GREATER LANDOVER, Md. — Washington football legend Darrell Green will join just a handful of players in franchise history to have his number retired. Green, nicknamed the "The Ageless Wonder," played a record 20 seasons for the team, and is widely considered one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever play the game.
Known for his speed, Green is a four-time winner of the NFL's Fastest Man Competition, was named an Associated Press All-Pro three times and was voted into seven Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and played in two of Washington's Super Bowl victories.
"For 20 years, Darrell Green gave everything he had to this organization and fanbase. Even after retiring from the burgundy and gold, he remained committed to giving back to this community, which to this day holds him in the highest regard," said Josh Harris, of the Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient. "No one on our team will ever again wear No. 28. Thank you, Darrell, for embodying what it means to be a Washington football player, both on and off the field."
Green will announce the Commanders second-round pick in the NFL Draft. He also will greet fans from the stage at the team’s draft party at National Harbor on Saturday.
"I am beyond grateful for this honor and to new ownership, who embraced my wife and me from day one,” Green said. “I played my whole career here, met my wife here, served my church and community here, and I am humbled to have my jersey retired here. The team means everything to this community, and I am encouraged not only for us to win a Super Bowl, but to win the community back.”
Green told WUSA9's Chick Hernandez he was completely blown away and emotional when he learned his number would be retired.
"I didn't anticipate it, I didn't expect it, I wasn't looking for it," Green said. "I humble myself to say dude I was happy. I was happy and appreciative."
Green joins Sonny Jurgensen (No. 9), Bobby Mitchell (No. 49), Sammy Baugh (No. 33), and Sean Taylor (No. 21) as the only Washington players to receive the honor.
When asked what it means that no one would wear No. 28 again, it was clear it was still sinking in for the star player, who describes himself as a sober guy.
"In this case, I'm giving myself the freedom to celebrate," he said with a pause. "I appreciate that people appreciate me."
He spoke about his long career with the team, calling it a tough job.
"I was covering the best player every week," he said, running down a list of Hall of Fame players he squared up against. "I had a sobriety about me. I laughed and had fun, but man, I was focused."
But Green is quick to mention that football was never the No. 1 thing in his life, speaking of being a husband and a dad and someone who serves the community. He said he feels like in retiring his number, the team's ownership group is looking at more than just his impact on the gridiron.
"They're looking at the whole Darrell Green, and I like that," he said. "They see me."
The exact game and date for Green's jersey retirement will be announced following the NFL schedule release. To learn about special tickets to the retirement game, fill out the form at Commanders.com/28
"All of the celebration is all of us," Green said. "I'm from D.C. This is my community, my family, my children, my church. I'm y'all's."
For Green, the jersey retirement means more than all his other accolades.
"This is my family... My people are saying, my team — 20 years! My whole life! — they're saying, 'Dude. You're that dude, man!' That humbles me and makes me happy," he said.
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