“Countdown to Auburn vs. Baylor – No. 90: Nick Fairley and Kevin Greene” as part of a series leading up to

Countdown to Auburn vs. Baylor – No. 90: Nick Fairley and Kevin Greene

As the 2025 college football season inches closer and anticipation builds for the highly awaited showdown between the Auburn Tigers and the Baylor Bears, we continue our countdown to kickoff by honoring some of the greatest to ever wear the orange and blue. Today, at No. 90, we spotlight two of Auburn’s fiercest defenders who defined toughness, grit, and dominance on the field: Nick Fairley and Kevin Greene.

Though separated by decades, both Greene and Fairley wore the number 90 and struck fear into the hearts of opposing offenses. Each left an indelible legacy not only at Auburn but also at the professional level, becoming legendary figures in the history of football. As we honor jersey No. 90 in the countdown to Auburn vs. Baylor, let’s dive into what made these two warriors icons on The Plains.

If you followed college football in 2010, you remember the name Nick Fairley. A junior college transfer from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Fairley arrived at Auburn in 2009, but it was in 2010 when he unleashed his true potential—and in doing so, changed the course of Auburn football forever.

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing around 300 pounds, Fairley was an absolute nightmare for offensive linemen. His rare combination of speed, strength, and violent hands made him a one-man wrecking crew in the middle of Auburn’s defensive line. That year, under the leadership of head coach Gene Chizik and fueled by Cam Newton’s brilliance on offense, the Tigers embarked on a magical national championship run—and Fairley was at the heart of it on defense.

Fairley’s stat line for 2010 was jaw-dropping for a defensive tackle: 60 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, and numerous quarterback hurries. He constantly disrupted plays before they could begin, forcing offensive coordinators to change their entire game plan to account for his presence.

One of Fairley’s defining moments came in the 2010 SEC Championship Game against South Carolina. He tallied a sack and multiple tackles for loss, winning the game’s MVP award and helping Auburn secure a spot in the BCS National Championship Game.

Fairley’s physicality was matched only by his swagger—he played with a mean streak and a confidence that radiated throughout the entire defense. He wasn’t afraid to talk, and more importantly, he backed it up with elite-level performance.

For his efforts, Fairley won the Lombardi Award, given to the nation’s best lineman or linebacker. He was named a Unanimous First-Team All-American and declared for the NFL Draft after the season, where he was selected 13th overall by the Detroit Lions in 2011.

Even years later, Fairley’s 2010 campaign is remembered as one of the most dominant seasons ever by an Auburn defender. He was the motor of a defense that made critical stops down the stretch and helped deliver Auburn’s first national title since 1957.

Fairley’s time on The Plains may have been brief, but his impact was monumental.

Before the Fame

Before Kevin Greene was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he was simply a walk-on at Auburn with a dream and a chip on his shoulder. Greene joined the Tigers in the early 1980s and, through sheer will and hard work, transformed himself into a force to be reckoned with.

Greene redshirted in 1980 and didn’t see the field much until the 1983 season. But when he got his shot, he made it count. By 1984, Greene had cemented himself as a defensive powerhouse and one of the key pieces of head coach Pat Dye’s surging program.

The 1984 season was Greene’s masterpiece. Playing linebacker in Auburn’s aggressive 3-4 scheme, he racked up 11 sacks, leading the SEC and earning him the title of SEC Defensive Player of the Year. His motor never stopped. He was relentless in pursuit, disciplined in coverage, and an emotional leader for the Tigers.

Under Dye’s leadership, Auburn was emerging as a national powerhouse in the early ’80s. Greene’s intensity and production helped Auburn to an impressive 9-4 season in 1984, including a win over Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl.

Greene graduated from Auburn with a degree in criminal justice and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He spent time in the reserves while simultaneously pursuing a football career—something almost unheard of at the time.

Greene was drafted in the fifth round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. While not a high-profile pick, he would go on to forge a career that most players only dream about.

In a 15-year NFL career, Greene recorded 160 sacks—the third-most in league history at the time of his retirement. He played for the Rams, Steelers, Panthers, and 49ers, earning five Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro honors.

In 2016, Greene was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, solidifying his status as one of the all-time greats.

It’s rare that one program can boast a single legendary player at a number, let alone two—but Auburn has that luxury with No. 90. While Nick Fairley and Kevin Greene played in different eras and different schemes, their ferocity, leadership, and impact remain etched into Auburn lore.

Both players epitomized Auburn’s “hard-nosed, blue-collar” brand of football. Fairley did it with brute strength and explosive power in the interior line; Greene did it with tenacity, athleticism, and mental toughness off the edge.

Their success also reflects Auburn’s defensive tradition, a tradition that continues to thrive as the Tigers prepare for a massive 2025 opener against Baylor. As fans gear up for this marquee matchup, they can take pride in knowing that giants like Fairley and Greene helped build the foundation that current and future Auburn defenders now stand on.

The countdown to Auburn’s Week 1 showdown with Baylor in Arlington, Texas, is officially under 100 days. This primetime battle will set the tone for the Tigers’ 2025 season under head coach Hugh Freeze, who is entering his third year at the helm.

Auburn’s defense, in particular, will need to channel the spirit of legends like Fairley and Greene to contain Baylor’s up-tempo offense. Defensive linemen like Keldric Faulk and Enyce Sledge have been tabbed as breakout candidates, and linebackers like Eugene Asante bring the experience needed to anchor a fast, physical defense.

Can any of these players rise to the same level as Greene or Fairley? That remains to be seen—but the standard has been set.

As we mark day 90 in our countdown, it’s a reminder that Auburn football is not just about championships and touchdowns—it’s about legacy. It’s about warriors like Kevin Greene, who came from obscurity to become a Hall of Famer. It’s about disruptors like Nick Fairley, who flipped the narrative and led Auburn to a national championship with brute force and passion.

As fans wear their orange and blue, chant “War Eagle,” and count down the days to kickoff, they can do so knowing that the No. 90 jersey carries a legacy of dominance, leadership, and pride.

From Jordan-Hare Stadium to the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, the legacy of No. 90 lives on.