Tag: Washington Ring of Fame

Commanders season opener in 27 days: Washington’s best No. 27

27 Pro Football Hall of Famer Ken Houston days until the Commanders open the 2023 NFL season.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 27 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 27?

Former Washington head coach George Allen had traded for aging safeties Richie Petitbon in 1971 and Rosey Taylor in 1972. But both were old, worn down and retired after the 1972 season. It was time for another trade by Allen.

Remarkably the Houston Oilers traded All-Pro Safety Ken Houston (age 28). Allen, in return, gave the Oilers Jim Snowden, Mac Alston, Mike Fanucci, Jeff Severson, and Clifton McNeil.

All Ken Houston did for Washington was become a Pro Bowler for seven consecutive seasons (1973-79). Houston was All-Pro 1st team in 1975 and 1978, while All-Pro 2nd team in 1979.

Houston was durable and tough. He started and played every game from 1973-1978 for the Redskins. It was not until age 35, in 1979, that Houston missed three games while starting all other 13.

In his eight Washington seasons, Houston intercepted 24 passes, recovered 10 fumbles and collected 4.0 quarterback sacks.

Houston made probably the most significant defensive play in Redskins regular season history in 1973. It was a Monday Night game with Dallas at Washington. Washington led 14-7 late in the final quarter, but Dallas had driven the ball all the way to the Washington four-yard line.

With 24 seconds remaining Dallas had a 4th & Goal at the Washington 4. Dallas quarterback Craig Morton passed to fullback Walt Garrison. Ken Houston met Garrison at the one-yard line, pulled up on Garrison, lifting him off of his feet to stop the drive and save a Washington 14-7 MNF victory.

The very next season (1974), when Dallas came to Washington, Ken Houston made another huge play when he returned a punt 58 yards for a first-half touchdown in a 28-21 Washington win.

With the Houston Oilers in 1971, Houston amazingly returned a fumble and four interceptions for a total of 5 defensive touchdowns in one season.

Ken Houston was voted one of the 70 Greatest Redskins in 2002, he is in the Washington Ring of Fame and was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 1986.

Commanders season opener in 28 days: Washington’s best No. 28

28 days. Darrell Green. One of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 28 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 28?

The 1982 Washington Redskins won the Super Bowl and selecting last in the first round of the 1983 draft, chose a player from Texas A&I.

Bobby Beathard, then Redskins general manager, chose a small cornerback with blazing speed, Darrell Green, a player the vast majority of Redskins fans had never even heard of prior to that draft day.

A quick reaction came from Mike Nelms’ agent Richard Bennett. Nelms had been a Pro-Bowl returner for the Redskins, and Bennett responded to the Green selection stating the Redskins would trade Nelms, or he would sign with the Unites States Football League.

When Green later signed with Washington, Beathard, at the press conference, said, “We think Darrell is going to have a big impact on the Redskins in his career as a defensive back and a return specialist.” Beathard had no idea how prophetic he was that day.

Green made a huge impression in his very first game in the NFL when he came from way behind to chase down Dallas Cowboys speedster running back Tony Dorsett.

From 1983 through 1999, Green started every game he played but one. This being done at cornerback all the way through his age-39 season. In his last three seasons, he appeared in all but three games (ages 40-42) as a nickel back while also starting 10 of those 45 games.

Green, in all, played in 295 games for Washington, starting 258. He intercepted 54 passes, returning 6 for touchdowns. Green defended 33 passes, forced 5 fumbles, recovering 10 fumbles, two for touchdowns. Little Darrell Green was actually credited with being in on 1,202 tackles in his NFL career.

When Green retired, he was the oldest player to have played cornerback in the NFL at age 42. He was also the oldest to have returned an interception for a touchdown, at age 37. He also owned the record for most interceptions against one team, as Green had intercepted the Philadelphia Eagles 11 times.

Beathard’s prophecy had come true as Green made a huge impact at cornerback. It also came true as a returner when in the 1987 playoffs, at Chicago, with the score tied 14-14 in the third quarter, Green returned a Bears punt 52 yards for a touchdown. Washington defeated the Bears that day 21-17.

Green came up big in the playoffs, intercepting six passes and returning two for touchdowns. In the 1983 playoff win over the LA Rams, he had a 72-yard touchdown return, and in the 1991 NFC Championship game win over the Lions, he had a 32-yard interception touchdown return.

Green was a 7-time Pro Bowler, was named to the All-90s Decade Team, played on the 3 Super Bowl teams, was a two-time Super Bowl champion, was named one of the 70 Greatest Redskins, is in the Washington Ring of Fame, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with teammate Art Monk in the Class of 2008.

Commanders season opener in 30 days: Washington’s best No. 30

30 Brian Mitchell days until the Commanders open the 2023 NFL season.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 30 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 30?

Two players deserve mention of those in Washington history wearing No. 30.

LaRon Landry (2007-2011) was the 6th overall selection by Washington in the 2007 draft. The former LSU Tiger started all 64 games at safety of those he played with Washington in his five seasons. Landry intercepted four passes, defended 33 passes, forced six fumbles, recovering five. Credited with 383 tackles, Landry collected 291 solo tackles and 92 assisted, including 16 tackles for a loss. He also registered 20 quarterback hits as well as 5.5 quarterback sacks. After Washington, Landry had one season with the Jets, in which he made the Pro Bowl, and two with the Colts.

Brian Mitchell (1990-99) was the greatest player in Washington history to wear No. 30. Mitchell, a college quarterback at Southwestern Louisiana, was drafted 130th overall by Washington in the 1990 draft. Mitchell made an immediate impact when in the first preseason game, Mitchell returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. In the 1991 Super Bowl championship season, Mitchell led the NFL in punt return yardage (600 yards) and touchdown returns (2).

In the 1992 season, Mitchell had a huge playoff game at Minnesota when he rushed 16 times for 109 yards (6.81 ypc), one rushing touchdown and returned three punts for 70 yards averaging 23.3 yards a return. In the 1999 playoffs, Mitchell returned the opening kickoff for the second half 100 yards for a touchdown.

In his ten Washington seasons, Mitchell returned seven punts and two kickoffs for regular season touchdowns, averaging 11.0 yards on punt returns and 22.8 on kickoff returns. Mitchell was the NFL leader in All-Purpose yards four seasons (1994, 1995, 1996, 1998). He was All-Pro 1st team in 1995 and 2nd team in 1991 and 1994.  He led the NFL in punt return average in 1994 with 14.1 yards per return.

For Washington, Mitchell rushed for 1,751 yards averaging 5.0 a carry, scoring 9 touchdowns. He also caught 232 passes for 2,087 yards, three touchdowns and 81 first downs. Mitchell was voted one of the 70 Greatest Washington Redskins in 2002 and into Washington’s Ring of Fame.

Commanders season opener in 33 days: Washington’s best No. 33

Two words: Sammy Baugh.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 33 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 33?

Sammy Baugh is the only player in Washington NFL history to wear jersey number 33. Four other players wore the jersey prior to Baugh, and this was also while the franchise was located in Boston.

But when the organization moved from Boston to Washington in 1937, it was their first-round draft choice (6th overall) who was given number 33, and no one has worn that jersey since.

Baugh played for Washington from 1937 through the 1952 season. Baugh was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Jan. 29, 1963. It was the original first class for the Hall of Fame and included 17 total enshrinees, such as Red Grange, Don Hutson, Jim Thorpe and Baugh.

So, what did the former Texas Christian player accomplish that resulted in his number being retired by Washington and his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s first class?

Baugh led the NFL in pass completions (five seasons), completion percentage (eight seasons), yards gained passing (four seasons), touchdown passes (two seasons), touchdown percentage when passing (two seasons), yards gained per passing attempt (three seasons), yards gained per pass completion (one season), yards gained per game (five seasons), quarterback rating (three seasons), game-winning drives (nine seasons), yards per punt (five seasons), passes intercepted on defense (one season).

When Baugh concluded his NFL career following the 1952 season he had recorded 1,693 pass completions 21,886 passing yards, 187 passing touchdowns, 12.9 yards per pass completion, 45.1 yards per punt, 31 interceptions (on defense).

Baugh was a six-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro, a two-time NFL champion, and a member of the 1940s All-Pro Team. He was, of course, voted to the 70 Greatest Redskins, is in the Washington Ring of Fame and was the first Washington player to have his jersey retired. He died on Dec. 17, 2008, at age 94.

 

Commanders season opener in 37 days: Washington’s best No. 37

37 Pat Fischer days until the Commanders open the 2023 NFL season.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 37 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 37?

Gerald Riggs (1989-91) came to Washington in 1989 after having been a Pro Bowler three consecutive seasons and after 1,587 carries and 6,631 rushing yards for Atlanta. Washington has had four backs to carry for 200 yards in a game. Alfred Morris (200 in 2012), George Rogers (206 in 1985), Cliff Battles (215 in 1933), and Riggs set the record in 1989 at RFK against the Eagles, rushing for 221 yards and averaging 7.6 per carry. However, reaching 1800 carries, Riggs began to have arch problems. Thus, Joe Gibbs turned to Earnest Byner, and Riggs, being kept fresh, was a very effective short-yardage back his final two NFL seasons (1990 and 1991). Riggs contributed greatly, keeping the chains moving and scoring touchdowns on the dominant Super Bowl champion 1991 team, when he rushed for 11 touchdowns. In the 1991 playoffs, Riggs scored two rushing touchdowns in each of the three games for a total of six touchdowns in that postseason.

 

Pat Fischer (1968-77) came to Washington after seven seasons as a St. Louis Cardinal who had twice been a Pro Bowler and a 1964 All-Pro. It was thought Washington would only have him a few seasons, but Fischer amazingly played cornerback for ten more seasons, his last season, his age 37 season. An iron man of physical fitness, Fischer played and started every game for eight of his ten Washington seasons. In his ten Washington seasons, Fischer was a Pro Bowler (1969) and intercepted 27 passes, returning one for a touchdown and recovered eight fumbles. When he retired, Fischer had played more NFL games at cornerback than anyone else. Fischer was named one of the 70 Greatest Redskins in 2002 and is also on the Washington Ring of Fame.