WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Washington football legend Darrell Green was presented with the Key to the City Saturday. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser gave Green the award in front of a packed crowd at Franklin Park in the district.
Green played as a cornerback in the NFL for 20 years, spending his entire career with Washington. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion and NFL Hall of Famer. Green also won the NFL's Fastest Man competition four times and remains the only undefeated multiple winner in the competition's history. Green retired after the 2002 season, at age 42.
The Key to the City is the highest honor Washington, DC, can bestow. It is a symbol of gratitude and civic recognition. Hundreds of fans, in addition to former and current Commanders players, were in attendance Saturday. Mayor's Arts Award winner Backyard Band also performed at the celebration.
"Darrell, you represent DC values, and you represent the DC spirit: scrappy, fast, underestimated, and a champion," said Mayor Bowser.
At the event, Green shared the key with 'everyone.'
“I’m going to give everybody a piece of this. Take your hand. You all have a piece of this key,” stated the two-time Super Bowl champion.
Mayor Bowser expressed at Franklin Park Saturday that she has only done this a handful of times. The Key to the City is the highest honor and gratitude to an individual or organization.
“I got to tell you, I’m stingy with this key. It is my honor today to introduce Darryl Green with the key to Washington, DC,” emphasized Mayor Bowser.
In an interview with WUSA9 this past week, Green said:
“This is a different context,” Green said when asked to compare it to his Hall of Fame induction. “This is not me catching the ball. This is me being a human; this is me being a man, a husband, a father, a neighbor, a friend. That's the way I see it, and that's the way I'm accepting it.”
Sunday, the Commanders will retire Green's legendary No. 28 during a special halftime ceremony, honoring his contributions to the team and the community. Green is only the fifth Washington player to ever have their number retired.