Ahman Green plans to come home to play professional football, an eyebrow-raising reality that still has the former NFL All-Pro struggling to find the right words to describe it.
There he was Wednesday night — the former Omaha Central standout, the legendary Husker ball carrier — dressed neatly in a suit and tie, fidgeting with his new Omaha Nighthawks cap as he stood quietly outside a country club ballroom filled with fans awaiting his arrival.
It still hadn't hit him. Probably won't for a while.
The 33-year-old running back signed a contract Wednesday to play football this fall for Omaha's UFL franchise, becoming the first player to officially join the five-team league's newest club.
“I haven't even had a chance to call all my family here, it's happened so fast,” Green said. “A lot of my family, they're going to turn on the TV and be like, ‘What? Ahman's back?' ... But it's a great feeling.”
Green and the Nighthawks made their announcement in front of about 300 cheering fans, who gathered inside the clubhouse at the Champions Run Country Club Wednesday night for a league-organized event.
For nearly 45 minutes, Green signed autographs. He posed for photographs. He talked football, past and present.
“It makes it a little bit more special to be here in Omaha,” Green told the crowd. “Hopefully, I can come out here and show what I've got left in the tank.”
At Central, Green was a two-time All-Nebraska football honoree and the state champion in the 100- and 200-meter events in 1995. He'll be inducted to the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in September.
During three years at Nebraska, Green became the school's No. 2 all-time rusher (3,880 yards), helping the Huskers to two national titles. The 12-year NFL veteran is the Green Bay Packers' career rushing leader and a five-time Pro Bowler.
“For pro football in Omaha, I don't know if we could start off any better than Ahman Green,” General Manager Rick Mueller said. “I couldn't imagine a better fit.”
Two months ago, when Green got word that his hometown had earned an expansion UFL franchise, he and his agent hit the phones right away. By the time the month of May ended, Green and Mueller had closed in on an agreement. They finalized it Wednesday.
Mueller has said that each non-quarterback in the UFL will make $50,000, and the league will cover all food and housing expenses during the season.
Green just wants to play, though.
An NFL free agent, Green said he's already tried out for the Green Bay Packers and the St. Louis Rams. “I was ready for a tryout (with the Nighthawks), if they'd asked,” Green said.
It's clear to him that he's approaching the end of his playing career, though he'd like to prove to some that he still has the ability to contribute on the field. The idea of proving it in Omaha is all the sweeter, Green said.
“Very few guys are on that list where they can say I play pro ball where I grew up or where I played my high school ball,” he said. “It means a lot.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
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