From the Capital Region to the NFL

Super Bowl LV will kick off at 6:30p this Sunday on CBS 6 Albany. As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare to take on the Kansas City Chiefs for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Who will be the hero of the big game? We all know what a great career Tom Brady has been enjoying. Maybe he will rise to the occasion for the Bucs once again. Patrick Mahomes is the young gun shooting for another title for the Chiefs.

In the Capital Region we have our own hometown heroes of the NFL. Here are my top 3 favorites from yesterday and today.

#3 - Butch Byrd - Watervliet, NY.

Photo Buffalo Bills

George Edward "Butch" Byrd was born in Watervliet, was a standout at LaSalle Institute in Troy and went on to play in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills. Butch is a member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, the LaSalle Institute Athletic Hall of Fame, Boston University Sports Hall of Fame, Albany Capital District Hall of Fame and named to the All-Time Buffalo Bills Silver Anniversary Team in 1984.

#2 - Dion Lewis - Albany, NY

Photo MSN

From Albany High School to the Albany Academy and the University of Pittsburgh. Lewis was a 5th round draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011. Dion has also played for the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans and he is currently a member of the New York Giants. In 2016 Dion Lewis became a Super Bowl Champion as a member of the New England Patriots.

#1 - Kevin Greene - Schenectady, NY

Photo Pittsburgh Steelers

Greene was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. In his 15 seasons in the NFL, Kevin played in 228 games, had 160 sacks, was a 5-time Pro-Bowler and was named to the 1990's All-Decade Team!

Kevin Greene died on December 22, 2020.