Kendrick Green Bio
Kendrick Green is an American professional football center for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft. Green has also spent time with the Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills, working his way across multiple organizations as a versatile interior lineman.
Standing 6 ft 4 in and listed at 315 lb, Green is a sizable presence in the middle of the offensive line. He has appeared in regular-season games for the Steelers, Texans, and Bills, and was named first-team All-Big Ten during his final college season in 2020. After beginning his NFL career as a starting center, Green has continued to develop his game as a reliable depth option at both center and guard.
Early Life and Background
Kendrick Green was born on December 22, 1998, in Peoria, Illinois, in the United States. He grew up in the same central Illinois community that shaped his early athletic life. Green attended Peoria High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete competing in baseball, football, and wrestling throughout his formative years.
As a senior at Peoria High School, Green was a dominant defensive player, recording 113 tackles, including 33 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He was named first-team All-State after helping Peoria win the 2016 IHSA 5A state championship. Following that championship run, Green committed to play college football at Illinois, choosing the in-state Fighting Illini over an offer from Iowa.
Path to American Football
Green arrived at the University of Illinois as a defensive tackle before making a significant position change early in his college career. After redshirting his true freshman season, he moved to the offensive line, a switch that ultimately defined his professional trajectory. The transition paid off quickly, as he earned a starting role as a redshirt freshman.
Green started all 12 games at left guard during his redshirt freshman season, then returned to the same position for his redshirt sophomore year. He was named honorable mention All-Big Ten and an honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Focus for that sophomore campaign. In the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, he started three games at center and five at guard, earning first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American honors from USA Today. After that junior season, Green declared for the 2021 NFL draft, choosing to forgo his redshirt senior year at Illinois.
Kendrick Green Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Green was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round, 87th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on July 20, 2021, and immediately competed for a starting job. Heading into his first training camp, he was listed as the starting center on the Steelers’ depth chart, facing only minor competition from veteran J. C. Hassenauer.
Green won the starting center job outright, and head coach Mike Tomlin officially named him the starter at the end of the preseason. He made his NFL debut in the Steelers’ Week 1 victory over the Buffalo Bills, playing 95% of the offensive snaps in that game. He went on to appear in 15 games with 15 starts as a rookie, playing 96% of Pittsburgh’s offensive snaps and earning a 53.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, while committing six penalties including four holding calls. In his second season, the Steelers moved Green from center to guard, where he competed with Kevin Dotson for the starting left guard job but was a game day inactive for all 17 games.
Houston Texans Era (2023–2024)
On August 29, 2023, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded Kendrick Green to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick. The move gave Green a fresh opportunity to compete for a roster spot along the interior of the offensive line. Early in his first season with Houston, he appeared in the Texans’ rotation at guard.
Green’s 2023 season was cut short on October 4, when he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn meniscus in Week 4. The injury kept him out for the remainder of that year, and he continued with the Texans into 2024 while working to re-establish himself as a depth piece along the offensive front.
Buffalo Bills Era (2025)
On March 14, 2025, Kendrick Green signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, adding experienced interior line depth to their roster. The signing gave Green a chance to compete for a role in Buffalo’s offensive line rotation. He participated in the team’s offseason program and training camp in his bid to make the 53-man roster.
Green was released by the Bills on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts, but he was re-signed to the team’s practice squad the following day. He remained on the Buffalo practice squad for the early portion of the 2025 season, continuing to work toward another opportunity on an active roster.
Cleveland Browns Era (2025–Present)
On December 24, 2025, Kendrick Green was signed by the Cleveland Browns off the Buffalo Bills practice squad, joining the team midway through the regular season. The Browns added him to provide experienced depth at the center and guard positions. He joined a Cleveland offensive line that has continued to tinker with its rotation throughout the year.
As of the 2025 season, Green is listed on the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad wearing number 53. He continues to work toward an active-roster role while contributing on the practice field.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Kendrick Green’s career came in his NFL debut, when he played 95% of the offensive snaps in a Week 1 victory over the Buffalo Bills as a rookie starting center. He followed that with a string of full-game appearances, playing 100% of the offensive snaps in multiple consecutive weeks. His third-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft and his first-team All-Big Ten honor in 2020 stand as the most prominent accolades of his career to date.
Kendrick Green Career Wins
Kendrick Green’s professional résumé is built around durability and versatility along the interior offensive line rather than headlining statistical milestones. He has appeared in 37 regular-season NFL games with 19 starts, accumulating valuable experience with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, and Cleveland Browns. His career NFL statistics, as of the 2025 season, reflect steady contribution as both a starter and a rotational depth piece.
Kendrick Green Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Kendrick Green’s immediate family has not been widely reported. He grew up in Peoria, Illinois, and his athletic upbringing in the city shaped his early development in football, baseball, and wrestling. Beyond that foundation, detailed family background is not part of his publicly documented profile.
Personal Life
Kendrick Green is known primarily for his professional football career and keeps much of his personal life out of the public eye. He is a United States citizen by birth and continues his NFL career in the Midwest and Northeast corridors where he has spent most of his professional life.
2025 Season Performance
Kendrick Green’s 2025 season has been defined by movement between rosters. After signing a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills in March, he competed throughout the offseason and training camp before being released on August 26 as part of final cuts. He rejoined the Bills on their practice squad the next day and worked to keep his game sharp in that role through the early part of the regular season.
On December 24, 2025, Green was signed off the Buffalo practice squad by the Cleveland Browns, joining his fourth NFL organization. The late-season move gave him an opportunity to finish the year with an active AFC North club. Listed at 6 ft 4 in and 315 lb, he provides the Browns with experienced depth at both center and guard.
Looking ahead, Green will continue to push for an active-roster role with Cleveland. Given his history of starting experience in Pittsburgh and his positional flexibility, he remains a candidate to contribute along the interior offensive line as the 2025 season concludes and the Browns evaluate their plans for the offseason.