Washington Redskins: The 8 Best Clutch Performers in Redskins History

In sports terminology, the term "clutch player" refers to someone who performs well under extreme pressure. Whether you believe in the idea that certain players are born with the "clutch" attribute and others are not, the truth is that athletes have made a name for themselves solely for being clutch.

Although recent Redskins history isn't much to chat about, there are plenty of players from over the years who deserve credit for showing up when the team needed it most.

This is not an easy list to make—more so due to a lack of clutch players in Redskins history than too many—but I've thrown together a group that I believe are worthy of an extra nod. I've used past statistics, big games and even some speculation to narrow the group down to eight (in no particular order).   

Sammy Baugh

It's hard not to consider a guy clutch after he served as the Redskins quarterback, defensive back and punter. 

Slingin' Sammy Baugh was drafted by the Redskins in 1937, after completing an overly impressive college career at TCU. 

Baugh is well known for making the forward pass an integral part of the modern game and that played a large part in Baugh leading the Redskins to the 1937 NFL Championship game against the Chicago Bears in his rookie season. 

Baugh threw for 335 yards and two touchdowns in that championship game against the Bears, setting a rookie quarterback record for most passing yards in a playoff game.

In 1942, Baugh led the Redskins to a 10-1 record and met with the Bears in the NFL Championship game once again, kicking and throwing his way around Chicago for a 14-6 win.

In 1943, Baugh led the league in passing, punting and interceptions. In that same year, in a 42-20 victory over Detroit, Baugh threw four touchdown passes AND intercepted four passes. Same game.

Baugh would lead the Redskins to the championship game once again, only to fall to Chicago 41-21 (Sammy was forced to leave the game with a concussion).

By the time Baugh retired, he had set 13 records in all three of his positions. Baugh was an intrinsic part of not only the Washington Redskins and the team's legacy, but to the game of football.

The term clutch, when used to describe Sammy Baugh, may be an understatement.  

John Riggins

Here comes the Diesel!

Unless you're unfamiliar with Redskins history, or Super Bowl XVII between Washington and Miami, then you should know about John Riggins and the argument that he may be the clutchest Redskin of all time. 

In the strike-shortened 1982 season, Riggins rushed for just 553 yards. It wasn't until the playoffs came around that he ran for another 444 yards. In the Super Bowl that season (XVII), Riggins rushed 38 times for a then-Super Bowl record 166 yards.

With 10 minutes to go in the game, quarterback Joe Theismann called a "70 Chip" in the huddle and the team took to the line. It was fourth and inches and Washington was trailing the Dolphins 17-13. Theismann handed the ball off to Riggo, who proceeded to shed a tackle and take it 43 yards to the house, giving the Redskins a 20-17 lead.

The Redskins would go on to win that game 27-17, giving Washington their first championship since 1942. Riggins was named Super Bowl MVP for his unbelievable performance and his 43-yard run has since been named the greatest moment in Redskins history.

In the following season, Riggins once again hammered his way through in the playoffs. Although his 1983 regular-season was no slouch (1,347 yards and 24 touchdowns), Riggins rushed for 242 yards and two touchdowns in just two playoff games—extending his NFL record of postseason games with at least 100 rushing yards to six.

Riggins played a total of 175 games in his 14-year career, racking up 13,442 total yards (11,352 rushing) and 116 total touchdowns (104 rushing).

To add note to Riggo's ability to show up when it counts: In nine postseason games, Riggins rushed 251 times for 996 yards and 12 touchdowns. The math? That's an average of 110 yards per game, 3.96 yards per carry and he was good for at least one touchdown per game. All in the clutch.   

Mark Moseley

Don't laugh! 

Sure Mark Moseley was a kicker, but the guy was money for all 12 seasons he spent in Washington (1974-1986). 

In the strike-shortened 1982 season, Moseley was named NFL MVP. That's right—the most valuable player in all of football that season. Moseley is the only, and probably the last, placekicker to ever win the award. 

During the Redskins Super Bowl XVII victory over the Dolphins in 1982, Moseley hit two crucial field goals (31, 20) and converted on all three of his extra point attempts. 

The following season, Moseley led the league in scoring with 161 points. He remains the Redskins all-time leading scorer with 1,207 points. 

After being released by the Redskins in 1986, Moseley went on to join the Cleveland Browns and helped them to win a playoff game that same season against the New York Jets with a field goal in double overtime--thus continuing his clutchness.

For his career, Moseley smashed 300 out of his 457 attempts (65 percent) and converted 482 of 512 extra point attempts (94 percent). He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and is a member of the 70 Greatest Redskins. 

And just a sweet side note that is totally worthy of being mentioned: Moseley is the Director of Franchise Development for the hearty and delicious Five Guys Burger and Fries restaurant chain. Shwing!

Art Monk

Art Monk's legacy in Redskins history began before he even made a name for himself as being a clutch player. 

After being drafted by the Redskins in 1980, Monk went on to haul in 58 receptions for almost 800 yards and three touchdowns. He would be named to the All-Rookie team that season.

In 1984, Monk brought in a record 106 receptions for a career-best 1,372 yards and seven touchdowns. He won the MVP award that season and earned his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Monk would go on to set team records as being the first wide receiver to ever produce three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and the first Redskin player to catch 70 or more passes in three consecutive seasons. Needless to say, Monk was there when you threw him the ball.

During his 14 years with the Redskins, Monk won three Super Bowls and had just three losing seasons.

Monk finished his career with 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns. He was named to the 1980's NFL All-Decade team and he remains one of the most appreciated players in Redskins history.

Many will argue that during the Redskins' Super Bowl seasons (1982, '87, and '92), Monk's production was way down. And while I wouldn't argue that, as Monk had 447, 483, and 644 yards respectively, I also wouldn't say that Monk's lasting footprint is decided off of those three years alone.  

Darrell Green

It would only be right to pair the 2008 NFL Hall of Fame classmates together, as Darrell Green has also earned the reputation as coming through in the clutch, by any means necessary.

The typical football fan may remember Green for a number of simple things—his speed, physical presence and agelessness. But it's Redskins fans who remember him for things like his first touch of a football in the pros, his infamous chase-down of Tony Dorsett and his punt return against the Chicago Bears in the 1987 playoffs.

Green was selected by the Redskins in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft. In Green's first professional football game (preseason) and on his very first touch of a football in the NFL, Green returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown. 

Then, during his first regular season game, Green hawked down a blazing Tony Dorsett to save a touchdown—a play that doesn't receive nearly enough attention. Either people don't understand Dorsett's speed, or they don't understand Green's. Either way, it was frickin' amazing!

Green started all 16 games of his rookie season and was runner-up for Rookie of the Year. 

Then, in 1987, during a divisional playoff game against the Chicago Bears, Green returned a punt 52 yards for a game-winning touchdown. What makes that play even more special is the fact that Green tore rib cartilage during the return and he proceeded to carry the ball in one hand, while attempting to keep his rib cage together in the other. Epic stuff in Redskins history!

Green retired at the age of 42 after spending all 20 of his NFL seasons with the Washington Redskins. He was named a member of the 1990's NFL All-Decade team and was considered the fastest man in the NFL for quite some time. 

Small in stature but immense in heart and skill, Green will go down as one of, if not the, most beloved Redskin of all time. 

Doug Williams

So the theory is proven—you don't have to be an unbelievable player to be considered one of the clutchest players in team history.

And that's the exact case with quarterback Doug Williams and his unforgettable MVP performance in Super Bowl XXII.

Williams was originally brought on to serve as then-starter Jay Schroeder's backup. But in three instances during 1987 that Schroeder was pulled in favor of the second-string quarterback, Williams led his team to victory. In fact, and oddly enough, Williams only started two games that season—both of which he lost.

When the Redskins qualified for the playoffs, Williams was named the team's starter and he led them to a 42-10 Super Bowl victory over the Denver Broncos. Williams became the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl after he completed 18 of 29 passes for 340 yards and four touchdowns.

Williams would eventually go on to suffer injuries the following season before being replaced by some dude named Mark Rypien (sarcasm used).

After retiring from football in 1989, Williams had a Redskins career starting record of 8-9 (including the playoffs). But as lousy as it may sound, no Redskins fan will ever forget the performance of Doug Williams on that Sunday night in January of 1988.

Sean Taylor

Arguments and flack is fully expected against my opinion that Sean Taylor, even after just four NFL seasons, is one of the clutchest Redskins to ever play. 

Am I going off stats alone? No, although his stats are nothing short of incredible. For this one, I'm speculating a bit and using my own opinionated prediction to assume that Taylor could have been one of the best safeties to ever play the game. 

After being selected by the Redskins in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft, Taylor wasted no time in making his presence known on the field. In his rookie season, Taylor recorded 76 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and one sack in 15 games.

In his second season, the Redskins made the playoffs and Taylor was credited with a game-winning touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card game. Taylor finished the 2005 season with 70 tackles, 10 pass deflections, two interceptions and one sack.

In 2006, Taylor stepped his game up. Maturing both on and off the field, Taylor finished the season with 111 tackles, three forced fumbles and one interception.

By the time Taylor entered his fourth NFL season, Sports Illustrated had named him the hardest hitting player in football. Striking fear in opponents regardless of position, Taylor was deemed one of the deadliest defenders in the NFL and one of the greatest athletes to ever touch the field.

Sean Taylor's life and legacy were cut short when he was murdered in 2007 after a botched home invasion. After just four seasons, Taylor had amassed 299 tackles, 12 interceptions and eight forced fumbles—not to mention the overall presence that he imposed on the field that doesn't necessarily show up on the stat sheet. 

Again, I base this argument off speculation and prediction. Call me a "homer" all you want, but I believe that Sean Taylor was one of the best football players to put on a Redskins uniform and I don't think anyone would have a problem with this selection had he played an entire career.

RIP.  

Timmy Smith

Maybe it was just the year of one-hit wonders for the Washington Redskins, but running back Timmy Smith deserves the clutch label for his performance in Super Bowl XXII as well. 

Smith was a fifth-round selection by the Redskins in the 1987 NFL draft. After playing in just seven games during the regular season and rushing for just 126 yards and no touchdowns, Smith went on to blow up in the Super Bowl and assist Doug Williams in the routing of the Denver Broncos.

In his only NFL achievement as a player, Smith set a Super Bowl rookie rushing record with 204 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Because of such a performance and nothing else, Smith was named No. 2 on the NFL Network's Biggest One-Shot Wonders list.

The following season, Smith finished 1988 with 602 yards and three touchdowns before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys.

Smith retired after just three NFL seasons and went on to get involved in drugs, even spending time in federal prison.

But there was always Super Bowl XXII.   

Honorable Mentions

Trust me, I'd like to put all of these guys on the list, but then it wouldn't be much of a debate at all. 

Charley Taylor: Rookie of the Year in 1964, served as both an effective running back and receiver, first rookie in 20 years to finish in top-10 of both rushing and receiving, retired in 1977 as NFL's all-time leading receiver, was a member of 1960's All-Decade team, and eight-time Pro Bowler. You could call on Charley!

Russ Grimm: Led team to four Super Bowl appearances (three victories), four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances, named All-Pro from 1983-1986 and an original "Hog" on the 1980's All-Decade team. When it came down to the offensive trenches, there were no worries with Russ on the line. 

Ricky Sanders: Finished Super Bowl XXII with nine receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Is there an offensive player who didn't eat the Broncos alive that night?

Sonny Jurgensen: Thanksgiving 1965, when trailing the Cowboys 21-0 at RFK Stadium, Sonny threw for 411 yards and led the Redskins to a 34-31 comeback win. Gotta love Sonny! 

Santana Moss: Over his years here in Washington, Moss has been nothing shy of productive. And while the team hasn't necessarily been put into potential clutch situations, I have the feeling that Moss can deliver when on any stage.