{"id":17197,"date":"2025-05-17T23:59:40","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T03:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/the-hogs.net\/blogs\/?page_id=17197"},"modified":"2025-07-21T15:55:45","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T19:55:45","slug":"george-starke-hogs-profile","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/the-hogs.net\/blogs\/george-starke-hogs-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"George Starke Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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George Starke<\/strong> \u2014 known as the \u201cHead Hog\u201d \u2014 was the heart and soul of Washington\u2019s legendary offensive line during the 1970s and early \u201980s. A Super Bowl champion, five-time team captain, and Ring of Fame inductee, Starke\u2019s story is one of perseverance, leadership, and innovation. From being cut multiple times to leading the Hogs into football folklore, his legacy extends far beyond the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Position<\/td>Right Tackle<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Born<\/td>New York, New York<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Date-of-Birth<\/td>March 18, 1948<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Height<\/td>6’5″<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/td>255 lbs<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
College<\/td>Columbia<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
NFL Career<\/td>13 seasons<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Teams<\/td>Washington 1973-1984<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Career Highlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Super Bowl champion (XVII<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Three Super Bowl appearances<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Named to 70 Greatest Redskins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Redskins captain for 5 seasons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George Starke: The Head Hog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

George Starke played as an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins from 1973 to 1984. Born on March 18, 1948, in New York City and, he attended and played college football at Columbia University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Redskins selected Starke in the 11th round of the 1971 NFL Draft, and he fought to earn a spot on the team’s offensive line. Then just two weeks into the 1972 season, he was cut. He then attended the Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 training camp, but the team unceremoniously made him the very last cut just before the season started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following summer he went to try out for the Dallas Cowboys, but was cut again after six weeks there. But the Redskins asked him to come and try out again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He started on the taxi squad\u2014now known as the practice squad\u2014then earned a spot on the main roster and ultimately became the starting right tackle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coaches and teammates recognized Starke for his toughness and work ethic. He was a key member of the Redskins’ offensive line during the team’s first ever Super Bowl championship berth in 1972 and again in 1982.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George Starke, The Senior Hog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When Joe Bugel<\/a> pegged the young group of offensive linemen as The Hogs in 1982, Starke was ten years their senior and very much the elder statesman of the group. That’s how he earned the monicker of Head Hog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starke was the one that capitalized on the notoriety of that group of Hogs. He had them all invest $500 each and created a corporation called Super Hogs. They were the very first group to market themselves outside of the NFL’s oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only did they create their own merchandise – with their own beer, and a clothing line, they also produced the two of the most successful NFL posters of all time with the Hogs Night Out<\/em> and the Grave Yard Hogs<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hogs<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He played in 156 games over his 12-year career, starting in 131 of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starke’s contributions to the team were recognized with his induction into the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame in 2005.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Head<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Life After Football<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Off the field, Starke has dedicated himself to numerous philanthropic and community service activities. Involved with the United Way, the Special Olympics, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, he also served on the board of directors for the Leukemia Society of America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only that, he was a very busy and successful businessman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George Starke Was A Successful Businessman<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A few years after his NFL career ended, he opened the George Starke Ford<\/em> in Emmitsburg, Maryland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also began a career in TV broadcasting – with shows like PM Magazine and Redskins Saturday Night. Starke was the host of both. The Redskins Saturday Night show won several Emmies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Head Hog also began working for Hometeam Sports which would later become Comcast Sports. His role was a color commentator for ESPN College Football and CBS NFL broadcasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Head Hog founded Head Hog Premium Beer which would morph into Head Hog BBQ restaurants in Bethesda, Maryland and Rockville, Maryland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Excel Institute<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Starke also founded a not-for-profit job training facility called the Excel Institute. the institute provided basic education and life skills for at-risk youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that weren’t enough, Starke also founded Starke Communications – a firm that provided communications, public relations and marketing services to corporate clients. They also provided motivational speakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"George<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

George Starke \u2014 known as the \u201cHead Hog\u201d \u2014 was the heart and soul of Washington\u2019s legendary offensive line during the 1970s and early \u201980s. A Super Bowl champion, five-time team captain, and Ring of Fame inductee, Starke\u2019s story is one of perseverance, leadership, and innovation. From being cut multiple times to leading the Hogs … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16500,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-17197","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail"],"yoast_head":"\nGeorge Starke | Head Hog, Redskins Captain, Super Bowl Champ<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"George Starke, the original Head Hog, led Washington\u2019s offensive line to a Super Bowl win and helped shape NFL culture on and off the field.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/the-hogs.net\/blogs\/george-starke-hogs-profile\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"George Starke | Head Hog, Redskins 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