5 Best Quarterbacks in Washington Commanders History

The 2012 NFL draft sure proved odd for the then-Redskins. At first, it looked like No. 2 pick Robert Griffin III would live up to expectations, but knee injuries put an end to that. Luckily, Washington took Cousins in the fourth round that year, and he was the full-time starter by 2015.

It’s strange to think Cousins only played six seasons in Washington, but he made the most of his opportunities.

He remains fourth in passing yards (16,206) and sixth in passing touchdowns (99), and he was on pace to finish atop both lists had contract disputes not forced his departure for the Vikings. 

4. Mark Rypien (1986-1993)

Rypien is the most recent Washington quarterback to win a Super Bowl, and it may stay that way for a bit longer. Not only did he finish fourth in MVP voting during the 1991 season, but he earned second-team All-Pro honors after leading Washington to a 14-2 record. 

Rypien, who was born in Canada, even became the first foreign-born player to win Super Bowl MVP when he threw two touchdowns in a Super Bowl XXVI victory over the Bills. He won his first championship as a backup four years earlier.

A 1986 sixth-round pick, Rypien went 45-27 with a 56.4% completion percentage, nearly 16,000 yards, and a 101-75 TD-INT ratio in Washington. Not too bad.

3. Sonny Jurgensen (1964-1974)

In one of the stranger moves in Eagles history, Philadelphia traded the 29-year-old Jurgensen to the rival Redskins in 1964.

He immediately proved his worth with a 24-touchdown season that landed him a spot in both the Pro Bowl and on the All-Pro second team.

Although Jurgensen never won a Super Bowl in Washington, he led the franchise to its first post-merger NFC championship. The Pro Football Hall of Famer still ranks second in both passing yards (22,585) and touchdowns (179), with the former’s top spot belonging to…

2. Joe Theismann (1974-1985)

Theismann is easily the best of the post-merger Washington quarterbacks, and it’s not particularly close. A 1971 fourth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins, Theismann played in Canada until the Redskins acquired his rights in 1974. 

However, Theismann didn’t get an extended chance to start until 1978, and it wasn’t until a career-ending injury in 1985 that he relinquished his spot atop the depth chart. 

The 1983 NFL MVP, Theismann threw for a Washington-record 25,206 yards over 12 seasons, and his 160 touchdowns are third in team history. He led Washington to a 27-17 victory over, fittingly, the Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII in January 1983.

1. Sammy Baugh (1937-1952)

Don’t read too much into Baugh finishing his career with a 56.5% completion percentage and a 187-203 TD-INT ratio. Not only did he play quarterback, but he also played safety and was an elite punter.

There’s a reason he landed on the NFL’s 100th Anniversary Team despite so many quarterbacks having prolific passing numbers in the modern game.

Baugh won two NFL championships and led the league in passing yards four times. He even threw at least 20 touchdowns three times in an era when double-digit passing touchdowns were a noteworthy achievement. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

If you’re unfamiliar with Baugh, look up some of his highlights on YouTube. Football in the 1940s was definitely something.

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