Top 5 Washington Cornerbacks

From shutdown specialists to interception machines, Washington has featured some elite cornerback talent over the decades. With a rich history that includes two World Championships and three Super Bowl titles, the franchise has relied on stellar defensive backs to anchor its success. While Darrell Green stands tall as a franchise icon, several other cornerbacks have earned their place among the greatest to wear the burgundy and gold. Here’s a look at the top 5 Washington cornerbacks — a list shaped by accolades, consistency, and impact on the game.

1. Darrell Green

Green played for the Washington Redskins for twenty years, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. He spent his entire career in Washington after being  drafted in the first round – 32nd overall – of the 1983 NFL Draft.

He was a star from the start. The first time he touched the ball in an NFL preseason game, he returned a punt for a touchdown. He legged down Tony Dorsett on Monday Night Football in his first ever regular season game – a play that came to define Green’s unparalleled speed on the field.

In 1983, he was named to the PFWA All Rookie Team, and the accolades just kept coming.

Green was a seven-time Pro Bowler,a four-time all-Pro, a two-time NFL Defensive Back of the Year,the NFL Man of the Year in 1996, and a member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

Three Super Bowl appearaces. He won two of them (XXII, XXVI) and had interceptions in both.

Four fastest man competitions and won all of them. Legend has it that he ran a 4.38 at FORTY years old.

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, the NCAA Division II Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Javelina Hall of Fame, and the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor.

54 career regular season interceptions, including six that he returned for touchdowns – both franchise records. He had six interceptions in playoff action with 2 more resulting in touchdowns – also both franchise records.

Nobody played more games for the Redskins than Green did. He played in 295 regular season games, and 18 playoff games.

It’s a mark that may never be beaten.

Read more about him in his exclusive profile.

2. Champ Bailey

Bailey was with Washington for the first five of his fifteen NFL seasons (1999-2013). He was drafted by the Redskins in the 1st round – 7th overall – of the 1999 NFL Draft. He was traded to the Denver Broncos for Clinton Portis prior to the 2004 season.

During his time in Washington, he firmly established himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks.

He earned the first three of his eventual TWELVE Pro Bowl selections. He also had his first three of seven All-Pro selections.

He was a member of the 2000s All-Decade Team. He was voted to the NFL All-Rookie team in 1999. He holds the NFL record for most passes defended (2003), and had 52 career interceptions.

Bailey was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

3. Pat Fischer

Fischer was with the Redskins for ten of his illustrious seventeen-year NFL career – from 1968 through 1977. Originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 17th round of the 1961 NFL Draft, he spent seven seasons there.

They called him Mouse due to his diminutive stature of just 5’9″ and some say as little as 140 pounds (others say 160 pounds). Nobody in the history of football ever played bigger. Fischer’s philosophy was to “get a leg up and you own him.”

Many say that he invented the bump and run.

Three-time Pro Bowler, one of them in Washington. He was a four-time All-Pro, two of them with the Redskins. He was a key part of the defense that got Washington to Super Bowl VII.

Fischer won the George Halas Award in 1978, as the person who overcame the most to succeed.

Mouse recorded 27 interceptions during his career with the team (7th all-time) – and 56 total in his career. He had 4 career interceptions that he returned for touchdowns.

When he retired, he had played in 213 games – which was an NFL record for cornerbacks – 126 of them as a Redskin.

What a gem. Was he one of the top 5 Washington cornerbacks of all time? Hail yeah. Top 3 even.

4. Mike Bass

Bass played with Washington for seven of his eight NFL seasons – from 1969 through 1975. He was originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 12th round of the 1967 NFL Draft.

What an ironman for the Redskins – did not miss a single game in his entire tenure with the team.

Bass and Fischer made a dynamic duo that was difficult to pass against. Together with safeties Ken Houston and Mike Bragg, the four formed the most formidable secondary in franchise history and arguably one of the best in NFL history.

Bass had 30 interceptions while in Washington – which is good enough for fourth all-time. He also had one of the most memorable interceptions in league history when Miami Dolphins kicker Gary Yepremian missed a field goal attempt in the Super Bowl, and attempted to then throw a pass. Bass picked off the wounded duck and took it all the way to the Dolphins end zone for the Redskins only score of Super Bowl VII.

He played in 98 games in Washington.

5. Joe Lavender

Lavender played for the Redskins for seven of his ten NFL seasons – from 1976 to 1982. He was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 12th round of the 1973 NFL Draft, and spent his first three seasons there.

When he came to Washington in 1976, he replaced a retired Mike Bass and had 8 interceptions in his first season.

He had six interceptions and earned Pro Bowl selections in both 1979 and 1980. He was also a member of the team’s Super Bowl XVII squad.

Lavender recorded 33 career interceptions – 28 of them in Washington – which is 5th all-time in franchise history.

Played in 99 games for the Redskins.

Honorable Mentions:

DeAngelo Hall – Hall played for Washington in parts of ten seasons from 2008 to 2017, and was a Pro Bowler in 2010. He recorded 23 interceptions in Washington – 10th all-time. He appeared in 106 games.

Vernon Dean – Dean played for Washington from 1982 to 1988 and was a key member of the team’s Super Bowl XVII championship squad. He recorded six interceptions during the 1983 season and earned a Pro Bowl selection that year.

Shawn Springs – Springs played for Washington from 2004 to 2009. He recorded 12 interceptions and appeared in 64 games during his time with the Redskins.

More Honorable Mentions

Fred Smoot, Martin Mayhew, Carlos Rogers

What Do You Think?

Do you have someone else that you would add to the top five?

Would you rate the players that are here in a different order?

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