Former Redskins linebacker Chris Hanburger is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hanburger, 69, will find out Saturday if he makes it into the Hall.
Hanburger made the Pro Bowl nine times and was named All-Pro four times in a career that lasted from 1965 to 1978, all with the Redskins. He was the NFC Defensive Player of the Year during the 1972 season when Washington made it to the Super Bowl, losing to undefeated Miami 14-7.
Hanburger was part of George Allen’s “Over the Hill Gang,” a group of veterans that led the Redskins to seven straight winning seasons including five playoff appearances from 1971 to 1977. Hanburger was equally effective playing against the run, dropping back to cover running backs and tight ends, and blitzing quarterbacks. For five years he was the signal caller on Allen’s defense.
Hanburger played nine consecutive seasons without missing a game. He intercepted 19 passes, recovered 17 fumbles, and scored five touchdowns on defense.
Hanburger was selected in the 18th round of the 1965 draft out of the University of North Carolina.
Hanburger will need to get 80 percent of the votes Saturday to gain entrance to the Hall. Hanburger and former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Les Richter are senior candidates, whose careers ended more than 25 years ago.
The voters will also choose as many as five of the 15 modern-era finalists. There is no restriction on the number of senior candidates, so Hanburger, Richter, both of them or neither could make it into the Hall.
Hanburger had more Pro Bowl selections than any of the Redskins in the Hall of Fame. Washington has 18 players, coaches, and owners enshrined into the Hall of Fame, and six others in the Hall who spent parts of their careers with the Redskins.
Recent Redskins inductees include guard Russ Grimm in 2010, wide receiver Art Monk, and cornerback Darrell Green, who both made it in 2008. While Green made it in on the first ballot, Monk had to wait to get into the Hall until his eighth year of eligibility (13 years after retirement), while Grimm was voted in during his 14th year of eligibility.
Hanburger's induction would also be long overdue for a franchise that has been underrepresented in the Hall of Fame when compared with teams that have experienced similar success.
Modern era Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists include:
Jerome Bettis– Running Back – 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
Tim Brown– Wide Receiver/Kick Returner – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cris Carter– Wide Receiver – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Dermontti Dawson– Center – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
Richard Dent– Defensive End – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
Chris Doleman– Defensive End/Linebacker – 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers
Marshall Faulk– Running Back – 1994-98 Indianapolis Colts, 1999-2005 St. Louis Rams
Charles Haley– Defensive End/Linebacker – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
Cortez Kennedy– Defensive Tackle – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
Curtis Martin– Running Back – 1995-97 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets
Andre Reed– Wide Receiver – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Willie Roaf– Tackle – 1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-05 Kansas City Chiefs
Ed Sabol– Founder/President/Chairman – 1964-1995 NFL Films
Deion Sanders– Cornerback/Kick Returner/Punt Returner – 1989-1993 Atlanta Falcons, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-99 Dallas Cowboys, 2000 Washington Redskins, 2004-05 Baltimore Ravens
Shannon Sharpe– Tight End – 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens
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