Mike Greene Bio
Mike Greene (born May 3, 1999) is an American professional football defensive end. He plays in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Greene played college football at James Madison University, where he became a first-team All-American before launching his professional career as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Mike Greene was born on May 3, 1999, in Richmond, Virginia. He grew up in the region and attended Highland Springs High School, where he developed into a standout defensive prospect. At Highland Springs, he was a central piece of a dominant run that produced consecutive class championships during his junior and senior seasons.
Greene earned first-team all-conference recognition as a junior and added first-team all-state honors the same year, reinforcing his reputation as one of the top defensive linemen in Virginia. Following his high school career, he committed to play college football for the James Madison Dukes, a program that would provide the platform for his rapid development.
Path to American Football
Greene’s path to professional football began in earnest at Highland Springs, where consecutive state titles and postseason honors established him as a Division I recruit. His commitment to James Madison offered an opportunity to compete at the FCS level and showcase his size, quickness, and instincts on the defensive line. From the moment he arrived on campus, the program invested in his growth, and he quickly became a foundational piece of the Dukes’ defensive front.
Within a single season, Greene transitioned from a rotational freshman into a full-time starter, signaling that his ceiling extended well beyond the college ranks. Year-by-year production gains, combined with All-American recognition, confirmed his readiness to test himself at the professional level. When the 2022 NFL Draft concluded without his name being called, Greene’s college résumé was strong enough to earn him an immediate opportunity through a tryout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mike Greene Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Greene wasted little time making an impact at James Madison. As a true freshman in 2017, he appeared in nine games and helped the Dukes reach the FCS national championship game as runners-up. The experience provided an early look at high-stakes football and laid the groundwork for a larger role the following season.
In 2018, Greene became a full-time starter, lining up for all 13 games and recording 41 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. His 2019 campaign marked a clear leap forward, as he started all 16 games, posted 53 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and 7.5 sacks, and helped James Madison return to the national championship. That season he earned third-team all-conference honors and was named James Madison’s defensive lineman of the year after leading all Colonial Athletic Association defensive linemen in sacks.
James Madison Breakthrough (2021)
The 2021 spring season, postponed from fall 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marked a defining stretch of Greene’s college career. He shifted from defensive tackle to defensive end, started seven games, and produced 25 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss, and 3.9 sacks. The position change showcased his versatility, while his production led the conference in tackles-for-loss and earned him Colonial Athletic Association co-defensive player of the year honors.
Greene closed his career at James Madison during the fall 2021 season, starting 12 games at defensive tackle and finishing with 56 tackles, 12.0 tackles-for-loss, and 5.0 sacks. He was a first-team All-American selection by HERO Sports and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, awarded to the top defensive player in FCS football. Across his five college seasons, he appeared in 58 games and tallied 177 tackles, 39 tackles-for-loss, and 18 sacks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2022–Present)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Greene signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following a successful tryout. He was released at final roster cuts and promptly re-signed to the practice squad, where he spent the entirety of his rookie season. On January 17, 2023, he signed a reserve/future contract, and he went on to make Tampa Bay’s final roster in 2023.
Greene was waived by the Buccaneers on August 27, 2024, and returned to the practice squad before signing another reserve/future contract on January 14, 2025. As part of the team’s 2025 final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, he was waived again, continuing the practice-squad-to-roster pattern that has defined his early professional years.
Notable Events and Milestones
Greene’s signature milestones include consecutive state championships at Highland Springs, an FCS national championship appearance as a freshman, two All-American selections at James Madison, and a Buck Buchanan Award finalist nod in the spring 2021 season. His transition from undrafted tryout invitee to multi-year NFL roster contributor underscores the steady progression that has defined his career to this point.
Mike Greene Career Wins
Mike Greene’s competitive résumé is built on team championships and individual recognition rather than a single marquee victory. At Highland Springs, he was part of consecutive class championship teams, and at James Madison he appeared in two FCS national championship games. Individually, he earned first-team all-conference, first-team all-state, and multiple All-American honors while leading his conference in tackles-for-loss during the spring 2021 season.
Other Wins & Performances
Greene was a two-time FCS national championship game participant, a first-team All-American by multiple outlets, and the Colonial Athletic Association co-defensive player of the year. He also led all CAA defensive linemen in sacks during the 2019 season and was recognized as James Madison’s defensive lineman of the year the same season.
Mike Greene Family
Personal Life
Mike Greene was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, and is an American by nationality. He attended Highland Springs High School before continuing his football career at James Madison University. Publicly verified details about his broader family and personal life are limited.
2025 Season Performance
Mike Greene’s 2025 NFL story began with a reserve/future contract signed on January 14, 2025, after he had spent time on Tampa Bay’s practice squad the previous season. The contract kept him in the Buccaneers’ system through the offseason and gave him a chance to compete for a spot on the final 53-man roster.
On August 26, 2025, Greene was waived by the Buccaneers as part of final roster cuts, a familiar outcome given his 2022 and 2024 paths through the practice squad. His continued presence on reserve/future deals reflects the organization’s view of him as a developmental defensive lineman with starting-level college credentials.
Looking ahead, Greene’s 2025 outlook centers on resuming his climb through Tampa Bay’s depth chart, drawing on his experience as a two-time national championship game participant and multi-time All-American. His combination of FCS production and NFL practice-squad tenure positions him as a player to monitor as the Buccaneers evaluate their defensive line throughout the season.