Harold Green Jr. was born in 1968, in Ladson, SC and attended Stratford High School.

He played football for the University of South Carolina where he rushed for 2,617 yards, caught 76 passes for 661 yards, and scored 26 touchdowns in three seasons. At Carolina, Green scored a school record 15 touchdowns in 1987, his sophomore season. He shares the career touchdown record with 1980 Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers. Harold Green was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

In 1990 the Bengals drafted Harold Green in the second round, the 38th overall pick, and he began a nine-year NFL career. He had 1,151 carries for 4,365 yards, 213 catches for 1,644 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. He played six seasons with the Bengals, one with the Rams, and ended his career with two seasons with the Falcons, advancing to the Super Bowl in 1998. Green was selected to play in the NFL Pro Bowl in 1992.