AJ Green

Adriel Jeremiah Green was born on July 31, 1988. For twelve seasons, he played professional American football as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL), the majority of which were spent playing for the Cincinnati Bengals. A former Georgia Bulldogs player during his college years, Green showed his prowess on the field time and again, which led to several All-American titles.

In the 2011 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Green with the fourth overall pick, which signified the beginning of a fruitful career in the professional league. He played for them for 10 seasons before moving on to the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent two years in their crimson uniforms. In 2023, he returned to the Bengals to retire, playing his last game signed on a one-day contract. Green officially bid his farewell to professional football as part of the Cincinnati family.

The year following his arrival, Green secured his first Pro Bowl selection, the first rookie receiver to earn such an honor in eight years. This only marked the beginning of his Pro Bowl appearances as he made it to the prestigious event seven times throughout his career. From 2011 through 2013, Green made history by setting an NFL record for the most passes caught during a player’s first three seasons, catching a staggering 260 passes. Although the record was eventually broken by Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., Green’s achievement remains commendable. Additionally, he boasted six seasons in which he secured at least 1,000 receiving yards.

After his tenure with the Bengals concluded, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2021. As one of the best players the Bengals ever had, he finished his time with the team in second place for franchise history records in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and receptions. The lone player ahead of him in these categories is Chad Johnson.

Jeremy did not have an easy start in life. At the tender age of four, he lost his older brother and sole sibling in a fatal car accident. He began honing his hand-eye coordination skills early, joining his elementary school’s juggling team as early as the second grade. This skill would later prove instrumental in his development as a wide receiver, a position that requires precise hand-eye coordination.

He attended Summerville High School in Summerville, South Carolina, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track. As a student-athlete, Green played as a wide receiver for the Summerville Green Wave football team under coach John McKissick. His contributions merited his recognition as one of the top national football prospects of the Class of 2008. Sports Illustrated even ranked him at number one. Esteemed sporting publications and platforms such as Rivals.com and Scout.com saw his potential, ranking Green as one of their top ten prospects nationally.

Green also participated in the Under Armour All-America Game. He was part of the Summerville High school basketball team, which took home the 2007-2008 South Carolina state championship. His stats, combined with his athletic prowess and competitiveness, earned him the distinction of being compared to then-Oakland Raiders wideout Randy Moss.

Green’s journey to the top included a commitment to attend the University of Georgia in 2006, where he played for coach Mark Richt’s Georgia Bulldogs football team. He brought honor to the team in the 2008 season, finishing with 56 catches for 963 yards and eight touchdowns, breaking all freshman school records in the process. As a sophomore, he sealed his reputation as the go-to wide receiver for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Unfortunately, his junior season began on shaky ground due to a compliance issue. Nevertheless, Green managed to prove his worth on the field. Sighting his potential, the Cincinnati Bengals selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft in his final college season.

Once Green began playing in the NFL, he garnered several prestigious awards for his performance. He finished his rookie season by being named to the NFL All-Rookie Team and earning a Pro Bowl nomination. Within the next years with Bengals, he set records in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, cementing his status as one of the most successful wide receivers in the NFL.

By the end of his career, Adriel Jeremiah Green made a name for himself as a valuable player both on and off the field. His impressive career, marked by broken records, countless receptions, and unmatched field prowess, will remain one of the most memorable in NFL history.