Remembering Pat Fischer: The smallest player with the biggest heart

The first thing everyone noticed about Pat Fischer was his size. Or rather, the lack thereof.

Fischer, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84, played 17 years as an NFL cornerback despite being listed at 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds. Teammates said those numbers were generous. Still, in seven seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and another 10 with Washington, he started in 198 games and snagged 56 interceptions.

He didn’t merely last a long time. He played at a very high level for almost the entirety of that long career.  

Pat Fischer was a diminutive player with the heart of a lion

Fischer was tough and smart. He understood how to stop bigger wide receivers from making catches. Grabbing an arm out of sight of the official was a key maneuver. He understood how to disrupt timing patterns by giving the wideout a good jolt as he was trying to make his cut. This was in the time before contact was illegal more than five yards down the field and he took full advantage of what the rules permitted.

He also understood - actually, made a study of - the art of tackling. That’s how Fischer won himself a spot in the Cardinals defensive backfield in 1963, his third season in the league.

Fischer was the best tackler the Cardinals had, so they decided to take a chance on an undersized player who had mostly functioned as a kick returner in his first couple of years. He responded with eight interceptions that season. He backed it up with 10 picks the following year, returning two for touchdowns.

For his efforts, Fischer made his first Pro Bowl and was chosen as a first-team All-Pro.

The defensive back came to Washington in 1968 and started every game for the next seven campaigns. He made the Pro Bowl in 1969 and was part of the first team to go to the Super Bowl after the 1972 season.

In all, Fischer appeared in 126 games for Washington as well as starting in seven playoff contests. Playing opposite Mike Bass, he formed one of the best cornerback duos in the league during the 1970s. They were essential components of George Allen's stingy defenses.

Fans and teammates alike loved Fischer for his tenacity. He had legendary battles with the Philadelphia Eagles' 6-foot-8 receiver Harold Carmichael. He was giving away about a foot and more than 50 pounds, but the feisty corner always held his own against one of the best receivers in the league.

After Fischer retired in 1977, Carmichael admitted he was among the toughest corners he ever faced. It could just be a coincidence, but as soon as Fischer left the league, the wideout put up three straight Pro Bowl seasons.

Leonard Shapiro, one of the grand old men of the Washington Post sports section, once related a story about Johnny Unitas schooling some ignorant cameraman on exactly who Fischer was. The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback was taping a segment with Allen when the cameraman spotted a diminutive player on the practice field. He asked, “Who’s that kid?”

Shapiro quoted Unitas as responding, “That kid is 35 years old, and if he ever hits you, he’ll knock your socks off.”

Despite his toughness and competitive streak, no fellow player, whether teammate or opponent, ever had a bad word to say about Fischer. He was a kind man who acknowledged the fans and even treated reporters with respect. After his career, he was able to indulge in his greatest passion - training horses. Like many retired athletes, he loved the thrill of competition, and he always had a soft spot for the giant, noble animals.

Fischer was about as far from a giant as you will find in the world of professional football. But for 17 years, he was as noble as they come. He gave Washington fans many great memories.

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