Louisville football: The 50 greatest Cardinals of all time

Hands down the best tight end in Louisville football history, and potentially the program’s best past catcher ever, Ibn Green was a force to be reckoned with under Ron Cooper and John L. Smith.

Transitioning from an independent to a member of Conference USA, Green helped Louisville get into the swing of a schedule as they play today, as well as playing an instrumental role in turning the program around after some not-so-fun years under Cooper.

Green had an immediate connection with quarterback Chris Redman, who was a classmate and teammate at Louisville Male High School with him. Over the course of their four seasons together, they became one of the best duos in the country.

Green, in particular, was not only an excellent tight end, but he was a revelation as a pass-catcher. Though he was the best playmaker on the field, Green could not only get open consistently but make things happen with the ball in his hands.

When he sat down with BRL and Cardinal Sports Zone this summer, Green talked about how important the transition from independent to Conference USA was to him and how much pride he took in switching from Old Cardinal Stadium to Louisville’s new digs.

Green and Redman were one of the first duos in school history to really get up for playing for their hometown. They played with a chip on their shoulder in the early Conference USA days when Green says he felt conference opponents vastly underestimated their potential.

Green graduated as the third-leading receiver in Louisville football history with 2,830 yards, second all time in total receptions with 217 and has the most catches ever recorded in a game by a Cardinal.

Today, Green is a proud Louisvillian and still lives and works in the city, coaching youth football in his spare time and trying to keep up with his five daughters.