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As expected, Baugh was drafted in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1937 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, the same year the team moved from Boston.[9] He signed a one-year contract with the Redskins and received $8,000, making him the highest paid player on the team.[1]
During his rookie season in 1937, Baugh played quarterback, defensive back, and punter, set an NFL record for completions with 91 in 218 attempts and threw for a league-high 1,127 yards.[8] He led the Redskins to the NFL Championship game against the Chicago Bears, where he finished 17 of 33 for 335 yards and his second-half touchdown passes of 55, 78 and 33 yards gave Washington a 28–21 victory.[1]
Great info Synopsis! Am sorry to hear about his passing. He is on various NFL films segments and interviews over the last few decades. Bucko Kilroy of the Philadelphia Eagles, who played in Sammy's era, said of him, "He was the first quarterback in the NFL was had star power just based on his reputation from college. We didn't have many sellouts when I played but that changed when the Redskins came to town. Everyone wanted to see Sammy play. He was an attraction, a huge attraction."
Sammy was a pure football player. Play offense, defense, and special teams? You kidding me?
He passed for 21,886 yards in an era that emphasized the run. Played for 16 seasons. Also intercepted 34 passes (including playoff games), and in 1940, his second season in the league, his punting average was 52.9.
Sammy Baugh was as big a figure as there was in the NFL in his era. 21,886 yards may not be a huge figure by todays standards, except for this little issue. The NFL was at an eleven game season schedule when he entered the league and went to twelve in 1947. That means he played 70 games less than today's quarterbacks. There is no doubt in my mind that he could stack up the stats in todays game. He later became a head coach in the American Football League, coaching the New York Titans (later the Jets), and the Houston Oilers.
Slingin' Sammy Baugh is one of the greats of the NFL. RIP Sammy.
Good point Synopsis! I'm wondering if today's quarterbacks can imagine the day that the quarterbacks
1. Played a 12 game schedule
2. Didn't have an offensive coordinator in the booth relaying info to the head coach.
3. Wasn't in contact with the head coach via a speaker in your helmet.
4. State of the art practice facilities, workout equipment, etc.
Chuck Bednarik was the one player who is identified as the last of the 60 minute men. But the truth is there were a lot of players that did. They also had off season jobs. Back in Baugh's day, the following was legal; clotheslining, headslapping, slugging, pulling the ball carrier down with the facemask. If you got hit 2 or 3 yards out of bounds, no personal foul was called on it. No holes barred.
Sammy promoted the NFL simply by his presence. When he would play in an opposing stadium, his autograph was in BIG demand. He is, without a doubt THE representative of athletic class at Texas Christian University, both on and off the field.
Last edited by DOUBLE H; 12-18-2008 at 09:16 AM..
Reason: addition
On the radio this morning the dj's were saying that MANY of his records STILL STAND! His average yardage for punts is one. To hear the records he made and the ones still standing were INSANE! Talk about a true gifted athlete. He was one.
He was also the last of the first inductee's into the Hall of Fame still alive.
An amazing player, hopefully people just getting into the game read about him and the amazing level of talent he had.
Baugh was a member of the 1st Hall of Fame inductees. Just look at the guys who went in with him: George Halas, Curly Lambeau, Red Grange, Jim Thorpe. Just amazing the names, basically the founders of the NFL.
Packersnut21 is right. These five men shaped the NFL,no doubt about it.
I was reading the story of Sammy Baugh on the NFL website, which was a good one. The thing that impressed me is that it didn't make any difference to him about being remembered of what he accomplished, but he did say "I just want to be remembered as a good rancher, and by God, I am one!"
He also said in a 2002 interview that he would have loved to have played in today's NFL. With all the rule changes to benefit the offense, he said he would have had a ball playing today. He LOVED the quarterbacks of the 80's and 90's and said so in a variety of NFL videos recorded over the last two decades.
One more quick note. He was admitted to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 1962. Sammy and George Halas were the only ones to go in on a unanimous vote.
Last edited by DOUBLE H; 12-18-2008 at 09:46 PM..
Reason: addition
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