Kevin Greene walked through the Pro Football Hall of Fame, stopping frequently to pay close attention to every little detail he could.
He hung onto every word from Hall of Fame executive VP Joe Horrigan, who conducted a tour for Greene and his wife Tara, as well as fellow Class of 2016 members Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison.
And as he went from display to display, Greene kept uttering one word.
"Surreal."
For Greene, being a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2016 is just that.
"I have always been Pittsburgh Steeler Kevin Greene, or outside linebacker Kevin Greene," said Greene. "But now it's Hall of Famer Kevin Greene. It's strange to hear that. It's definitely special."
The Hall of Fame encouraged members of the Class of 2016 to make a visit to Canton and tour the museum now, as many don't have the time or opportunity to do so enshrinement weekend. And Greene definitely took advantage and enjoyed every minute of it.
"There is so much about the history I didn't know," said Greene. "We went through it so fast. I want to go through it slower again. There are so many interesting things about how the league was formed, and how it developed over the years, that for me I would like to read up on and do some research on and see what I am a part of."
The visit also gave the Greene's the opportunity to see where they will be staying for enshrinement weekend, know where activities will be held, and get a general framework of everything involved.
"It's so valuable to be able to come here," said Tara Greene. "I never visited the Hall of Fame or Canton. To come here was so valuable. It reminded me of being in Pittsburgh.
"It's invaluable to be reminded that the history is so rich. It just touches so many different facets of life you don't think about. It's made me even more excited. I don't even know what to think."
Greene, who was a Hall of Fame finalist for seven years before his selection, already has his speech written and has selected Dom Capers, his defensive coordinator with the Steelers for two seasons, as his presenter.
"Dom has had a remarkable impact on me not only as a player, but as a coach, as a dad," said Greene. "He was really instrumental in bringing me to Pittsburgh in 1993, that first year of free agency. He put me in a position to play and coach and pass on that knowledge."
And now Greene is gaining knowledge of his own, about the history of the National Football League, about those who played before him. The more he learns, the more humbled he is, and that was highlighted the minute he walked into the room where all of the Hall of Fames busts are displayed.
"It's quite unique looking at some of these legends," said Greene. "I remember watching them play, and then some of the legends that I played against. It's quite surreal to think I am on this team now, I am going to have a bust in the same room as these fellows.
"I am at a loss for words a lot of times about this honor."
