 Washington with the Chargersc. 1982 | |||||||||
| No. 85, 70 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1946-12-17)December 17, 1946 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | August 5, 2021(2021-08-05) (aged 74) San Diego, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 289 lb (131 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Southeast (Kansas City, Missouri) | ||||||||
| College: | Missouri (1964–1967) | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1968: 1st round, 4th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Russell Eugene Washington (December 17, 1946 – August 5, 2021)[1] was an American professionalfootballoffensive tackle who played for theSan Diego Chargers of theAmerican Football League (AFL) andNational Football League (NFL) from 1968 to 1982, playing his first two seasons as adefensive tackle. He was taken in the first round (4th overall) of the1968 NFL/AFL draft. He playedcollege football for theMissouri Tigers.
Washington was noted for his size (6 foot 6 inches, close to 300 pounds) and durability. Aone-team player, he played in 200 games for the Chargers, including a 148-game streak as their starting right tackle that lasted over a decade. A strong player on a weak team throughout much of his career, his only playoff appearances came in his last four seasons. During this time he was part of an experiencedoffensive line that played a key role in the record-breakingAir Coryell passing attack.
Described by theSt. Louis Post-Dispatch as a "widely-sought recruit", Washington signed for theMissouri Tigers in 1964.[2] He became a startingdefensive end the following year,[3] and was voted theBig Eight lineman of the year despite missing two games with a knee injury.[4][5] Washington scored his only careertouchdown during hisjunior year,blocking a punt and then returning it to the end zone during a defeat byUCLA.[6] He suffered another knee injury that year, missing six games.[7] Entering hissenior year, theSedalia Democrat described Washington as one of the few "glittering stars" in the Tigers ranks.[8] Missouri switched him tooffensive tackle that year,[7] though he still played defensive end and defensive tackle sometimes when replacing injured teammates,[9] as well asfullback on some plays.[10] Washington won numerous honors at season's end, being votedAssociated Press All-Big Eight,[11]The Sporting News first-teamAll-American,[10] andNewspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) second team All-American.[12]
TheSan Diego Chargers selected Washington fourth overall in January's 1968 NFL/AFL common draft,[13] and he signed for them in May.[14] San Diego opted to use him as a defensive lineman, hoping to improve a weakpass rush and boost a defense that had ranked last in the league the previous season.[15] Duringhis rookie season, Washington appeared on the scoresheet for the only time in his professional career, sharing asafety with teammateSteve DeLong during a victory over theDenver Broncos.[16] He received 2 of the available 29 votes for theAmerican Football Leaguedefensive player of the year award.[17] Washington returned fora second year on defense,[18] but had difficulty catching opposing quarterbacks.[19]
San Diego switched Washington to offensive tackle in1970 after atraining camp session where he filled in for the injuredGene Ferguson.[20] In one of his first games at the new position he was repeatedly beaten byHall of Fame defensive endDeacon Jones, who had three sacks.[21] Entering1971, aUnited Press International (UPI) article listed Washington's ability to master playing at offensive tackle as a question mark that would determine the line's effectiveness;[22] they went on to lead theAFC inpass protection, allowing 19 sacks in 14 games.[23] After the1972 season, sports journalistMurray Olderman rated the offense line as probably the Chargers' best unit and "comparable with any in the league."[24] Washington earned an individual honor in1973, as UPI placed him in their All-AFC second team.[25] He was also voted the Chargers'MVP by his teammates.[26]
Washington was voted to thePro Bowl five times in the six-year period from 1974 to 1979.[1] In the first two of these,1974 and1975, he was the only player on his team to gain the honor;[27][28] anEscondido Times-Advocate article written between these seasons dubbed him "the closest thing the Chargers have to being a superstar."[29] Washington missed the Pro Bowl in1976 but the Chargers,[26] a losing team throughout most of his career, began to improve during that season.[30] San Diego head coachTommy Prothro had been rebuilding the team extensively, with Washington and fellow linemanDoug Wilkerson entering the1977 season as the only two players on the roster who had been Chargers for more than three years.[a][32] Washington was again a Pro Bowler that year,[33] and also won theForrest Gregg offensive lineman of the year award.[34] He set a new club record for consecutive appearances during1978, passing the old record of 153 shared byWalt Sweeney andJohn Hadl.[35][36] In addition to another Pro Bowl appearance, Washington was named a first-teamAll-Pro in the player-voted NEA awards.[37] With the team having improved under new head coachDon Coryell, Washington entered the1979 season hopeful of making his first playoff appearance in his 12th year in San Diego.[38] Aided by another Pro Bowl season from Washington, the Chargers managed to clinch theAFC West division title in the final game of the season.[39] He said, "All those years, I never gave up. I'm an optimist. I always thought it would get better. I thought there would be a day like this."[40] The Chargers disappointed in the playoffs, losing at home to theHouston Oilers in their first game.[41]
In1980, Washington missed games due to injury for the first time in his professional career.[42] During a week 6 defeat to theOakland Raiders, Washington had his left foot planted while blockingJohn Matuszak, and was struck from that side; hiscleats got caught in the turf, resulting in torn knee ligaments and a dislocated knee and kneecap. The injury put him out for the season, ending streaks of 178 consecutive appearances and 148 consecutive starts.[43] Washington was bothered by his knee for most of1981, but he was still a standout player,[44] and played in all but three games.[45][46] The strike-shortened1982 season proved to be Washington's last in the league. He was part of a veteran offensive line that played in every game and only allowed quarterbackDan Fouts to be sacked twelve times in nine regular season games despite the San Diego offense revolving around the pass.[b][48] Fouts had broken numerous passing records by this time, and gave his line a lot of the credit for this success.[49]
"I figure I've been really blessed to play as long as I have. Since I've been out of college, most of the good things that happened to me happened because I was a Charger. I have nothing to be bitter about at all."
Washington planned to continue his career in1983 and signed a new contract during the offseason,[51] but was surprisinglywaived in favor ofAndrew Gissinger shortly before the season began.[52] San Diego made the playoffs in each of Washington's last four seasons, though they never reached theSuper Bowl.[53] The Chargers were less effective at pass protection after the departure of Washington and some of his fellow linemen and did not reach the playoffs again until 1992.[47][54]
Standing at 6 foot 6 inches tall[c] and with a playing weight close to 300 pounds,[57][58] Washington was among the largest players of his era.[59][56] His teammates nicknames him "Big Rew" due to his initials (R.E.W.) and his size.[60]Bum Phillips, Washington'sdefensive coordinator during the first two years of his career, described him as "so big, he looks like a haystack with a tarpaulin thrown over it," while Hall of Fame defensive endHowie Long said that facing Washington was like "trying to throw acondo."[61] He also possessed good technique according to another opposing lineman,Jerry Mays: "Washington is not at all susceptible to being turned or twisted."[58] TeammateEd White described him as "an extremely fluid athlete, who stymies people, engulfs them on the line".[55]
Washington was described as quiet but friendly by both teammates and journalists,[48] with one reporter writing that he was "hard to find and easy to talk to."[35] His durability led him to start at right tackle in every game for over a decade.[1] He set franchise records for appearances (200), starts (196), consecutive appearances (178) and consecutive starts (148).[62] The Chargers inducted him into theirHall of Fame in 1995, and he was later voted to the franchise's 40th and 50th anniversary teams.[63] Other organizations to honor Washington were the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association and the San Diego–basedBreitbard Hall of Fame.[20][64]
Washington owned various businesses after retirement, including a car wash inNational City, California.[65] He was married to Inez, a native ofPaata.[43] Washington would spend time between seasons living on with her on Paata, an island inChuuk State with a population of approximately 600 in 1982.[66] The couple had two children.[55]
Washington died on August 5, 2021, at the age of 74. No cause of death was given.[67]
| Season | Team | Pos. | GP | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | San Diego | DT | 14 | 12 |
| 1969 | San Diego | DT | 14 | 13 |
| 1970 | San Diego | T | 14 | 13 |
| 1971 | San Diego | T | 14 | 14 |
| 1972 | San Diego | T | 14 | 14 |
| 1973 | San Diego | T | 14 | 14 |
| 1974 | San Diego | T | 14 | 14 |
| 1975 | San Diego | T | 14 | 14 |
| 1976 | San Diego | T | 14 | 14 |
| 1977 | San Diego | T | 14 | 14 |
| 1978 | San Diego | T | 16 | 16 |
| 1979 | San Diego | T | 16 | 16 |
| 1980 | San Diego | T | 6 | 6 |
| 1981 | San Diego | T | 13 | 13 |
| 1982 | San Diego | T | 9 | 9 |
| Career | 200 | 196 | ||