Sammy Baugh

Sammy Baugh was an American professional football player and coach who played 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins.

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

Samuel Adrian Baugh was born on March 17, 1914, in Temple, Texas, United States. The Quarterback stood 188 cm tall, and his playing weight was listed at 83 kg.

He attended Sweetwater High School in Texas, where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. Baugh practiced throwing for hours by hurling a football through a swinging tire, developing his legendary accuracy. He went on to play college football for the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs from 1934 to 1936.

A two-time All-American, he led TCU to a national championship in 1935 and a victory in the inaugural Cotton Bowl Classic in 1937. Interestingly, he earned his famous nickname "Slingin' Sammy" not for his football passing, but from a Texas sportswriter describing his rocket throws from third base as a collegiate baseball player.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, and TCU retired his number 45.

Professional Career

Baugh was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round (6th overall) of the 1937 NFL Draft. He immediately transformed the franchise, leading the team to the 1937 NFL Championship in his rookie season by throwing for a then-record 335 yards and three touchdowns in the title game.

Throughout his 16 seasons in Washington, Baugh was an ironman and a statistical marvel. He won two NFL Championships (1937, 1942) and was a four-time First-team All-Pro.

He led the league in passing yards four times, completion percentage eight times, and passing touchdowns twice. During his historic 1943 campaign, he led the NFL in passing, led the league in punting average (45.9 yards), and led the league in interceptions on defense (11). His 1940 punting average of 51.4 yards remains an NFL record to this day.

Retirement

Baugh retired as a player in 1952, holding nearly every NFL passing record. He was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 and is the only player in franchise history to have his jersey number (33) officially retired by Washington.

Following his legendary playing days, Baugh transitioned to coaching. He served as the head coach for the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys in college football before moving to the professional ranks.

He became the first head coach of the American Football League's New York Titans (now the New York Jets) in 1960 and later served as the head coach for the Houston Oilers in 1964.

Off the field, Baugh was a quintessential Texan. He married his high school sweetheart, Edmonia Smith, in 1938, and they raised four sons and a daughter. After retiring from football entirely, he retreated to his sprawling cattle ranch in West Texas, preferring the quiet life of a rancher.

He passed away on December 17, 2008, at the age of 94 in Rotan, Texas, as the last surviving charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Career Highlights:

• 1937, 1942 – 2× NFL champion
• 1937, 1940, 1942, 1943 – 4× First-team All-Pro
• 6× Pro Bowl selection
• 8× NFL completion percentage leader
• 4× NFL passing yards leader
• 1943 – NFL interceptions leader
• 1943 – NFL punting yards leader
• NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
• NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams
• 1963 Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee (Charter Member)