From Sammy Baugh’s arm to Darrell Green’s speed, these are the Washington Legends Profiles of players, coaches, and executives who built Washington’s football history. Explore the full profiles below. They are listed alphabetically by last name.
George Allen — Head Coach
Allen turned Washington from perpetual loser into a contender overnight, building the legendary “Over The Hill Gang” out of proven veterans and leading the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance in 1972. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002. Read George Allen’s full profile
Cliff Battles — Tailback
Battles set one of the NFL’s first rushing records in the league’s inaugural season. He also led the Redskins to their first championship in 1937 before walking away from football entirely over a pay dispute. Read Cliff Battles’ full profile
Sammy Baugh — Quarterback
The franchise’s first true superstar, Baugh redefined the quarterback position in an era built around the run, while also starring at defensive back and punter. A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural 1963 class. Read Sammy Baugh’s full profile
Bobby Beathard — General Manager
Beathard was cut by Washington as a player in 1959. He returned two decades later as GM to build the roster that won two Super Bowls, hiring an unknown assistant named Joe Gibbs along the way. Read Bobby Beathard’s full profile
Larry Brown — Running Back
The engine of George Allen’s “Over the Hill Gang,” Brown ran his way to the 1972 NFL MVP award and helped carry Washington to its first Super Bowl appearance. Read Larry Brown’s full profile
Dave Butz — Defensive Tackle
A mountain in the middle of Washington’s defensive line for 14 season. Butz anchored the trenches from the “Over the Hill Gang” years through Joe Gibbs’ Super Bowl teams. Read Dave Butz’s full profile
Gary Clark — Wide Receiver
One-third of “The Posse” alongside Art Monk and Ricky Sanders, Clark’s speed and route-running made him one of the most feared deep threats of the late 1980s. Read Gary Clark’s full profile
Jack Kent Cooke — Owner
Washington’s longtime owner presided over the franchise’s Joe Gibbs-era Super Bowl dynasty and built the stadium that would carry his name for years afterward. Read Jack Kent Cooke’s full profile
Pat Fischer — Cornerback
Undersized at 5’9″ and often the smallest man on the field, Fischer made up for it with toughness and instincts across a 17-year career split between St. Louis and Washington. Read Pat Fischer’s full profile
London Fletcher — Linebacker
Undrafted and overlooked in 1998, Fletcher went on to start more consecutive games than any linebacker in NFL history, never missing a single one across 16 seasons. Read London Fletcher’s full profile
Joe Gibbs — Head Coach
Gibbs led Washington to four Super Bowl appearances and three championships with three different starting quarterbacks, a feat no other coach in NFL history has matched. Read Joe Gibbs’ full profile
Darrell Green — Cornerback
Known as “Mr. Redskin,” Green’s blazing speed and 20-year career made him one of the most feared cornerbacks of his generation, and a Hall of Fame inductee in 2008. Read Darrell Green’s full profile
Chris Hanburger — Linebacker
An 18th-round pick who became “The Hangman,” Hanburger made a franchise-record nine Pro Bowls and ran Washington’s defense as George Allen’s on-field signal-caller. Read Chris Hanburger’s full profile
Ken Houston — Safety
Widely regarded as one of the greatest safeties in NFL history. Houston’s game-saving tackles and ball-hawking instincts earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Read Ken Houston’s full profile
Sonny Jurgensen — Quarterback
One of the purest passers the NFL has ever seen. Jurgensen spent 54 years with the Washington franchise, first as its most electrifying quarterback, then as the beloved broadcast voice fans trusted for decades. Read Sonny Jurgensen’s full profile
Billy Kilmer — Quarterback
Kilmer never had the prettiest throwing motion in football, but his toughness carried Washington to its first-ever Super Bowl appearance in 1972, capped by a legendary rout of Dallas in the NFC Championship Game. Read Billy Kilmer’s full profile
Vince Lombardi — Head Coach
Already a legend in Green Bay, Lombardi took over Washington for a single, transformative season in 1969 before his death, turning a losing team winning for the first time in over a decade. Read Vince Lombardi’s full profile
Dexter Manley — Defensive End
A relentless pass rusher through the 1980s, Manley terrorized quarterbacks as part of Washington’s Super Bowl-winning defenses under Joe Gibbs. Read Dexter Manley’s full profile
Charles Mann — Defensive End
Mann racked up 82 sacks for Washington across 11 seasons – second all-time at the time. He stayed rooted in the D.C. area as a broadcaster and entrepreneur long after his three Super Bowl rings. Read Charles Mann’s full profile
George Preston Marshall — Founder & Owner
Marshall founded the franchise in 1932 and built it into a champion. His refusal to integrate the roster made Washington the last team in the NFL to sign a Black player, a legacy the team has since publicly reckoned with. Read George Preston Marshall’s full profile
Brian Mitchell — Running Back / Return Specialist
Mitchell ranks second all-time in NFL all-purpose yards behind only Jerry Rice. He was forced into an emergency stint at cornerback during the infamous “Body Bag Game” against the Eagles, and remains one of Washington’s most beloved voices on radio and TV to this day. Read Brian Mitchell’s full profile
Art Monk — Wide Receiver
Quiet and relentlessly productive, Monk became the NFL’s all-time leading receiver in 1992. He helped anchor three Super Bowl championship teams, finally earning Hall of Fame induction in 2008. Read Art Monk’s full profile
Bobby Mitchell — Halfback / Flanker
Mitchell became the first Black player to sign with Washington in 1962. He broke the NFL’s last color barrier, then went on to a Hall of Fame career on the field and over 40 years in the franchise’s front office. Read Bobby Mitchell’s full profile
Mark Moseley — Kicker
Moseley remains the only pure placekicker in NFL history to win league MVP. He took home the honor in the strike-shortened 1982 season en route to a Super Bowl title. Read Mark Moseley’s full profile
John Riggins — Running Back
Riggins’ bruising running style and iconic fourth-and-1 touchdown run keyed Washington’s Super Bowl XVII win, earning him game MVP honors and a place in Canton. Read John Riggins’ full profile
Mark Rypien — Quarterback
Rypien became the first Canadian-born quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, throwing for 292 yards and earning MVP honors in Washington’s Super Bowl XXVI victory. Read Mark Rypien’s full profile
Ricky Sanders — Wide Receiver
Sanders set multiple Super Bowl XXII records in a single afternoon, then capped the celebration by catching a ceremonial pass from President Reagan at the White House. Read Ricky Sanders’ full profile
Jerry Smith — Tight End
One of the most productive receiving tight ends of his era. Smith redefined what the position could do in the passing game during his 13 seasons in Washington. Read Jerry Smith’s full profile
Diron Talbert — Defensive Tackle
Talbert anchored the Over the Hill Gang defense for a decade. He started all but one game from 1971 to 1977, while turning hatred of the Cowboys into a personal art form. Read Diron Talbert’s full profile
Charley Taylor — Wide Receiver
Taylor won NFL Rookie of the Year at running back in 1964. He then became a two-time receiving champion after switching to wide receiver in 1966, and ultimately retiring as the NFL’s all-time leading receiver. Read Charley Taylor’s full profile
Sean Taylor — Safety
The fifth overall pick in 2004, Taylor was already one of the league’s most feared safeties before his life was cut short in 2007. His No. 21 remains one of the most honored numbers in franchise history. He was inducted into Washington’s Ring of Fame in 2008. Visit Sean Taylor’s tribute page
Joe Theismann — Quarterback
Theismann led Washington to victory in Super Bowl XVII. A devastating leg injury on Monday Night Football brought his career to an abrupt end two years later. Read Joe Theismann’s full profile
Doug Williams — Quarterback
Williams became the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl. He threw four touchdowns in a single quarter to earn MVP honors in Super Bowl XXII. Read Doug Williams’ full profile
Looking for the offensive line greats? Visit The Hogs hub for those profiles.