By Calvin Watkins
PFWA President
It’s with sadness that we mourn the passing of Jerry Green.
The long-time Detroit News journalist passed away on March 23. He was 94.
Green was the only journalist to cover the first 56 Super Bowls. It’s a remarkable feat that stands as a testament to the readers who sought Jerry’s thoughts on the NFL’s biggest game.
The Detroit Lions never played in a Super Bowl, yet have won four NFL Championships. The last time the Lions played in the NFL Championships game, Jerry was there, covering the contest in 1957.
This amazing journalism career started in 1952 before Jerry stepped away to serve his country for four years in the Navy. He returned to sports writing in 1956 and never left. Jerry joined the Detroit News in 1963 and continued writing for the paper following his 2004 retirement. He provided Super Bowl-week coverage to the News through 2022 and was still writing for the paper into this year.
The Pro Football Writers of America honored Green as its 2005 winner of the Bill Nunn Award honoring long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football.
Green is survived by his daughter Jenny Klein, son-in-law David Klein, and granddaughters Gretchen and Susannah Klein. Per the Detroit News, visitation and services will be held for Jerry at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home at 2600 Crooks Road in Troy, Michigan. There will be visitation from 4-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28 with a second visitation from 10-11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 29, immediately followed by a service at 11 a.m.
The PFWA extends heartfelt condolences to Green’s family following his passing.
