Tag: HC George Allen (1971-77)

Commanders season opener in 9 days: Washington’s best No. 9

We are nine days away from Week 1, which means it’s Sonny Jurgensen’s day.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 9 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 9?

In May 2002, Steve Spurrier was conducting one of those offseason minicamps in his first year as head coach of the Redskins.

Quarterback Shane Matthews was wearing a No. 9 jersey in the workout. After all, he had worn No.9 in his four seasons with the Chicago Bears and also during his days as a Florida Gator. The ole ball coach of those Gator teams was also Steve Spurrier.

Not one person in the organization knew to tell Spurrier and Matthews that No. 9 was off-limits? Apparently not. But once the media and fans saw the video, it was news. After the outrage, owner Daniel Snyder stepped up and objected. No. 9 was not going to be available.

Of course, No. 9 was not available! Are you kidding me?!!

March 31, 1964, the Redskins sent starting quarterback Norm Snead and Claude Crabb to division rival Philadelphia for Sonny Jurgensen and Jimmy Carr.

How did Sonny perform once becoming a Redskins quarterback?

He was a Pro Bowler for four seasons (1964, 1966, 1967, 1969). Jurgensen was also All-Pro 2nd Team twice (1967, 1969). The former Duke Blue Devil led the NFL in pass completions in three seasons (1966, 1967, 1969).

How about passing yards? Jurgensen led the NFL in passing yards three seasons (1966, 1967, 1969).

How about a 99-yard touchdown pass? Jurgensen did that as well in the 1968 season opener at Chicago when he connected with Gerry Allen deep down the left sideline.

Team records? Well, Sonny never played a 16 or 17 game season schedule. But even in only 14 games, and with those rules Sonny passed for 31 touchdowns in 1967 and would you believe no Washington quarterback has done that since?

Also in that season, Jurgensen led the NFL in passing yards per game, passer rating, adjusted yards per pass attempt, and 4th Quarter comebacks.

Sonny’s last season that he was healthy the entire season (1970), he led the NFL in passing completion percentage.

Jurgensen’s last four seasons, he fought injuries, and head coach George Allen not wanting to play him. Yet his record in games he started was 11-2. He retired following the 1974 season.

At Sonny’s retirement press conference, Allen declared the Redskins would retire Sonny’s No. 9. Allen was the coach and general manager for three more seasons (1975-77), but he did not follow through on that promise.

Jurgensen worked with CBS as a commentator for NFL games before becoming a part of the Redskins Radio Broadcast team in 1981 with Frank Herzog and former teammate Sam Huff. Sonny continued in that role through the 2018 NFL season.

Jurgensen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the class of 1983, along with former teammate Bobby Mitchell.

Sonny was voted one of the 70 best Redskins in 2002 and is also a member of Washington’s Ring of Fame.

Finally, over 40 NFL seasons after George Allen’s promise, the franchise finally retired Sonny’s No. 9 during the 2022 season finale at FedEx Field.

 

Commanders season opener in 43 days: Washington’s best No. 43

43 Larry Brown days until the Commanders open the 2023 NFL season.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 43 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 43?

When Larry Brown (1969-76) retired after the 1976 season, no one had worn jersey No. 43 during a regular season game until, for some reason, in 2021 when outside linebacker Nate Orchard donned No. 43 for two games that season.

There is good reason No. 43 has been set aside for 46 of the last 47 seasons. Larry Brown was a Kansas State running back that Vince Lombardi drafted in the 1969 NFL draft at 191 overall.

Brown rushed for 888 yards averaging 4.4 yards per carry, and was a Pro Bowler in his rookie season. In 1970, Brown led the NFL in rushing with 1,125 yards and rushing yards per game with 86.5. He impressively averaged 4.7 yards per carry and was again a Pro Bowler and was voted All-Pro 1st team. 1971 was a third consecutive Pro Bowl as Brown rushed for 948 yards in 13 games.

Brown’s greatest season was 1972, leading Washington to the NFC East title with an 11-3 record, the NFC Championship and Super Bowl VII. Brown rushed for 1,216 yards in only 12 games! Thus, he led the NFL in rushing yards per game at 101.3 and yards from scrimmage with 1,689. As a result, Brown was AP 1st team All-Pro, AP Offensive Player of the Year, and AP Most Valuable Player.

But in 1973, Brown’s knees began to show some wear and tear, limiting Larry to 860 yards. Brown could have retired after that season, but he persevered trying to play. However his final three seasons, Brown was limited to 430, 352 and 56 rushing yards.

Larry Brown had achieved a great accomplishment, rushing for over 5,000 yards in his first five seasons, which were 14-game schedules. Over those five years, with Brown gaining 5,467 rushing yards, he became the third man in NFL history to average more than 1,000 yards per year in his first five seasons. The others were Jim Brown and O.J. Simpson.

He finished his career with 5,875 rushing yards, 35 rushing touchdowns, 238 receptions out of the backfield, 2,485 receiving yards, averaging 10.4 yards per reception, 20 receiving touchdowns, and 8,360 total yards from scrimmage.

On the day Larry Brown retired, Washington head coach George Allen said, “This is Larry’s day, Larry’s show. “There won’t be many Larry Browns in our lifetime.”