No. 85, 70 | |||||||
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Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | December 17, 1946||||||
Died: | August 5, 2021 San Diego, California, U.S. | (aged 74)||||||
Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 289 lb (131 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Southeast (Kansas City, Missouri) | ||||||
College: | Missouri | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1968 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
Russell Eugene Washington (December 17, 1946 – August 5, 2021)[1] was an American professional football offensive tackle who played for the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) from 1968 to 1982, playing his first two seasons as a defensive tackle. He was taken in the first round (4th overall) of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft. He played college football for the Missouri Tigers.
Collegiate career
Described by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as a "widely-sought recruit", Washington signed for the Missouri Tigers in 1964.[2] He became a starting defensive end the following year,[3] and was voted the Big Eight lineman of the year despite missing two games with a knee injury.[4][5] Washington scored his only career touchdown during his junior year, blocking a punt and then returning it to the end zone during a defeat by UCLA.[6] He again missed time with a knee injury that year, this time being out for six games.[7] Entering his senior year, the Sedalia Democrat described Washington as one of the few "glittering stars" in the Tigers ranks.[8] Missouri switched him to offensive tackle that year,[9] though he still played defensive end and defensive tackle sometimes when replacing injured teammates,[10] as well as some plays as a fullback.[11] Washington won numerous honors at season's end, being voted All-Big Eight,[12] The Sporting News first-team All-American,[11] and Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) second team All-American.[13]
Professional career
Defensive tackle (1968–69)
The San Diego Chargers selected Washington fourth overall in January's 1968 NFL/AFL common draft,[14] and he signed for them in May.[15] San Diego opted to use him as a defensive lineman, hoping to improve a weak pass rush and boost a defense that had ranked last in the league the previous season.[16] During his rookie season, Washington appeared on the scoresheet for the only time in his professional career, sharing a safety with teammate Steve DeLong during a victory over the Denver Broncos.[17] He received 2 of the available 29 votes for the American Football League defensive player of the year award.[18] He returned for a second year on defense,[19] but had difficulty catching opposing quarterbacks.[20]
Offensive tackle (1970–82)
San Diego switched Washington to offensive tackle in 1970 after a training camp session where he filled in for the injured Gene Ferguson.[21] In one of his first games at the new position he was repeatedly beaten by Hall of Fame defensive end Deacon Jones, who had three sacks.[22] Entering 1971, a United Press International (UPI) article listed Washington's ability to master offensive tackle as a question mark that would determine the line's effectiveness;[23] they went on to lead the AFC in pass protection, allowing 19 sacks in 14 games.[24] After the 1972 season, Sports journalist Murray Olderman rated the offense line as probably the Chargers' best unit and "comparable with any in the league."[25] Washington earned an individual honor in 1973, as UPI placed him in their All-AFC second team.[26] He was also voted the Chargers' MVP by his teammates.[27]
Washington was voted to the Pro Bowl five times in the six-year period 1974 from to 1979.[28] In the first two of these, 1974 and 1975, he was the only player on his team to gain the honor;[29][30] an Escondido Times-Advocate article written between these seasons dubbed him "the closest thing the Chargers have to being a superstar."[31] Washington missed the Pro Bowl in 1976 but the Chargers,[27] a losing team throughout most of his career, began to improve during the season..[32] San Diego head coach had been rebuilding the team extensively, with Washington and fellow lineman Doug Wilkerson entering the 1977 season as the only two players on the roster who had been Chargers for more than three years (a third, quarterback Dan Fouts, returned from a holdout later in the year).[33] Washington was again a Pro Bowler that year,[34] and also won the Forrest Gregg offensive lineman of the year award.[35] Washington was bothered by his knee for most of 1981, but he was still a standout player.[36]
Accolades
Washington was selected 2nd Team All-Pro twice in his career (1979 and 1982), 1st Team All-AFC in 1974 and 1978 and 2nd Team All-AFC in 1973 and 1977. He was selected to the Pro Bowl on five occasions 1974–75 and 1977–79 and won the Forrest Gregg Award as the NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year for 1977.
Washington was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2016.[37]
Personal life
He later owned a car wash in National City, California.
See also
References
- ^ Russ Washington, member of Chargers Hall of Fame, dies at 74
- ^ "Missouri lands Russ Washington, 6-6 K.C. star end". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 18, 1964. p. 4C – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "In the world of sports". Maryville Daily Forum. March 30, 1965. p. 8 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Van Valkenburg, Jim (December 22, 1965). "Facing standout quarterbacks". Springfield Leader and Press. AP. p. 31 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Unlettered Mizzou hopes to write off QB worries". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. March 23, 1966. p. 28 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Missouri victim of powerful UCLA". Moberly Monitor-Index. October 3, 1966. p. 8 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Halfbacks prime need as M.U. opens spring grid drills Monday". Jefferson City Daily Capital News. March 31, 1967. p. 10 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Missouri Tigers will being practice Friday". Sedalia Democrat. September 1, 1967. p. 8 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Halfbacks prime need as M.U. opens spring grid drills Monday". Jefferson City Daily Capital News. March 31, 1967. p. 10 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Van Valkenburg, Jim (October 4, 1967). "Shanklin dominates all-purpose running". Sedalia Democrat. p. 4B – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Sporting News honors MU's Washington". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. December 7, 1967. p. 2E – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Liggins, Meylan on Big 8 squad". Jefferson City Post-Tribune. AP. November 30, 1967. p. 13 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Eddlemon, Marty (November 30, 1967). "Sports Seens". Springfield Leader and Press. p. 51 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Linemen go fast; Saints pick Hardy". Sacramento Bee. AP. January 30, 1968. p. C4 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Chargers sign pick". Sacramento Bee. AP. May 19, 1968. p. D12 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Chargers' offense blooming". Pomona Progress-Bulletin. UPI. September 3, 1968. p. 36 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "San Diego charges by Broncos". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. AP. December 2, 1968. p. 3-C – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Valli, Bob (December 26, 1968). "Atkinson ties for defensive rookie prize". Oakland Tribune. p. E53 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Olderman, Murray (September 5, 1969). "Pro charts". Lompoc Records. p. 9 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Chargers need stiffer defense". Great Bend Tribune. AP. September 9, 1970. p. 7 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Paris, Jay (February 12, 2002). "Reliability was biggest asset of OL 'Big Rew'". Temecula Californian. pp. C-3, C-6 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Murphy, Jack (October 5, 1970). "Chargers don't want to ponder 1975". San Pedro News-Pilot. Copley News Service. p. 11 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trades give Chargers 'new look' for '71". Roseville Press-Tribune. UPI. September 7, 1971. p. 9 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Bluth, Jack (September 16, 1972). "49ers vs. Chargers—an improvement test". San Mateo Times. p. 15 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Olderman, Murray (August 9, 1973). "Pro charts". Merced Sun-Star. p. 14 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "'Juice' unanimous pick for AFC all-star team". Bristol Herald Courier. UPI. December 21, 1973. p. 16 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Marshall, Tom (November 17, 1974). "Don't let Washington's looks fool you". Columbia Daily Tribune. p. 13 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Russ Washington stats". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Miami, Oakland top selections for Pro Bowl game". Kingsport Times. UPI. December 19, 1974. p. 2C – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Wallace, William N. (August 31, 1976). "3. San Diego Chargers". Shreveport Journal. p. 6-A – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Mack, Charlie (August 10, 1975). "Washington one Charger who can afford to relax". Escondido Times-Advocate. pp. B-1, B-2 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Magee, Jerry (September 30, 1976). "San Diego off to a startling start". Santa Fe New Mexican. p. B3 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Prothro retains only 2 from '74". Berkeley Gazette. AP. September 14, 1977. p. 16 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "2 Chargers get Pro Bowl bids". Escondido Times-Advocate. AP. December 16, 1977. p. A-17 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gregg award to Washington". Green Bay Press-Gazette. January 19, 1978. p. C-3.
- ^ Mattei, John (January 14, 1982). "Look for many changes in Chargers' 1982 edition". Times-Advocate. pp. D1, D2. Retrieved January 7, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association to induct second Hall of Fame class" Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
External links
- Profile on NFL.com