Riggo's Rag
FanSided

Washington Football Team: The best quarterbacks in team history

By Jonathan Eig

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 30: Joe Theismann #7 of the Washington Redskins turns to hand the ball off to running back John Riggins #44 against the Miami Dolphins during Super Bowl XVII on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Redskins won the Super Bowl 27-17. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 30: Joe Theismann #7 of the Washington Redskins turns to hand the ball off to running back John Riggins #44 against the Miami Dolphins during Super Bowl XVII on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Redskins won the Super Bowl 27-17. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 12
Next
3 Dec 2000: Brad Johnson #14 of the Washington Football Team lines up a pass during the game against the New York Giants at the FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The Giants defeated the Washington Football Team 9-7.Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport
3 Dec 2000: Brad Johnson #14 of the Washington Football Team lines up a pass during the game against the New York Giants at the FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. The Giants defeated the Washington Football Team 9-7.Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport /

No. 7 – Brad Johnson (1999-2000)

Brad Johnson was never considered good enough. Not after his first Pro Bowl selection (for Washington in 1999). Not after his Super Bowl win with Tampa in 2002. The ninth-round draft pick was beginning to thrive in Minnesota when an injury opened the door for the flashier Randall Cunningham. Charley Casserly gave up a lot to bring Johnson to Washington and Johnson rewarded the GM’s faith by leading Washington to its first playoff victory in almost a decade.

He regressed some the following year but still managed to lead the team on a mid-season run that had them 6-2 at the midpoint. Then Johnson hurt his knee, and one of Dan Snyder’s shiny new toys, Jeff George, got into the game. George failed to produce, but he was a big name with a big arm, and that was the way the new owner wanted things.

Charley Casserly had already been jettisoned. Coach Norv Turner was on his way out. And Johnson would soon follow. He ended his brief run in DC with a 17-10 record, a Pro Bowl and a playoff win. They were one bad snap away from a potential winning field goal in their second playoff game in 1999.

Johnson would go next to Tampa Bay, where he would put up virtually identical numbers to those he had produced with the Washington Football Team. In 2002, the year he won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, Washington went 7-9.

Home/Commanders History