Norm Greeney
| No. 20, 30, 24 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Guard | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | May 7, 1910 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | ||||
| Died | October 20, 1985 (aged 75) Kelleys Island, Ohio, U.S. | ||||
Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||
Listed weight | 212 lb (96 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | John Marshall (Cleveland, Ohio) | ||||
| College | Notre Dame (1929–1932) | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Career statistics | |||||
| |||||
Norman Joseph Greeney (May 7, 1910 – October 20, 1985) was an American professional football player. A guard, he played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and was a member of their national championship team in 1930. After college, he spent three seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Early life
[edit]Greeney was born on May 7, 1910, in Cleveland, Ohio.[1] He attended John Marshall High School where he was a standout football player and wrestler and also competed in basketball and baseball.[2] A lineman in football, he was named All-Cleveland, and in wrestling, he competed as a light heavyweight and was considered among the best Ohio high school wrestlers.[2] He graduated from John Marshall in 1929 and then enrolled at Notre Dame University in Indiana later that year.[3]
College career
[edit]Greeney played for the freshman football team at Notre Dame in 1929, impressing coach Knute Rockne with his play.[4] He made the varsity team in 1930 as a backup to Tom Kassis at left guard.[2] That year, he made his debut coming in for an injured Kassis against the Northwestern Wildcats, then played nearly the full game the following week against USC.[2] He helped Notre Dame win the 1930 national championship.[2] Greeney then competed with Jim Harris for a starting role in 1931 before suffering an injury.[2]
Greeney became a right guard at the start of the 1932 season, his senior year, and won the starting job.[2] The Dayton Herald described him as a "good blocker and a wonder at opening holes in the opposing forward wall".[2] Entering his senior year, he was assigned Notre Dame's football locker 133, which was given to players considered to be likely All-America selections.[5] In addition to his football talents, Greeney was considered one of the top wrestlers at Notre Dame.[4]
Professional career
[edit]In April 1933, Greeney signed with the Green Bay Packers of the NFL.[6] The Packers signed him on the suggestion of Notre Dame coach Hunk Anderson, who described him as "a very good blocker ... about as tough as they come [and] the ideal type for the pro league".[6] He made the team and appeared in seven games, four as a starter, before being released by the Packers in November 1933.[1][7] The 1933 Packers finished the season with a record of 5–7–1.[8] Greeney signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1934 and was used as a backup lineman, appearing in 10 games while starting three.[1] The 1934 Pirates compiled a record of 2–10.[9] He initially returned in 1935 but was released in mid-September, after having appeared in just one game.[1][10] Greeney concluded his NFL career with 18 games played, seven as a starter.[1]
Later life
[edit]After his playing career ended, he coached the Newsboy Union Skippies football team.[11] He later worked for the Cleveland Trencher Company.[12] He married LaVerne Eiben in 1933 and had two daughters with her.[12][13] He died on October 20, 1985, in Kelleys Island, Ohio, at the age of 75.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Norm Greeney Stats". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Norm Greeney, Star In Notre Dame Line, Cleveland Product". The Dayton Herald. November 14, 1932. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Heinzerling, Lynn (November 14, 1932). "Cadets Or Irish, West Side Wins". The Plain Dealer. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Notre Dame Football Review (PDF). Notre Dame University. p. 30.
- ↑ "Greeney, Lucky 'Irish' Guard, Heir to 'All-America' Locker". Wausau Daily Herald. October 8, 1932. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Greeney Will Play Football In Green Bay". Green Bay Press-Gazette. April 26, 1933. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Green Bay Packers Must Beat Portsmouth to Stay in Pro Race". The Post-Crescent. November 9, 1933. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "1933 Green Bay Packers (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ↑ "1934 Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Pirates Release Three Gridders". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 18, 1935. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Donovan, Jim; Marder, Keith; Spellen, Mark (2001). The Notre Dame Football Encyclopedia: The Ultimate Guide to America's Favorite College Team. Kensington Publishing Corporation. p. 78.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - 1 2 "Greeney". The Plain Dealer. October 21, 1985. p. 37 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Norm Greeney To Wed". The Plain Dealer. June 24, 1933. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
