Washington Redskins: 15 greatest running backs in franchise history

Standing at 6-foot-4, 222 pounds when he played in the NFL, Redskins running back Rob Goode would’ve been big for a ball carrier by today’s standards. So it comes as no surprise that he easily set himself apart, both literally and figuratively, from the pack, back in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Drafted at No. 8 overall in the 1949 NFL Draft, Goode towered above the Redskins and their opponents from day one. Built like an olden-day defensive lineman, rather than a running back, he carried the football with the rock-solid physicality and aggression desired in that era.

It was Goode’s size and tenacity that led him to have the career that he had. It was short, due to the physical toll Goode’s playing style took on him, but it was ultimately productive.

In just four full seasons with the Redskins, Goode earned two Pro Bowl bids. He peaked in 1951, when he logged 951 yards and nine touchdowns on 208 carries, leading the league in scores from the ground.

One of the few to wear the Redskins’ No. 21 before it was unofficially retired in 2007, Goode’s playing style mirrored the relentlessness of those who went on to wear his number after him. In a way, he subliminally set the standard. And for that, he should be honored.