Syracuse, 1986
• 1984 Academic All-America® First Team
• 1985 Academic All-America® First Team
Tim Green was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Hall of Fame in 2006.
Tim Green, born in Liverpool, N.Y., was a dominant force for the Syracuse University football team in the 1980’s, and was later selected in the 1986 NFL draft. He was also a standout student, earning his degree in business administration in 1986 and later received a law degree from Syracuse in 1994 after completing his NFL career.
Green was a valuable member of the Syracuse defensive line in his time on the field. He was part of the group labeled the “Four Wheel Drive” defensive line from 1981-85, a unit that helped the team triumph over No. 1 ranked Nebraska to conclude the 1984 season. Over the course of his four seasons on the defensive line, Perry set the school record for sacks in a career (45.5), in a season (15) and in a single game (4). He ended with 341 tackles overall as well.
In 1986, the Atlanta Falcons selected Green in the first round of the NFL draft, where he played at linebacker and defensive end. His career spanned eight seasons (all with the Falcons), leading the team in sacks and topping the 100-tackle mark during the 1989-90 season.
After hanging up the cleats after the 1994 season, Green began writing weekly columns for the Herald Journal newspaper for two years. He then moved on to working as a color commentator for FOX Network telecasts of NFL football, was a columnist for USA Today and a weekly commentator for National Public Radio (NPR). Along the way, Green penned several suspense and children’s books as well.