They are one of the most well-known and revered teams in the history of sports.
Though it may not seem like it, the Washington Football Team has had more than their fair share of great players and legendary teams.
This team has played more than a thousand games and won five NFL titles and three Super Bowls since its inception in 1932.
The Washington Football Team has a lot to be proud of, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. Some of the greatest players in the history of the sport have worn the jerseys of the Washington Football Team.
Here is a list of our Top 10 Washington Football Team Best Players of All Time
1. Darrell Green
Since Darrell Green embodies everything great about the Washington Football Team franchise, he is deserving of the top spot on this list. With seven Pro Bowl appearances and four All-Pro choices, Darrell Green has been named Walter Payton Man of the Year in 1996, as well as Bard Star of the Year in 1996. When he celebrated his 50th birthday, he performed a 4.43 40-yard sprint to honor his status as the NFL’s fastest man.
2. Sammy Baugh
As the first drop-back quarterback in NFL history, he set a precedent for a generation of great quarterbacks to follow. He made six Pro Bowls, was named to the All-Pro team four times and won two Super Bowls during his 16 seasons with the Washington Football Team. Many NFL historians will tell you that Sammy Baugh was one of the finest quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen, despite the fact that he is not often named with the likes of the best ever.
3. Art Monk
Art Monk, the Washington Football Team all-time leading receiver, played 14 seasons with the burgundy and gold. Monk has five seasons in which he had at least 1,000 receiving yards as a legitimate #1 WR. As a rookie in 1980, he was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team with 12,026 receiving yards, 888 catches, and 65 touchdowns to his name, just to name a few major accomplishments.
4. Sean Taylor
As a member of the Washington Football Team, Taylor was on his way to a stellar career. He was tragically killed at the age of 24 after he was shot during a break-in at his Miami home. Even though Sean Taylor’s NFL career was cut short, his memory lives on in the league as many players continue to wear his #21 in his honor. Taylor earned two Pro Bowl appearances during his four seasons with the Washington Football Team and was regarded as one of the greatest safeties in the league.
5. Charley Taylor
Overall, Charley Taylor ranks among the top Washington Football Team athletes ever. For the first four seasons of his professional career, he was an NFL running back, but he also had the honor of making the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons as a running back. In his first three seasons, he was more of a positionless offensive weapon, racking up yards on the ground and in the air. He wasn’t a genuine wide receiver until his fourth season when he led the NFL in catches.
6. Chris Hanburger
As a Washington football player, this legendary linebacker spent all 14 of his Hall of Fame seasons.
The 1972 NFL 101 NFC Defensive Player of the Year, he played in nine Pro Bowls, was named to six All-Pro teams, and was an eight-time first-team All-Conference pick.
Chris Hanburger was one of Washington Football’s most consistent players. In 2011, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Washington Football Team Ring of Honor.
7. Dexter Manley
Manley was a force to be reckoned with in the finish. His 97.5 career sacks are the most by any Washington football player, and he has won the Super Bowl. In his nine seasons with the Washington Football Team, Manley accumulated 91 sacks, the most in the team’s long history. For the Washington Football Team, Manley made one Pro Bowl appearance and was selected to the All-Pro First Team once.
8. Joe Theismann
First, Theismann led the Washington Football Team to two memorable Super Bowl appearances, winning the first one in Super Bowl XVI. There he played all twelve years of his professional football career, appearing in two Pro Bowls, winning the league MVP award, and winning the Super Bowl in 1982. Theismann has the most career yards and game-winning drives in the franchise’s history. He threw for 2,044 completions, 25,206 yards, and 160 touchdowns.
9. Monte Coleman
Throughout his 16-year NFL career, Monte Coleman spent all of it in the nation’s capital. During his 16 years with the organization, he was never selected to the Pro Bowl or started every game. From 1979 until 1994, Coleman was a member of the Washington Football Team as a linebacker. He ranks second on the club with 217 appearances, behind Darrell Green. He had 56.5 sacks in his career and was a three-time Super Bowl champion.
10. John Riggins
This short-yardage specialist had 2,916 carries for 11,352 yards and 104 touchdowns over his nine years with the Washington Football Team. John Riggins utilized his stature and strength to run over his opponents for 14 years in a row. A ferocious fullback, he was known for his many touchdowns during his career.
