It's been 50 years.
In 1964 the Steelers retired Ernie Stautner's number 70, and they hadn't retired one since; that is until number 75 was retired today.
Ultimately, Sean Jensen, managing editor of Thrive Sports, said on Twitter what everyone else was thinking.
Love it: Got an email that legendary Joe Greene will have his No. 75 retired by #Steelers Nov. 2. My only question: What took so long?!
— Sean Jensen (@seankjensen) July 30, 2014
Jensen put it exactly how I felt. But one couldn't have summed up the national reaction any better than columnist Gene Collier.
General national reaction to #Steelers retiring Joe Greene's number: Wait, it wasn't?
— Gene Collier (@genecollier) July 30, 2014
Why did it take the Steelers till 2014 to retire the jersey of such an integral member of their franchise even after he played? We may never know, but the foundation that Greene set was emphasized by chairman Dan Rooney when he talked to NFL.com's Judy Batista.
Talked to Dan Rooney re: Joe Greene Monday. He said Greene set tone, held others responsible, laid groundwork for all Steelers success since
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) July 30, 2014
But of course, you can't mention the history of Greene without mentioning the classic Coke commerical. This sports fan did just that in his tweet.
Its about time that Mean Joe Greene is getting his number retired. They should invite the #CocaCola commercial kid. #Steelers
— Jeremy Kahn (@JeremyKahn1) July 30, 2014
With Greene's jersey being retired, we're all wondering if it is going to take the Steelers another 50 years to retire another great. The numbers 36, 12, 52, 58, 59, and 32 aren't officially retired. Yet, the Steelers don't issue them anymore. But the tweet that caught me the most by surprise regarding numbers was the tweet of Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly.
This will blow your mind. Steelers have issued Mel Blount's No. 47 to Ron Stanley, Scott Shields, Bruce Jones, Cameron Riley and Steve Morse
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) July 30, 2014
When you read that list of players, for most of them you think, who? But, despite the fact that many deserving players' jerseys aren't retired, arguably the greatest Steeler of all time will. Really, this fan put it best in a response to BTSC editor Neal Coolong.
@NealCoolong He's THE Pittsburgh Steeler.
— Michael Morris (@MJMorris5477) July 30, 2014