With the Washington Commanders missing the playoffs for a consecutive season, fans are reminiscing about the days of postseason births and players that were part of a lot of the franchise’s success.
Formerly known as the ‘Redskins,’ Washington has had a long, illustrious, and tradition-laden history in the National Football League. Over an 80-plus-years span, the Burgundy and Gold have made an indelible mark on the nation’s capital and its avid fan base.
Over this span, Washington won the 1937 and 1942 NFL Championship games, as well as Super Bowls XVII, XXII, and XXVI. They also played in, and lost, 1936, 1940, 1943, and 1945 NFL Championship games, as well as Super Bowls VII and XVIII.
Since the inception of the team, the Redskins have produced countless numbers of Hall of Fame players. Some of those players have played all or most of their careers in D.C.
In breaking down the greatest five Washington players of all time, the criteria were that they had to have played at least 80 percent of their career, if not all of it, wearing the Burgundy and Gold.
5. WR Art Monk
Wide Receiver Art Monk was drafted out of Syracuse by Washington in 1980 and played until 1993. He then went on to play for the New York Jets in 1994 and just three games for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995 before retiring.
He finished his career as Washington’s all-time leading receiver with 888 receptions and has the second-most receiving touchdowns in franchise history at 65. Over a 15-year career, he totaled 12,721 receiving yards.
Monk was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
4. WR Charlie Taylor
Washington drafted the versatile Taylor in the first round (third overall) in 1964 and earned the NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year award as a running back. He also became the first rookie in 20 years to finish in the NFL’s Top 10 in both rushing (sixth with 755 yards) and receiving (eighth with 53 catches for 814 yards). The 53 receptions were then a record for running backs.
Taylor played for Washington from 1964 to 1977. He also served as the team’s wider receivers coach from 1981 to 1993.
The eight-time Pro Bowler’s career numbers as a member of the Burgundy and Gold were record-driven and earned Taylor a trip to Canton. He finished his career with gaudy numbers: 649 receptions for 9,110 yards and 79 touchdowns. He also netted 1,488 yards rushing in his career with 11 rushing touchdowns and 79 receptions.
3. LB Chris Hanburger
Hanburger just might be the best linebacker to ever wear a burgundy and gold uniform. He was voted to nine Pro Bowls and earned four First-Team All-Pro NFL selections.
He amassed 19 interceptions and three career fumble recoveries for touchdowns which was an NFL record at the time of his retirement.
Hanburger was known as a ferocious tackler and intimidator who patrolled the middle of the field.
He played for Washington from 1965 to 1978 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
2. QB Sammy Baugh
“Slinging’ Sammy Baugh“ as he was called, was as important for changing the way the forward pass revolutionized the NFL to being Washington’s first true legend.
From 1937 to 1952 Baugh played the quarterback, punter and cornerback positions for the Burgundy and Gold. He averaged 45.1 yards per punt and had 31 career interceptions. He produced 21,886 passing yards to go along with 187 touchdowns.
Baugh was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963.
And the greatest Washington player of all time is?
1. CB Darrell Green
Darrell Green had the longest career of any Washington player over a career that spanned 20 years. Every season was played as member of the Burgundy and Gold which solidifies the defensive back’s status in the hearts of Washington fans both young and old.
Green was a seven-time Pro Bowler and was also named to the NFL’s All-Decade team in the 1990s.
Not only was this player out of tiny Texas A&M University-Kingsville recognized as one of the game’s best-ever cornerbacks, but also as perhaps the fastest player in NFL history.
From 1983 to 2002 Green amassed 1,159 tackles, 54 interceptions and eight touchdowns. He also has most the career interceptions in franchise history.
Green was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.