'Joe Dan Washington' (born
September 24,
1953 in
Crockett, Texas) is a former
American football running back who played nine seasons for the
San Diego Chargers, the
Baltimore Colts, the
Washington Redskins, and the
Atlanta Falcons from
1977 to
1985 in the
National Football League.
Washington graduated from
Lincoln High School in
Port Arthur, Texas where his father coached football. Washington had a stellar
college football career in the
University of Oklahoma where Washington was a two time First-team
All-American and finished third in the
Heisman Trophy balloting in
1974 and fifth in
1975 and is a member of the
College Football Hall of Fame.
Washington was
drafted in the first round of the
1976 NFL Draft by the Chargers. He went to the
Pro Bowl once in his career, with the Colts in
1979. In that season he led the NFL with 82 receptions for 750 yards, and had 242 carries for 884 yards and seven
touchdowns.
With the Redskins, Washington played in
Super Bowl XVII and
Super Bowl XVIII.
Washington was reportedly the only player who did not wear the 1982 Redskins logo on his helmet. He used the logo the Redskins had used from 1972-1981 and 1983 to present.
Washington retired with 4,839 rushing yards and 3,413 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns in his career.