Joe Theismann

#7 · Washington Commanders
Retired 25 Years In The NFL
🏆 Super Bowl champion (XVII)
Joe's
HAIR
52.1
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Joe Theismann or the Commanders?

Joe Theismann Legacy

HEYTC AI
Joe Theismann, the scrappy Notre Dame gunslinger from Jersey who once chucked 526 yards through a USC downpour, embodied the underdog grit that turned the '80s Redskins into contenders. What made him special? That cocky charm and rocket arm fueling Joe Gibbs' Hogs, capping it with a Super Bowl XVII upset over Miami's dynasty. His '83 MVP blaze lit up D.C., but fate's cruel sack by Lawrence Taylor in '85—snapped on Monday Night lights—ended it all, birthing a broadcasting legend. Theismann's legacy? Proof quarterbacks thrive on swagger, not size, forever etched in Commanders lore.

Joe Theismann Rating Breakdown

Season
Good
Fantasy
Good
Playoffs
Great
Overall
Sigma
12 years with the Commanders

Joe Theismann Career Stats via Wikipedia

2,044 Pass Yards
160 Touchdowns
138 INTs
56.7% Comp %
52.1 HAIR
77-47 Record

Frequently Asked Questions About Joe Theismann

How does Jayden Daniels compare to Joe Theismann?

Jayden Daniels, the Commanders' rocket-armed rookie sensation, has the legs and deep ball to torch defenses in ways Theismann never dreamed—Joe's 25,044 yards and 160 TDs built a Super Bowl legacy in the '80s grind, but Daniels' mobility fits today's RPO explosion like Mahomes lite. Theismann owned DC; Daniels could eclipse him if he stacks rings.

Is Joe Theismann in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nope, Joe Theismann's not in Canton—despite that '83 MVP nod, Super Bowl XVII ring, and dragging the Redskins to glory with a 52.07 career rating, the Hall snubbed him. Feels like a oversight for the guy who turned short-yardage scrambles into touchdowns, but voters love flashier stats over grit.

What is Joe Theismann doing now in 2026?

In 2026, Theismann's killing it as a motivational speaker, headlining spots like the Weinberg Center on Jan. 10 with tales of resilience and goal-setting, plus co-hosting Playbook on the Commanders network and gigs for banks and restaurants. The '83 champ's still slinging wisdom like he did passes, Emmy-winning analyst turned entrepreneur.

How would Joe Theismann perform in today's NFL?

Theismann's quick release and pocket savvy—think 160 TDs on a 52 rating—would feast under pass-happy rules with no bump-and-run or blindside hits like his Taylor blitz snap. He'd post Rodgers numbers in this 40-air-it-out era, dodging that career-ender and maybe sniffing another ring in domes.

How does Joe Theismann compare to Mark Rypien?

Theismann laps Mark Rypien as the Commanders' sharper trigger man—Joe's 52.07 rating dwarfs Rypien's 44.33, with way more yards (25k vs. 11k) and that '83 MVP edge over Mark's lone Super Bowl XXVI heroics. Rypien was the big-game cigar; Theismann the weekly surgeon who defined the franchise QB mold.