Darrell Green
A cornerback whose blistering speed and unwavering durability anchored a Washington defense for two decades, earning him a gold jacket.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American football player·Birthday: February 15·Baby Boomers
Biography
Darrell Green didn't just play football; he sustained excellence at an almost mythical level. Drafted in the first round out of tiny Texas A&I, he announced his arrival with a legendary play as a rookie, chasing down Tony Dorsett from behind to prevent a touchdown—a feat that became his trademark. For 20 seasons with the Washington franchise, his combination of world-class speed and technical mastery shut down opposing receivers, making him the consistent heartbeat of a defense that won three Super Bowls. His longevity was staggering; he remained a starting-caliber player well into his 40s, a testament to his fitness and passion. Off the field, his commitment matched his on-field intensity, earning him the NFL's Man of the Year award for his extensive community work in the D.C. area. Green's career stands as a monument to consistency, speed, and profound respect for the game.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Darrell was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Darrell Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Darrell's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 20 consecutive seasons for the Washington franchise, an exceptional tenure for an NFL defensive back.
- Won two Super Bowls (XXII and XXVI) as a starting cornerback for Washington.
- Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008, his first year of eligibility.
- Named the 1996 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year for his excellence on and off the field.
Did You Know?
He famously won the NFL's Fastest Man competition four times, at ages 38, 39, 40, and 41.
He recorded an interception in a record 19 consecutive seasons.
He founded the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation in 1988, focusing on after-school programs for children.
“I didn't play the game to be the best cornerback. I played the game to be the best me.”
