A wealth of talent at wide receiver on Redskins all-time team
A wealth of talent at wide receiver on Redskins all-time team
During their 87-year history, the Washington Redskins have appeared in 11 championship games, with five titles. The team has seen its share of greats grace the field in the Capital, including a legendary coach, the “Hogs” on the offensive line and an all-time great kick returner. However, the greatest collection of talent appears at wide receiver, where three stars from the 1980s lead a formidable group.
Head Coach: Joe Gibbs is the team’s all-time leader in victories, amassing a 154-94 record that spans 16 seasons and two stints with the club. Under his watch, the Redskins made the playoffs 10 times and won three Super Bowls in four tries. George Allen (67-30-1) brought the team out of a 25-year playoff drought, and Washington reached the postseason in five of his seven seasons at the helm. Highlighting his tenure was a trip to Super Bowl VII, where the Redskins lost to Don Shula’s perfect Dolphins. Under Ray Flaherty, the team went 54-21-3 and went to the NFL Championship Game four times, winning twice. Norv Turner took over in the mid-1990s. He is fourth on the team’s win list but has a 49-59-1 record in parts of seven seasons. He led the team to the playoffs once, resulting in a Division round loss to the Buccaneers in 1999.
Quarterback: Joe Theismann is the team’s all-time leader with 25,206 yards, and he is third with 160 touchdown passes. He was named the league MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and an All-Pro in 1983 after throwing for 3,714 yards and 29 scores. Theismann was a two-time Pro Bowler who played in two Super Bowls. However, he might be best known for how his career ended. In 1985, Theismann took a flea-flicker, but was sacked by Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. The hit resulted in a compound tibia and fibula fracture in his right leg. “Slinging Sammy” Baugh was a Hall of Famer who threw for 21,886 yards and holds the team record with 187 touchdowns. He was a six-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro and a two-time champion. Another Hall of Famer, Christian “Sonny” Jurgensen, is second in franchise history with 22,585 yards and 179 scores. He was a four-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro in 1969, and he led the NFL in passing yards three times. Billy Kilmer led the Redskins to Super Bowl VII. He was a Pro Bowler and led the NFL with 19 touchdowns in that 1972 season.
Running Back: Clinton Portis ranks second in franchise history with 6,824 yards and 46 touchdowns. The 2008 Pro Bowler ran for more than 1,000 yards four times. Stephen Davis was close behind Portis with 45 scores, and he added 5,790 yards. The two-time Pro Bowl selection led the league with 17 touchdowns in 1999. Larry Brown is third with 5,875 yards, to go along with 35 scoring runs. He was the NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in the team’s 1972 Super Bowl season after amassing 1,216 yards and eight touchdowns. Brown was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. Alfred Morris had 4,713 yards and 29 touchdowns in four seasons. The two-time Pro Bowler started strong, running for 1,613 yards in his 2012 rookie season, the first of three with 1,000 or more yards. Cliff Battles is one of two original Boston Patriots on the team. The Hall of Famer led the league in rushing twice, was a three-time All-Pro and played in two championship games, including the team’s first title in 1937. Terry Allen made the Pro Bowl in 1996, when he ran for 1,353 yards and a league-high 21 scores.
Fullback: Hall of Famer John Riggins is the franchise leader with 7,472 yards and 79 touchdowns. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XVII and an All-Pro in 1983 after leading the NFL with 24 rushing scores. Don Bosseler ran for 3,112 yards and was a Pro Bowler in 1959. Charlie Harraway ran for 2,959 yards in five seasons.
Wide Receiver: Art Monk tops the team’s all-time list with 888 receptions and 12,026 yards, and his 65 touchdowns ranks second. The Hall of Famer is also a three-time champion, a three-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1984, when he led the league with 106 catches. Another Hall of Famer, Charley Taylor, is the team’s top scoring receiver, totaling 79 touchdowns to go along with 649 catches and 9,110 yards. Taylor was an eight-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro in 1967, and he led the NFL in receptions twice. Gary Clark ranks third with 8,742 yards and fourth with 549 receptions and 58 scores. He was a four-time Pro Bowler, a two-time champion, an All-Pro in 1987, and he had 1,000 or more yards five times. Santana Moss is third in team history with 581 catches, and he also had 7,867 yards and 47 touchdowns. Moss made the Pro Bowl in 2005 after setting a career-high with 1,483 yards. Bobby Mitchell was the first African-American to play for the Redskins. The Hall of Famer had 6,492 yards and 49 scores. He was a three-time Pro Bowler, a 1962 All-Pro, and he led the league in yards twice. Ricky Sanders was a two-time champion who finished with 5,854 yards and 35 touchdowns. Hugh “Bones” Taylor had 5,233 yards and 58 scores, and he was a two-time Pro Bowler.
Tight End: Jerry Smith finished his 13-year Washington career with 421 catches, 5,496 yards and 60 touchdowns (which ranks third in club history). He is a two-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro in 1969 and a Super Bowl VII participant. Chris Cooley is a two-time Pro Bowler who had 429 receptions and 4,711 yards. Jordan Reed has faced several injuries, but he made the Pro Bowl in 2016.
Tackle: Chris Samuels made six Pro Bowls before a hit in a game, coupled with the spinal stenosis he was diagnosed with as a child, caused temporary upper body paralysis and led to his early retirement. George Starke played 156 games on the right side and appeared in two Super Bowls. Current left tackle Trent Williams has played 120 games and made the Pro Bowl in each of the last seven years. One of the “Hogs,” Joe Jacoby, was a four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro, who played in four Super Bowls. Ed Simmons was a two-time champion who appeared in 142 games. Jim Lachey was a three-time All-Pro, a two-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl XXVI champion. Another original Boston Patriot, Albert “Turk” Edwards was a three-time All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 1939. The Hall of Famer also played in two NFL Championship Games.
Guard: Hall of Famer Russ Grimm was an anchor on the “Hogs” line that reached the Super Bowl four times in 10 years. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. Another “Hog,” Mark May, played in three Super Bowls and made the Pro Bowl in 1988. Current right guard Brandon Scherff has started 54 games and played in two Pro Bowls. Raleigh McKenzie was a versatile lineman and a two-time champion.
Center: Len Hauss appeared in all 196 regular season games the Redskins played during his 14-year tenure. He was selected to five Pro Bowls, including the 1972 Super Bowl season. The last of the “Hogs,” Jeff Bostic appeared in four Super Bowls, was a Pro Bowler in 1983 and played in 184 games in 14 years. Jim Schrader was a three-time Pro Bowler in seven seasons.
Defensive End: Two-time champion Dexter Manley is also the team’s all-time leader with 91 sacks. He had 10 or more four times, including 18½ in 1986, when he was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro. Charles Mann is second with 17 forced fumbles and third with 82 sacks and 784 solo tackles. He appeared in three Super Bowls, was a four-time Pro Bowler, and he had four seasons with 10 or more sacks. Gene Brito was a converted receiver who went on to become a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro in the 1950s. Hall of Famer Bruce Smith ended his career by recording 29 sacks in four seasons with Washington. Andre Carter had 10 or more sacks twice and totaled 34 in five years.
Defensive Tackle: Dave Butz played 203 games over his 14 seasons with the Redskins. He played in two Super Bowls and amassed 35½ sacks, including 11½ in 1983, when he was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro. Paul Lipscomb went to the Pro Bowl in each of his four full seasons in Washington. Bob Toneff was a three-time Pro Bowler, including 1959, when he recovered a league-high five fumbles. Joe Rutgens made the Pro Bowl twice in the 1960s. Diron Talbert played in Super Bowl VII, was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1974 and started 130 games in 10 seasons. Darryl Grant appeared in three Super Bowls and registered 27 sacks in 10 years, including eight in 1984.
Outside Linebacker: Hall of Famer Chris Hanburger played in Super Bowl VII and was named to nine Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams. He also registered 19 interceptions and recovered 17 fumbles. Ken Harvey went to four Pro Bowls in five seasons He had 41½ sacks, with 13½ in 1994. Ryan Kerrigan has amassed at least 7½ sacks in each of his eight seasons in Washington, and his 84½ rank second in team history. The four-time Pro Bowler has a team-record 25 forced fumbles and returned all three of his interceptions for touchdowns. LaVar Arrington went to three Pro Bowls and had 11 sacks in 2002 before knee injuries slowed him down. Brian Orakpo is a three-time Pro Bowler who totaled 40 sacks, including 11 in his 2009 rookie season and 10 in 2013. Monte Coleman played in three Super Bowls in his 16 years with Washington. He is second on the team with 215 games and 999 solo tackles, and fourth with 43½ sacks. Chuck Drazenovic started at all three linebacker spots and made four Pro Bowls during the 1950s. Wilber Marshall played in Super Bowl XXVI and was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1992.
Inside Linebacker: London Fletcher went to four Pro Bowls and had 955 tackles in seven seasons, including a league-leading 166 in 2011. Neal Olkewicz appeared in 150 games and played in three Super Bowls during the 1980s. Kurt Gouveia was a part of two Super Bowl teams and had 579 tackles, including 169 in 1992 and 171 the next year.
Cornerback: Darrell Green was a quiet star who spent 20 years in Washington. He tops the team’s all-time list in games played (295), solo tackles (1,163), interceptions (54) and return touchdowns (6). The Hall of Famer also played in two Super Bowls, was a seven-time Pro Bowler, an All-Pro in 1991 and was the 1996 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner. Pat Fischer had 27 picks in 10 seasons with the Redskins. He played in Super Bowl VII and was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1969. Joe Lavender was a two-time Pro Bowler who ranks fifth with 29 interceptions. Hall of Famer Roland “Champ” Bailey had 18 picks and was a Pro Bowler in four of his five seasons with the team. Mike Bass appeared in Super Bowl VII and ranks fourth with 30 interceptions. Baugh is third with 31 picks, and his team-record 47 forced fumbles included an NFL-high 15 in 1947. DeAngelo Hall had 23 interceptions, with six coming in his 2010 Pro Bowl season.
Safety: Hall of Famer Paul Krause had 28 interceptions in just four seasons with the Redskins. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro who led the league with 12 picks in his 1964 rookie season. Ken Houston is also a Hall of Famer. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro who had 24 interceptions in eight seasons. Brig Owens played in Super Bowl VII and is second in team history with 36 interceptions. Sean Taylor went to a pair of Pro Bowls and registered 12 picks, but died from a gunshot wound sustained during a burglary late in 2007.
Kicker: Mark Moseley, a two-time Super Bowl participant, is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 1,206 points. The two-time Pro Bowler led the league with 161 in 1983. The year before, he became the only special teams player to win the NFL MVP Award after registering 76 points in the strike-shortened nine-game season. John “Chip” Lohmiller is second with 787 points. He had four seasons with 100 or more and led the league with 149 in his 1991 Pro Bowl and Super Bowl season.
Punter: Mike Bragg was a Super Bowl VII participant who had 35,746 yards and a 39.9-yard average in 12 seasons. Matt Turk averaged 43.8 yards per punt over five seasons. He went to three Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 1996. Baugh is second in team history with a 45.1-yard average, and he led the league five times.
Returners: Brian Mitchell is the all-time NFL leader in both kickoff and punt return yards, and he led the league in combined return yards four times with Washington. He finished with 9,586 kickoff return yards and two touchdowns, and had 3,476 punt return yards and seven scores. Mitchell appeared in Super Bowl XXVI and was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1995. Roderick “Rock” Cartwright is second with 5,332 kickoff return yards, including three seasons with 1,000 or more. Mike Nelms is a two-time Super Bowl participant, a three-time Pro Bowler, and a 1983 All-Pro. He is third with 4,128 kickoff return yards and second with 1,948 on punt returns. Dick James, a 1961 Pro Bowler, is fourth with 3,949 kickoff return yards. Rickie Harris returned three punts for scores.
Special Teams: Lorenzo Alexander was a tight end who converted to linebacker. He made the Pro Bowl in 2012. Ethan Albright played in all of Washington’s 144 games in his nine seasons with the club, and he made the Pro Bowl in 2007 as a long snapper.
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-By: Kevin Rakas