National Scholar-Athlete – Kevin Monk, 1974-77 (1977)
NFF National Scholar-Athlete – Kip Corrington, 1984-87 (1987)
NFF National Scholar-Athlete – Lance Pavlas, 1987-90 (1990)
NFF National Scholar-Athlete – Ryan Tannehill, 2008-11 (2011)
