Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Greene were celebrated as Earl Campbell honored them at a gala held on Wednesday at the W.T. Brookshire Convention Center in Tyler. King was awarded the 13th Annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, while Greene became the first recipient of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Legends honor.
During the event, Richard Soloman from SPORTyler announced that Kerra Moore, a student at Texas A&M University and a graduate of Chapel Hill High School, will receive the 2025 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Scholarship. Emcee Brian Jones, a former NFL linebacker and current CBS Sports Analyst, referred to King as “Longview Lightning,” praising him as a remarkable athlete. He also reminisced about Greene”s glory days with the Pittsburgh Steelers, noting Greene”s victories over the Dallas Cowboys in two Super Bowls.
“I”m honored to present the award to Haynes King,” said Campbell, the 1977 Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Texas. “All of these players had incredible seasons. They all deserved their place as a finalist.”
The other finalists for the award included Cam Cook from Jacksonville State, Kewan Lacy from Mississippi, Drew Mestemaker from North Texas, and Marcel Reed from Texas A&M. King was presented the award by Campbell”s sons, Christian and Tyler, making him the second player from East Texas to earn this accolade, following Greg Ward Jr. from the University of Houston in 2015.
“It means a lot to me being from East Texas,” expressed King, who led the Longview Lobos to the state championship in 2018. “Words cannot explain what it means, growing up in East Texas, and just being attached to this award, named for Earl Campbell. It means so much.”
King thanked God for his opportunities and acknowledged the support of his family, coaches, and teammates, emphasizing that this achievement would not have been possible without them.
John King, Haynes” father and a legendary high school football coach at Longview, expressed immense pride in his son”s accomplishment. “We are from East Texas, and winning the Earl Campbell Award is huge,” Coach King stated. “It”s tough to win this award, and I”m proud of my son for who he is and what he stands for.” King concluded his collegiate career by being named the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, finishing 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting and setting a Georgia Tech single-season record with 3,920 yards of total offense.
King”s career began at Texas A&M, where he graduated in three years. After dealing with injuries, he transferred to Georgia Tech, where he helped the Yellow Jackets achieve a nine-win regular season, a significant milestone in the program”s history. He is scheduled to participate in the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl on January 27 at the Ford Center in Frisco and is preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft in April.
The Legends Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of football after being out of the league for at least 20 years. Greene, a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers, chose to highlight the legacy of Earl Campbell instead of focusing on his own achievements.
“He was a running back that was hard to tackle, and I”m a defensive tackle. Hopefully, as someone would say, I was hard to block… that”s our relationship,” Greene remarked.
Greene, who played college football at North Texas State University and was a standout defensive tackle, was drafted by the Steelers in 1969. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 and had his jersey retired by the Steelers in 2014, making it only the second number to be retired in franchise history.
“Joe has been a friend of mine for a long time,” Campbell stated. “We were intense competitors because the road to a Super Bowl from Houston went through Pittsburgh. I am honored to have him be the first recipient of the Legends award.” Greene, now a fan of Coke Zero, reflected on his legacy and contributions to the game.
The award is sponsored by several organizations, including the Brookshire Grocery Company, the City of Tyler, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, among others.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, established in 2012, recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who embodies qualities associated with Earl Campbell, such as integrity, performance, and tenacity. Nominees must also have a connection to Texas football, either through high school or collegiate play.
The voting committee is co-chaired by Kirk Bohls from the Houston Chronicle and Phil Hicks from the Tyler Morning Telegraph, featuring 54 broadcasters, commentators, and journalists across the country.
