Super Bowl XLV Making Mean Joe Smile
FLOWER MOUND (CBSDFW.COM) - It's the commercial everyone remembers and still talks about to this day with Pittsburgh Steelers player - Mean Joe Greene.
Despite being a native of Texas, when he played against the Dallas Cowboys he definitely didn't show any love.
But the North Texas graduate is beloved by millions of Americans for a 30 second TV spot that still makes him smile to this day.
He was known as a tough as nails defensive tackle for Pittsburgh's legendary Steel Curtain. Charles Edward Greene was better known as Mean Joe Greene. But an innocent 30-second commercial was destined to change that.
"Going from being unapproachable in some people's minds... I became very approachable."
To football fans, the hall of famer will also be remembered for winning four super bowls. To the rest of America, Joe Greene is best remembered for a super bowl commercial involving a kid, a coke, a jersey and a huge smile.
"This is a good thing. I'm playing in a game and they have a commercial of me during the game. So that was a pretty good feeling."
Believe it or not, Greene says he didn't jump at the opportunity to act in the commercial. But after he was told the 30-second spot would take only a half-day to shoot, he threw his jersey into the ring.
"It ended up being three days and a 30 second and a 60 second. I think we were there so long because I was such a poor actor."
The rest as they say, is history. It is now considered one of the greatest commercials of all time.
Mean Joe Greene has left his mark on more than just advertising. He has also made a huge impact on the Lone Star State.
"I grew up in Central Texas and went to college at UNT, which was North Texas State at the time. My wife is from Dallas."
The 64-year-old is living in Flower Mound and is thrilled that the first Super Bowl ever in North Texas will host his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. It's just one more reason to flash that same smile that made commercial history more than three decades ago.
