Tag: Sam Huff

Lawrence Taylor named the best player in Giants history

The New York Giants have completed their list of the top 100 players in team history and Lawrence Taylor stands tall as No. 1.

As part of their 100th-anniversary celebration, the New York Giants have been releasing the list of their top 100 players in franchise history.

That effort was completed on Tuesday with the revelation of the final 10 names:

  • 10. Andy Robustelli
  • 9. Sam Huff
  • 8. Eli Manning
  • 7. Harry Carson
  • 6. Emlen Tunnell
  • 5. Michael Strahan
  • 4. Frank Gifford
  • 3. Mel Hein
  • 2. Roosevelt Brown
  • 1. Lawrence Taylor

All players’ names above are members of the Giants’ Ring of Honor and all but Manning are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Manning will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2025.

Hein (7), Manning (10), Gifford (16), Taylor (56), and Strahan (92) have had their jersey numbers retired by the team.

The committee of voters who compiled the list was chaired by Giants longtime radio play-by-play announcer Bob Papa and consisted of other journalists and interested parties who have covered the Giants and the NFL over the years.

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Commanders season opener in 70 days: Washington’s best No. 70?

70 Sam Huff days until Week 1 for the Washington Commanders.

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Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 70 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 70?

Have you noticed that not many good players have worn No. 70 for Washington? There might be a very good explanation for this, actually. It’s not all that complicated.

The data reveals the organization has often chosen to not distribute jersey No. 70 very often. They have only done so a few times since 1969. Leonard Marshall came from the Giants having worn No. 70 to play his last season in Washington (1994).

Will Wynn (1977) and Troy Drake (1998) both played one season for Washington wearing No. 70. Then there is Kip Vickers, who finished with one season in Washington (2002) wearing No.70. Thus, Vickers is the only player in the Daniel Snyder era to wear No. 70.

Sam Huff came to Washington following eight seasons with the NY Giants. He was a Pro Bowler for four consecutive seasons (1958-61) and 1st team All-Pro (1958-59) as a Giant. In an interview with Time Magazine in 1959, Huff said, “We try to hurt everybody…We hit each other as hard as we can. This is a man’s game.”

Traded to Washington, he was a Pro-Bowler his initial season (1964) at age 30. Huff led the Washington defense for three more seasons (1965-67) retiring after the 1967 season.

One year out of football (1968), Vince Lombardi decided to come out of retirement and came to Washington to coach in 1969. Huff wanted back in and told Lombardi he could still play and wanted to play for Lombardi.

At age 35, Huff came out of retirement, indeed, did play one final season at middle linebacker in Burgundy and Gold, and Washington under Lombardi enjoyed their first winning season since 1955, as the Redskins finished 7-5-2.

During that 1969 season, Huff intercepted three passes, including returning one for a touchdown against the division-rival Eagles. In his five Washington seasons, Huff collected 12 interceptions and 14.5 sacks manning the middle of the 4-3 defense.

Huff concluded his NFL career as a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time 1st team All-Pro, and NFL Champion once, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the class of 1982. He, of course, is a member of Washington’s Ring of Fame.

The former West Virginia Mountaineer was a member of the Redskins radio broadcast team from 1975-2012. Huff died on November 13, 2021.

Washington great Sam Huff has Estate set for auction

The Washington legend’s estate sale is scheduled for next month.

Robert Lee “Sam” Huff, Hall of Fame linebacker and radio broadcast commentator for the Washington Redskins is having his estate sold via auction.

The Loudoun County Fairgrounds will host the event on March 10, and those interested in the Hall of Famer’s estate memorabilia will be able to bid in person or online.

Huff spent his first eight NFL seasons with the NY Giants (1956-1963) and his last five with the Redskins (1964-67, 69). Huff, voted into the NFL’s Hall of Fame in 1982, also enjoyed 38 seasons as part of the Washington radio broadcasting team (1975-2012).

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There is much of Huff’s memorabilia that will be made available. A few of the items are:

Haggar Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Dress Jacket, Size 46 Long Gold Color, Custom made for Sam Huff class of 1982

Washington Redskins ceremonial jersey, # 70, Size 50 Long, Last jersey worn on field for ceremony.

“Greatest Game Ever Played” Photo Signed Sam Huff & Johnny Unitas Size 8 x 10. Photo from the 1958 NFL Championship game between the Colts and the Giants. Unitas is throwing a pass, and Huff is on the middle left of the photograph.

Sam Huff’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Ring Size 11. Weights 60 grams. Total diamond weight of 1 3/4 carats. Artcarved 14k gold. Kay Jewelers presented Pro Football Hall of Fame Ring in 2013 to every living Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Framed Picture of Sam Huff and John F Kennedy, JFK Plate, Senate of VA Resolution #182 Also, framed letter of requesting presence at dedication

Damewood Auctioneers has been contracted by the Estate of Sam Huff to offer his lifetime collection of NFL, West Virginia University, New York Giants and Washington Redskins memorabilia.

Where: Loudoun County Fairgrounds, 17558 Dry Mill Road, Leesburg, VA 20132.

When: Friday, March 10, 2023, 10:00 am.

Preview: Thursday, March 9, 2023, 12 pm – 6 pm

Washington Commanders reached out to Frank Herzog after 18 years

The final installment of our interview with the legendary voice of Washington’s franchise, Frank Herzog. Frank discusses coming back for Sonny’s jersey retirement and how good everyone in the organization was to him.

Frank Herzog was in this 26th season broadcasting all of the WMAL Washington Redskins football games from 1979-2004.

But all good things must come to an end.

This is the fifth and final installment in our Commanders Wire feature on Washington broadcast legend Frank Herzog.

Part one.     Part two.     Part Three    Part Four

December 2004, Frank Herzog remembers a broadcast producer expressed, “Hey, our Christmas party is this weekend, and I think you should go.”

“Ok, I can go, I guess,” replied Frank. “No, I think you ought to be there. You need to show your face.”

Herzog initially found that odd but went and was introduced to a man from the CBS parent offices in Philadelphia. Then the man showed up in the broadcast booth that Sunday. “Sure enough, following the season, there was a meeting at a coffee shop in Montgomery Mall, and I was informed they were not bringing me back the next (2005) season.”

“I was puzzled, of course, but I had to learn to accept it. What else can you do? Those are the facts of life.”

18 years later, the Friday before the season finale, Herzog found Julie Donaldson and Bram Weinstein reaching out to him on the phone, apologizing Herzog had not been officially invited to Sonny Jurgensen’s jersey retirement on Jan. 8.

Donaldson and Weinstein wanted Herzog at FedEx Field. Even more, they wanted him in the booth during some of the broadcast as well. The Commanders made all the travel arrangements. Sunday, Frank was on a flight from Wilmington (NC), arriving at noon.

“They had a chauffeur (Pierre) in a big black SUV meet me and drive me to FedEx. They escorted me to my suite, then to the broadcast booth for the pre-game segment with Julie Donaldson. Employees and fans were so nice to me, greeting me and welcoming me. I was treated as first class.”

Donaldson had asked Herzog during the pregame show to do his legendary call (“Touchdown, Washington Redskins”), but he kindly declined, stating he had only done the call during actual game broadcasts (1979-2004) and would prefer to keep it that way.

That is Herzog, the professional, the man who was skilled in his craft. He doesn’t want the call to ever become corny or silly. He wants it to be remembered as it actually was, in the heat of NFL competition.

Donaldson was also professional, apologizing to Herzog during the on-air segment for his not having been officially invited. She even stated she was partly responsible and expressed her love and respect for the work Herzog had accomplished. She demonstrated class and humility.

Invited back for the third quarter Herzog sat and interacted with Weinstein, Donaldson and London Fletcher on the broadcast.

Weinstein (49) grew up listening to Herzog and was the sideline reporter during the 2006-2008 seasons.

Upon landing the job, Weinstein had even reached out to Herzog for professional advice. “I am certainly aware I am only the third play-by-play announcer for this team since 1979 (Herzog, then Larry Michael (2005-2019). I respect the legacy of this team, and Frank is a big part of it.”

“When the third quarter began, I was so happy Frank was there with us,” Weinstein expressed with gratitude.

While the Commanders were driving down the field on the Cowboys in the third quarter, Weinstein mentioned to Herzog that Washington might score a touchdown.

A few plays later, Washington had the ball at the Dallas 9-yard line. Here was the call from Bram Weinstein: “Howell, play-action, Howell keeps. Runs back to the center of the field. At the 5, into the end zone! (pause).

When Howell crossed the goal line, Weinstein had laid out (paused), and looked to Herzog, who instantly finished the call with, “Touchdown, Washington Commanders!”

“Frank was right on cue with his famous call, ‘Touchdown Washington Commanders!‘ “said Weinstein. “For me, it is an incredibly cool moment. To have that moment with him is something I will never forget.”

When I spoke with Herzog two days later, Frank said it was such a moving moment for him as well. He was grateful to both Donaldson and Weinstein. Their thoughtfulness had given him a very special day, something he, too, will never forget.

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Another huge blunder by the Commanders organization

The team later invited Herzog to share memories of Jurgensen during the broadcast booth Sunday.

The Commanders have whiffed BIG TIME again!

How in the world can the Commanders not invite Frank Herzog to Sonny Jurgensen’s jersey retirement?  Jason Wright, how can this be?

Even further, how can the Commanders not invite Frank Herzog to lead the ceremony?

Jurgensen, in a long-overdue ceremony, will have his No. 9 officially retired Sunday in the season finale against Dallas. The organization should have retired No. 9 decades ago out of respect for his accomplishments.

In addition, shouldn’t they have possessed enough consideration for the now 88-year-old legend not to have him standing out in the January cold?  Why wasn’t this scheduled for September or October? Where is the common sense?

Herzog, a guest on the Kevin Sheehan Show Friday morning, expressed when asked that he was actually not invited to the special occasion, though he worked with Jurgensen for over two decades.

Jurgensen and Herzog spent 22 years together in the three-man booth of Frank, Sonny and Sam (Huff) on Redskins radio football broadcasts from 1981-2004. Three seasons earlier, Herzog became the play-by-play announcer, replacing Dan Lovett.

The organization’s decision to retire Sean Taylor’s jersey before a Hall of Famer, who in addition was part of the famed three-man booth for the franchise for over 35 years, was contemptible and blameworthy.

Once again, the Washington Football organization is displaying a huge lack of awareness, expertise and wisdom. Good grief, Dan Snyder himself knows who Frank Herzog was and why he absolutely needed to have been invited.

Former announcer Larry Michael as well, without question, if asked, would have mentioned Frank Herzog as needing to be on the invite list. I wonder if they even realize Jurgensen’s later announcing teammates Larry Michael and Chris Cooley should also be invited?

Can it be expressed enough how many times the organization mishandles and taints aspects of these celebrations?

Of course, after Herzog’s appearance on the radio with Sheehan Friday morning, Herzog did receive an invitation, per Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

We often try and give the organization a pass for some things because much of it has been outside of their control. However, they have control over alumni relations. If you’re going to honor Jurgensen, shouldn’t you do a little research on his history before planning any type of ceremony?

Too often, does the team try to right a wrong after the fact? This is another one of those instances.

Sheehan was told by the team the reason Herzog wasn’t initially invited was that Jurgensen’s family requested a small, “mostly family” event, with the exception of a few, including Billy Kilmer.

Perhaps, that is correct. But then why invite Herzog after seeing the backlash of not inviting him in the first place? This team is too reactionary. How many instances recently did the team change course once they were criticized?

Here’s hoping for a good day for Jurgensen on Sunday.

53 years ago today: Washington head coach Vince Lombardi

On this day, 53 years ago, Vince Lombardi made history.

It was 53 years ago today in Washington football history Vince Lombardi appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated March 3, 1969.

Lombardi appearing in coat and tie, the cover read, “Vince Lombardi Puts a Legend on the Line.”

Lombardi in Green Bay had turned things around instantly with a 7-5, 1959 team, the first winning Packers team since Curly Lambeau’s 1947 (6-5-1) team. All Lombardi accomplished in his nine seasons with Green Bay was a winning season each year, an 89-29-4 regular-season record, 3 NFL Championships, and the first two Super Bowl Championships.

Retiring on top, following 1967 season, Lombardi was an executive with the Packers in 1968 and miserable.

Hired by the Redskins in 1969, Lombardi at his first press conference proclaimed, “Gentlemen, it is not true that I can walk across the Potomac River—not even when it is frozen.”

Washington had been 5-9 in 1968, and had last enjoyed a winning season in 1955 (8-4), long before any of the Redskins Lombardi inherited. There were however three future Hall of Famers: Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor and Chris Hanburger.

Sam Huff returned for the 1969 season, having come out of retirement to play one season under Lombardi. Lombardi promised in that first press conference, “We’re going to have a winner the first year!”

Indeed Lombardi was a winner, leading Washington to a 7-5-2 record in his only season in Washington. He was diagnosed with colon cancer June, 1970, and died September 3, 1970, only age 57.

A few more excerpts quoting Lombardi in the SI issue:

“I’m not a legend, because I don’t want to be a legend. One main reason I came back to coaching is that I didn’t want to be regarded as a legend…I’m too young to be a legend.”

“Now a good coach is a good coach. Right? If you take all 26 coaches in pro football and look at their football knowledge, you’d find almost no difference. So if the knowledge isn’t different, what’s different? The coach’s personality. See?” He paused, then laughed—arararararargh!—and said, “Now how am I supposed to explain my own personality? What am I supposed to say? That I’m a great leader? A mental powerhouse? That I’ve got charisma?”

“You cannot be successful in football—or in any organization—unless you have people who bend to your personality. They must bend or already be molded to your personality.”

“I believe a man should be on time—not a minute late, not 10 seconds late—but on time for things. I believe that a man who’s late for meetings or for the bus won’t run his pass routes right. He’ll be sloppy.”

“I just heard the other day about a kid I used to coach in high school. I heard he’s in trouble. I heard he’s drinking, doing a lot of heavy drinking… Lombardi rubbed the three-diamond setting in his huge Super Bowl ring and he said, “It’s corny and it’ll sound awful in writing, but you just feel bad when you know you couldn’t get through to a kid like that.”

 

Remembering Washington and NFL legend Sam Huff

Ivan looks back at the life and legacy of the legendary Sam Huff.

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Robert Lee “Sam” Huff died on Saturday in Winchester VA; he was 87 years of age.

An avid Washington fan since early childhood, my first WFT team memories are of the 1969 team. Coached by Vince Lombardi, the team consisted of other Hall of Famers in Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor, Chris Hanburger and yes, Sam Huff.

How good was Sam Huff?

Not only was Huff voted into the NFL’s Hall of Fame in 1982, but in addition, when the NFL in 2010 chose their 100 greatest players ever, Huff came in at number 93.

Growing up the son of a West Virginia coal miner, Sam was a leader on the undefeated 1951 Farmington High team and was All-State in ’52.

An All-American at WVU in ’55, the New York Giants drafted the defensive lineman in round three. NYG Defensive Coordinator Tom Landry installed his new 4-3 defense, asking Huff to adjust and play middle linebacker.

“As long as I had played football, I always played from what is called ‘a three-point stance’ ”, explained Huff. “You were always down, and you always saw one person. And all of a sudden Tom Landry said, “Why don’t you try middle linebacker?”

“And I am standing up; now I can see everything. It was such a beautiful thing for me; it was like I was born to play it.”

His prominence was quite high resulting in Huff being featured on the November 30, 1959, Time Magazine cover. Number 70 was also the focus of an October 30, 1960, CBS documentary, “The Violent World of Sam Huff”.

Traded from the Giants to Washington in 1964, he began a friendship with new Washington quarterback, Sonny Jurgensen.

“We became very close and have remained very close”, Jurgensen said in an NFL interview in 2010. “I always told him, ‘You were like the brother I never had’.”

“I had great admiration for him when he was with the Giants, and it grew when he became a Redskin. I then knew why Sam Huff would eventually end up in the Hall of Fame… Believe me, he deserves to be in the top 100.”

Playing four seasons in the Burgundy and Gold, Huff retired after the 1967 season. Someone else who had retired after the 1967 season was Green Bay Packers’ head coach, Vince Lombardi. However, after one season as an executive in the Packers organization, Lombardi returned to the sidelines, becoming Washington’s head coach in 1969.

Huff wanted back in; he wanted to play for Lombardi.

Approaching Lombardi, Huff claimed to have said, “Coach Lombardi, you need a middle linebacker. I can be a player-coach for you. I can coach the linebackers, and I can play.”

Lombardi responded, “You think you can still play?”

“I can play; I know I can play”, said a confident Huff.

Huff did play well in that 1969 season, playing in all 14 games, starting ten, and intercepting three passes, including an 18-yard touchdown return against the Philadelphia Eagles.

He finished his career intercepting 30 passes, recovering 19 fumbles, was a Pro Bowler five times, and twice a first-team All-Pro.

The Hall of Fame linebacker enjoyed a very successful 25+ years with Marriott and 38 seasons as part of the Washington radio broadcasting team (1975-2012).

Unfortunately, life is hard, often bringing difficult challenges and sometimes horrible circumstances.

In Huff’s last year of broadcasting Washington games (2012), he began to show signs of declining. He sometimes repeated himself, stated the obvious, and once I recall he chided a Washington defensive player for not doing anything that day. To which Sonny Jurgensen then responded, “But Sam, he has made five official tackles.”

It was his last season and word of a diagnosis of Dementia would follow in 2013.

“We lost a legend today; a legend in every sense of the word,” said former Washington play-by-play announcer Larry Michael (2004-2019). “He was a great guy. Working with Sam was a huge honor. Sam was a genuine man, true to his roots. His legacy and memory will last forever.”

Pro Football Hall of Famer, Washington legend Sam Huff dies at 87

Sam Huff was a legend for Washington and the Giants. He became even more of a legend for his years on Washington’s broadcast team.

Former Washington Football Team linebacker and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Sam Huff, died at age 87 on Saturday, according to his daughter Catherine Huff Myers, via Matt Schudel of The Washington Post.

Huff, who grew up in rural West Virginia during the Great Depression, starred at West Virginia University before entering the NFL as a third-round pick of the New York Giants in 1956.

He spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the Giants, where he won a world championship and was named an All-Pro six times.

Huff would sign with Washington in 1964, where he spent the final five seasons of his legendary career. And, while he may not have been the same player in Washington as he was in New York, he became one of the greatest legends in Washington franchise history.

In his final season in 1969, Huff played for the legendary Vince Lombardi.

Huff played 14 NFL seasons, appearing in 168 games, recording 30 interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries. When Huff played, tackles and sacks weren’t official stats, although Huff has been credited with 29 sacks via Pro Football Reference.

The total number of interceptions from someone who played middle linebacker is impressive.

After his playing career, Huff became a successful businessman before joining Washington’s broadcast booth with Sonny Jurgensen and Frank Herzog. His last season in Washington’s booth was in 2012.

Huff is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Washington’s Ring of Honor and the Giants’ Ring of Fame. His No. 75 is retired by WVU. Huff is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the state of West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

 

Hall of Fame LB Sam Huff dies at 87

Former New York Giant and Washington HOF LB Sam Huff has died.

Sam Huff, who starred for the New York Giants and Washington Football Team as a linebacker from 1956-69, has died at the age of 87.

Huff had been diagnosed with dementia in 2013.

He was drafted in the third round out of West Virginia by the Giants. Huff played for New York from 1956-63. Part of his Big Blue story is he coach Jim Lee Howell could not come up with a position for him as a rookie and Huff was discouraged enough to leave camp.

He was stopped at the airport by assistant coach Vince Lombardi, who coaxed him back to camp.

In his rookie season, the Giants won the NFL championship and Huff became the first rookie middle linebacker to start an NFL championship game.

Huff played in four consecutive Pro Bowls with the Giants from 1959 through 1963. He was named MVP of the 1961 Pro Bowl.

He was the first NFL player to be featured on the cover of Time magazine

Per his Wikipedia page:

Huff joined the Redskins in 1964 and they agreed to pay him $30,000 in salary and $5,000 for scouting, compared to the $19,000 he would have made another year with New York. The impact Huff had was almost immediate and the Redskins’ defense was ranked second in the NFL in 1965.

After an ankle injury in 1967 ended his streak of 150 straight games played Huff retired in 1968.

Lombardi talked Huff out of retirement in 1969 when he was named Washington’s head coach. … Huff then retired for good after 14 seasons and 30 career interceptions. He spent one season coaching the Washington linebackers in 1970.

He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

He had been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

After retiring, Huff spent three seasons as a color commentator for the Giants radio team and then moved on in the same capacity for the Washington Radio Network, where he remained until his retirement at the end of the 2012 season,

5 Giants named finalists for NFL 100 All-Time Team at LB/DL

Five members of the New York Giants have been named finalists for the NFL 100 All-Time Team at linebacker/defensive line.

Believe it or not, the New York Giants once had great defenses with iconic players. Those days are long gone, we know, but the NFL is turning 100 this season and in the process of them choosing their All-Time team, the reminders of great Giant teams and players are all around.

Five former Giants are among the finalists among the league’s top defensive lineman and linebackers: Harry Carson, Sam Huff, Andy Robustelli, Michael Strahan and Lawrence Taylor.

All five are Pro Football Hall of Famers and Giants Ring of Honor inductees. Taylor is the only one of the five to have his number retired by the Giants.

The final team will be announced on Friday night at 8:00 pm on the NFL Network. It will consist of 10 quarterbacks, 12 running backs, 10 wide receivers, five tight ends, seven tackles, seven guards, four centers, seven defensive ends, seven defensive tackles, 12 linebackers (six inside, six outside), seven cornerbacks, six safeties, two kickers, two punters and kick two returners.

Huff and Robustelli were members of the Giants’ 1956 NFL Championship team and two of the cornerstones of the Giants’ defense under the tutelage of Tom Landry in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Carson and Taylor headed the “Crunch Bunch” linebacking crew of the 1980s that included Brad Van Pelt and Brian Kelley, who were later replaced by Carl Banks and Gary Reasons.

Taylor is considered one of the top players — at any position — in NFL history. Carson was the Giants’ captain for the team’s first-ever Super Bowl-winning team in 1986. Taylor and Banks were staples of excellence in leading Big Blue to two Super Bowl victories.

Strahan has become a media celebrity but he was no laughing matter for offensive tackles. He still holds the NFL single-season mark for sacks and played 15 seasons for the Giants. His final game was Super Bowl XLII, when the Giants knocked off the undefeated New England Patriots in one of the biggest upsets in NFL history.

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