Joe Theisman
Washington Redskins
As a
starting quarterback at Notre Dame, Joe Theisman compiled a 20-3-2
record while throwing for 4,411 yards and 31 touchdowns. In 1969, he led
the Irish to a number five ranking, their first bowl appearance in 45
years, and a near upset of national champion Texas. The next year, the
Irish had a 10-1 record, a number two ranking, and a revenge win over
top-ranked Texas. Theismann was the runner-up in the Heisman voting and
was recognized as a first-team All-America and as an Academic
All-America. He set school records for passing yards in a game (526),
yards in a season (2,429), and touchdowns in a season (16). Theismann
was selected in the fourth round by the Miami Dolphins in the 1971 NFL
Draft. However, Theismann elected to sign with the Toronto Argonauts of
the Canadian Football League. In his rookie year, Theismann led the
Argonauts to a 10-4 record and won the league's eastern conference
passing title. The Argos lost in the Grey Cup to the Calgary Stampeders.
In 1974, the National Football League's Washington Redskins obtained his
rights, and Theismann, determined to make it to the NFL, left the CFL
and joined the Redskins. In 1978, Joe Theismann became the Redskins'
starting quarterback after Billy Kilmer proved ineffective.
Theismann led the Redskins to a win in Super Bowl XVII and an appearance
in Super Bowl XVIII and would go on to set several Redskins franchise
records, including most career passing attempts (3,602), most career
passing completions (2,044) and most career passing yards (25,206),
while also throwing 160 touchdown passes, with 138 interceptions. On the
ground, he rushed for 1,815 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was the NFL's
MVP in 1983 and played in two Pro Bowl games, earning the player of the
game award in the second game.
Theismann's career would end in 1985 with a gruesome compound fracture
of his leg, suffered during a sack by New York Giants linebackers
Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson during a Monday Night Football. In 12
years with the Redskins, Theisman completed 2044 of 3602 passes for 25,
206 yards. He also ran for 17 touchdowns.
