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The Over-the-Hill Gang was a nickname given to theWashington Redskins of theNational Football League (NFL) in the 1970s under head coachGeorge Allen, so named due to the large number of veteran players on the team. Many of those players also played for Allen when he previously coached theLos Angeles Rams in the late 1960s.

The Over-the-Hill Gang's origins began upon Allen being hired in 1971. Of the Redskins first five picks in the1971 NFL draft, they only used one and traded the rest as Allen decided to build his team with established players. One of these trades was for quarterbackBilly Kilmer, who was made expendable after theNew Orleans Saints selectedArchie Manning. Kilmer led the Redskins to an appearance inSuper Bowl VII the following year.

Allen later dealt seven draft choices (including the first- and third-round picks in 1971) as well as linebackerMarlin McKeever to his former team, the Rams. In exchange, the Redskins receivedlinebackersJack Pardee,Myron Pottios andMaxie Baughan,defensive tackleDiron Talbert,guardJohn Wilbur and special teams playerJeff Jordan. These players soon became a large part of the Over-the-Hill Gang defense. The Redskins also picked upBoyd Dowler, an eleven-year veteran with theGreen Bay Packers, who won five championships as a Packer, and traded with theNew York Jets for defensive endVerlon Biggs. He would later pick upstrong safetyRichie Petitbon (again from the Rams; Petitbon also played with theChicago Bears when Allen was defensive coordinator underGeorge Halas),defensive tackleRon McDole from theBuffalo Bills andfree safetyRosey Taylor (who also played for the Bears during Allen's tenure as defensive coordinator) from theSan Francisco 49ers.

The average age of starters was 31 years old. Allen's strategy turned the Redskins around as the team improved to a 9-4-1 record in 1971, and they finished the 1972 season with an NFC-best 11-3 record. The retooled Redskins' nine victories in 1971 was the most by a Washington team in 29 years. In his seven seasons with the club, Allen and his veterans produced seven winning records, five playoff appearances, and one trip to the Super Bowl. Of the group,Sonny Jurgenson,Dave Robinson,Ken Houston,Deacon Jones,John Riggins,Chris Hanburger, andCharley Taylor were later inducted into thePro Football Hall of Fame.

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