Clinton Portis and Champ Bailey will be forever linked to one another. In 2004, the then-Washington Redskins traded Bailey and a second-round pick to the Denver Broncos for Portis.
The trade worked out for both teams, as Bailey would continue making Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While Portis isn’t in the Hall of Fame, he spent seven years with Washington, rushing for 6,824 yards and 46 touchdowns.
Portis has remained close to the franchise throughout the years, working in the media for the team and is often a guest on local radio. But Bailey remained estranged from the franchise that selected him No. 7 overall in 1999.
Until now.
The Commanders announced last week that Bailey would be Washington’s “Legend of the Game” and honorary captain for Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Before Sunday’s Week 1 game, Bailey and Portis took time for a photo together.
🤝 pic.twitter.com/jhwUVrPF4R
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 10, 2023
Even more, the pair rode to FedEx Field together Sunday morning, per Ben Standig of The Athletic.
Champ Bailey in the house. Said the timing was never right to return until now.
Turns out he and the player he was traded for, Clinton Portis, rode over to the stadium together and will both be at the Commanders-Broncos game for Week 2. pic.twitter.com/ZsMTn4Mejc
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 10, 2023
It’s officially a new era of Washington football.