At a gala held on January 24, 2024, at the W.T. Brookshire Convention Center in Tyler, Texas, Haynes King, the quarterback for Georgia Tech, received the prestigious 13th Annual Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. The event also celebrated Joe Greene, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, who was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Legends award.
Emceed by former NFL linebacker and current CBS Sports Analyst Brian Jones, the evening recognized notable achievements in college football. Jones referred to King as “Longview Lightning,” praising his athletic prowess. The gala was not just about awards; it was a celebration of community and sportsmanship, reflecting the spirit of Earl Campbell, a Texas football icon.
Celebrating Haynes King
King’s recognition comes after an impressive season where he led Georgia Tech to only the 16th nine-win regular season in the school’s history. He finished the season with a total of 3,920 yards of offense, including 2,697 passing yards and 953 rushing yards, along with 27 touchdowns. His remarkable contribution earned him the titles of 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year.
“It means a lot to me being from East Texas,” King said, reflecting on his roots. He previously led the Longview Lobos to a 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’s father, John King, a legendary Texas high school football coach, expressed immense pride in his son’s accomplishments. “Being able to win the Earl Campbell Award is huge,” he remarked. “It’s tough to win this award. There are a lot of good players that will either come from Texas or play in Texas.”
In addition to the accolades, King is preparing for the 101st East-West Shrine Bowl on January 27, 2024, and is currently training for the 2026 NFL Draft, which will take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
Honoring Joe Greene
The Legends Award, presented to Greene, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to football and have been retired for at least 20 years. Greene, a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, emphasized the importance of Earl Campbell in his own career. “He was a running back that was hard to tackle, and I’m a defensive tackle,” Greene noted. “That’s our relationship.”
Greene’s legacy is profound; he was a pivotal figure in the Steelers’ “Steel Curtain” defense, helping to shape the franchise’s identity. His jersey number, 75, was retired by the Steelers in 2014, becoming only the second number in franchise history to be honored in this way. Greene’s career began at North Texas State University, where he was recognized as an All-America defensive tackle before being selected in the 1969 NFL Draft as the fourth overall pick.
Earl Campbell, who presented the award to Greene, spoke of their long-standing friendship and competitive history. “We were intense competitors because the road to a Super Bowl from Houston went through Pittsburgh,” Campbell stated. Both legends share a deep connection to Texas, further solidifying the bond between them.
The event was supported by various sponsors, including the Brookshire Grocery Company and the City of Tyler, highlighting the community’s dedication to celebrating excellence in football.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, established in 2012, honors the top offensive player in Division I football who embodies the characteristics of Earl Campbell, including integrity, performance, and teamwork. Nominees must have played high school football in Texas and/or played at a four-year Division I college in Texas.
The voting committee, co-chaired by Kirk Bohls of the Houston Chronicle and Phil Hicks of the Tyler Morning Telegraph, includes broadcasters, journalists, and previous award winners. Notable past recipients include Baylor’s Bryce Petty and Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray.
The gala not only celebrated individual achievements but also reinforced the importance of community in sports, creating a memorable evening for all attendees.
