Full Breakdown
Kendrick Green’s Turbulent Journey: From Rookie Center to Houston Guard
5/21/2026, 5:18:47 AM
The Rookie Center Experiment
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected interior lineman Kendrick Green in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft and installed him as the starting center immediately after the retirement of Maurkice Pouncey. Green, a former guard at the University of Illinois, was tasked with snapping to veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and making line calls for a unit that had just been rebuilt around free-agent signings and draft picks such as Dan Moore Jr. (LT) and Trai Turner (RG). The rookie’s lack of size created matchup problems against larger nose tackles, and he struggled to process blocking assignments while directing teammates. By the end of his rookie season, Green was benched in favor of backup J.C. Hassenauer, who also started the Steelers’ Wild-Card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Coaching Decisions and Internal Criticism
Head coach Mike Tomlin repeatedly addressed Green’s performance in team meetings, directly confronting offensive-line coach Adrian Klemm. Tomlin’s internal messages emphasized that the line “needed to be fixed yesterday” and that Green “had to get this cleaned up.” Green later confirmed that Tomlin’s bluntness extended to the coaching staff, noting that Klemm “didn’t help develop his game” and that the techniques taught “simply didn’t work.” Fans and analysts echoed this criticism, labeling the decision to start an unprepared rookie at center a “cardinal sin” of coaching.
Trade to Houston and Subsequent Performance
After the Steelers signed veteran Mason Cole in 2026, Green was relegated to the bench for his sophomore season and did not play a snap in 2025. Ahead of roster cutdowns, Pittsburgh traded Green to the Houston Texans for a sixth-round pick. In Houston, Green transitioned to guard, a position more aligned with his college experience. He started 17 games in 2024, even after recovering from a 2023 meniscus tear, and credited former Buffalo O-line coach Aaron Kromer for his development. Green’s trajectory underscores how positional fit and coaching continuity can affect a player’s career.
Timeline of Key Events
- 2021 – Drafted (3rd round); starts at center; benches by season’s end.
- 2022 – Serves as backup to J.C. Hassenauer; Steelers lose Wild-Card game.
- 2023 – Suffers meniscus tear while with Houston.
- 2024 – Starts 17 games for Houston at guard.
- 2025 – Works with O-line coach Aaron Kromer in Buffalo; Kromer retires.
- 2026 – Steelers sign Mason Cole; Green traded to Houston for a sixth-round pick.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
One source claims Mike Tomlin resigned in January 2026, while other excerpts depict him actively coaching and delivering weekly feedback to Green. The discrepancy highlights a gap in publicly verified information about Tomlin’s status during the 2026 offseason.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was in way over my head as a rookie,” — Kendrick Green, former Steelers center
- “It would just be that. He would literally say that. 'I'm not a line coach, Klemm, that sh*t needs to be fixed yesterday.'” — Mike Tomlin, as recounted by Green
- “He told me when they traded me, ‘We probably didn’t put you in the best position to develop,'” — Mike Tomlin, quoted by Green
- “He said, 'So what, this is your career, not mine. You gotta figure this sh*t out. Go live that life.'” — Mike Tomlin, quoted by Green
- “I’ll never have anything bad to say about him,” — Kendrick Green, on Tomlin
- “I’m telling everybody what to do…I’m like, how do I block this dude?” — Kendrick Green, reflecting on his rookie season
What’s Next
Green’s experience suggests that the Steelers will continue overhauling their interior line, prioritizing players with proven positional fit. Houston appears committed to keeping Green at guard, where he can further solidify his role. Both franchises face decisions on coaching staff stability and draft strategy that will shape the offensive line landscape in the coming seasons.
