Washington Redskins: 15 best quarterbacks of all-time

The third and final figure in the Redskins’ 1980s quarterback trinity, Mark Rypien was drafted the same year Doug Williams was signed back from the USFL. The two would converge paths for only four years, however, before Rypien locked down the starting job.

Drafted in the sixth round, Rypien was on injured reserve for his first two seasons, winning a ring in 1987 as a result. In 1988, Rypien got his first whiff of the Redskins quarterback gig when Williams was lost to injury after 10 games. In six games, Rypien would put up massive numbers, effectively cementing his own role for the years to come.

Rypien made the Pro Bowl in his first campaign as Washington’s full-time starting quarterback, and again in 1991, when his 14-2 Washington Redskins made the Super Bowl for the third time in less than a decade. Rypien contributed to the Buffalo Bills’ four-game losing streak in the Super Bowl, putting the Redskins on his shoulders in a 39-24 win, in which he earned MVP honors.

The 1991 Redskins team is remembered as one of the best teams in the history of the game. It only makes sense that the team possessed one of the best quarterbacks in the game, as well.