Each NFL team’s best ever 1st-round draft pick

DT. North Texas. Joe Greene. '69. player. 55. <p>If you can believe it, there was a time that the Pittsburgh Steelers were the laughing stock of the NFL. That was way back in the 1960s, where the team only had two winning seasons that decade. The change started and was built around defensive tackle “Mean” Joe Green, taken in No. 4 overall 1969.</p> <p>The nickname “Mean” is rooted in his hatred for losing that he often took out on opposing offenses. Greene had plenty of frustrations to take out on opponents his rookie year as his Steelers went 1-13. Head coach Chuck Noll needed to get Greene to harness that anger but knew Greene was his guy.</p> <p>He would be the one that started the culture change that made it unacceptable to keep losing. Noll built a “Steel Curtain” defense around Greene that would eventually lead to four Super Bowls in six years. There were some Hall of Fame players on that offense but the “Steel Curtain” led the way, especially the beginning of the dynasty.</p> <p>Along the way in Greene’s spectacular run, he was was an All-Pro five times and went to 10 Pro Bowls.  That made him only the second Steeler to have his jersey formally retired, the first being Ernie Stautner. And of course, he has taken his place among the greats in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.</p>