Sonny Jurgensen (Neil Leifer/SI)
Recently I tweeted that Sonny Jurgensen was my all-time favorite member of the Washington Commanders. I also asked other Commanders fans who their all-time favorite was. The response was outstanding. Many of those mentioned are on this list. You’ll notice that neither Sonny nor any other quarterback is on this list. Sometimes being the favorite and being the greatest aren’t the same thing, though Sonny would have been in the top 15. While the Skins haven’t had a lot of success recently, they did have a lot of success under George Allen and Terry Gibbs. That success is reflected in this list. And here we go.
10. Champ Bailey
Champ was a 12-time Pro Bowler. Four of those Pro Bowl seasons were with the Commanders. Bailey is the second-best corner the Commanders have had since 1965. (More about the best corner later.) In his five seasons in Washington, Bailey picked off 18 passes and recovered five fumbles. In 2002 Bailey led the NFL in passes defended with 24. Bailey might have been higher on the list if had spent more than five seasons in Washington.
9. Joe Jacoby
During the 80s the Hogs were able to get offensive linemen just a little bit of recognition. Joe Jacoby was a prominent member of the Hogs. Joe’s career with the Commanders ran from 1981 through 1993. He was a key member of two Super Bowl winning Skins teams. Jacoby was a four-time member of the Pro Bowl team and was twice named All Pro.
8. Russ Grimm
While Joe Jacoby was the left tackle on those great Commanders of the 80s, Grimm was the left guard. Grimm’s career closely parallels Jacoby’s. Grimm played 11 seasons for the Commanders while Jacoby played 13. Jacoby was a four-time Pro Bowler as was Grimm. Jacoby was named to the All-Pro team two times while Grimm received that honor three times. That’s the primary reason he gets one slot higher than Jacoby.
7. John Riggins
Running behind the Hogs, at least for part of their tenure, was John Riggins. John’s most memorable moment with the Commanders was his 43-yard TD run in Washington’s 27–17 win in Super Bowl XVII over the Dolphins. I was surprised to find that Riggins’ yards per carry while in Washington was only 3.8. John did, however, lead the NFL in rushing TDs with 24 in 1983 and 14 in 1984. In nine seasons with the Skins John found the end zone 79 times rushing and six times as a pass receiver. In nine playoff games Riggins ran for 12 TDs. That’s the type of thing that gets you on lists like this.
6. Sean Taylor
While Taylor played only four seasons before his tragic death, it was enough to get him on this list. In his time with the Commanders, Taylor was named to two Pro Bowl teams and picked off 12 passes. In addition to his ball skills, Taylor was noted as a fierce hitter. Taylor made a big impression on Washington fans in a short period of time. He also made a big impression on NFL receivers during his time in the league.
5. Dexter Manley
While the Hogs were opening holes for John Riggins, Dexter was sacking opposing QBs. In nine seasons with the Skins, Dexter was officially credited with 91 sacks. Unofficially he was credited with six sacks in his rookie season which runs his sack count with the Commanders to 97. From 1983–86 Dexter had double digits in sacks, maxing out with 18.5 in 1986. Manley also played in 14 playoff games while in Washington, picking up another eight sacks. Dexter was a part of two Super Bowl winners. I was surprised to find Dexter was named to only one Pro Bowl and one All Pro team. That was in 1986 when Dexter was at his peak.
4. Charley Taylor
Back in the 60s, when Sonny Jurgensen was at his peak, he had a great core of receivers. Foremost among them was Charlie Taylor. Charlie started out as a running back and converted to WR in his third season with the Commanders. Charlie spent 13 seasons in Washington and was named to eight Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team. Taylor led the NFL in receptions twice. Taylor scored 88 TDs via receptions and rushed for another 11. Charley Taylor made the transition from the Skins mediocre teams of the 60s into the George Allen coached teams of the 70s.
3. Chris Hanburger
I remembered Chris as a really good linebacker with a cool name. When I looked back on his career, he was even better than I remembered. Hamburger spent 14 seasons with the Skins and was named to the Pro Bowl nine times and four All-Pro teams. He also intercepted 19 passes and recovered 14 fumbles for Washington. He also scored five TDs. All that was good enough to get Hanburger into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2. Art Monk
Art Monk is the leading receiver in Commanders’ history. Monk led the NFL in pass catches with 106 in 1984. In 14 seasons with the Commanders, Monk hauled in 888 passes good for 12,026 yards and 65 TDs. Art was named to three Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team. Monk was also effective in playoff games, catching 69 passes in 15 games, good for 1062 yards and seven TDs.
1. Darrell Green
Darrell lasted 20 seasons in the NFL as a cornerback. That’s amazing. He went to seven Pro Bowls. The first was in 1984 and the last was in 1997. Green’s interception total wasn’t spectacular. He picked off 54 passes in 20 seasons. Of course, it’s hard to put up gaudy interception totals when opposing QBs won’t throw on your side of the field. Green makes it to number one on this list despite being named All-Pro only once. Being able to play the corner in the NFL for 20 years at the level Green did is enough to vault him to the top of this list.
So, who’s on your list?
