Sammy Baugh

#33 · Washington Commanders
Retired 16 Years In The NFL
🏆 2× NFL champion (1937, 1942)
Sammy's
HAIR
41.5
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Sammy Baugh or the Commanders?

Sammy Baugh Legacy

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Slingin' Sammy Baugh didn't just throw a football differently—he threw it first, transforming a ground-based sport into an aerial game before anyone else saw it coming. Drafted sixth overall in 1937, he won a championship in his rookie season and never stopped winning, capturing two titles and leading the Redskins to five divisional crowns. What made Baugh truly singular wasn't just his arm; he was quarterback, punter, and safety rolled into one—in 1943, he led the NFL in passing, punting, and interceptions, a triple crown no one's matched since. He retired holding nearly every passing record imaginable, a first-ballot Hall of Famer who essentially invented the modern quarterback position. Baugh passed in 2008 at 94, leaving behind a blueprint that still defines how the game is played.
Sammy Baugh passed away on December 17, 2008 at the age of 94.

Sammy Baugh Rating Breakdown

Season
Good
Fantasy
Average
Playoffs
Average
Overall
Slaps
16 years with the Commanders

Sammy Baugh Career Stats via Wikipedia

21,886 Pass Yards
187 Touchdowns
92 INTs
56.5% Comp %
41.5 HAIR

Sammy Baugh Career Timeline

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1963 1

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class, honoring Baugh's unparalleled achievements as a passer, punter, and defensive back.

1953 1

Retires After 16 Seasons

Baugh retired after 16 illustrious years with the Washington Redskins (then Commanders), having led the NFL in passing eight times and revolutionizing the quarterback position.

1952 2

Career Milestone: 1,900 Passes

Baugh became the first NFL quarterback to attempt 1,900 career passes, finishing his record-setting career with 2,995 completions for 21,886 yards and 187 touchdowns.

Final Pro Bowl Selection

At age 37, Baugh earned his sixth and final Pro Bowl nod while leading the league with a 104.9 passer rating, capping a season of 1,567 yards and 12 touchdowns.

1948 1

All-Pro and Pro Bowl Honors

Named first-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl, Baugh threw for 2,461 yards and 25 touchdowns, leading the NFL in both categories during a banner year.

1947 2

Third NFL MVP Award

Baugh captured his third career NFL MVP award after leading the Redskins to an 8-4 record, topping the league in passing efficiency and showcasing his versatility as a punter.

Single-Game Completion Record

Baugh set an NFL record by completing 18 of 20 passes (90%) for 225 yards and 6 touchdowns in a 45-21 win over the Chicago Cardinals, a mark that stood for decades.

1945 1

Second NFL Championship

Washington won its third NFL title in Baugh's era, beating the Philadelphia Eagles 15-14 in the 1945 Championship Game, with Baugh contributing key plays on offense and punting.

1943 2

NFL Championship Win

Baugh guided the Redskins to victory in the 1943 NFL Championship Game, defeating the New York Giants 28-0 for the franchise's second title during his tenure.

NFL and Pro Bowl MVP

Baugh earned both the NFL MVP and first-team All-Pro honors, along with a Pro Bowl selection, after a dominant season where he threw 23 touchdown passes against just 4 interceptions.

1942 1

First NFL MVP Award

Baugh won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award after leading the league in passing yards (1,504), completions (177), and touchdown passes (16), while also punting effectively.

1940 1

NFL Championship Runner-Up

Baugh threw for 354 yards and completed 18 of 33 passes in the 1940 NFL Championship Game, but the Redskins fell 28-21 to the Chicago Bears in a high-scoring affair.

1937 2

Rookie Season Success

In his debut season, Baugh led the Redskins to a 7-5-1 record and threw for 1,127 yards with 11 touchdowns, establishing himself as a premier passer in the early NFL.

Drafted by Redskins

Sammy Baugh was selected by the Washington Redskins as the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 1937 NFL Draft out of Texas Christian University, marking the start of his legendary 16-year career with the franchise.

16 years in the NFL

Frequently Asked Questions About Sammy Baugh

How does Jayden Daniels compare to Sammy Baugh?

Jayden Daniels dazzles with his rocket arm and legs as the Commanders' current gunslinger, but Sammy Baugh invented the damn playbook—Slingin' Sammy's 21,886 yards and 187 TDs came while moonlighting as a shutdown DB with 31 picks and a 45.1 punt average. Daniels has the tools to chase that ghost, yet Baugh's rookie-year NFL title in '37 feels like ancient sorcery no modern kid's touched.

Is Sammy Baugh in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Damn right Sammy Baugh's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1963, the sixth guy ever inducted and still the gold standard for old-school revolutionaries. This Texas gunslinger didn't just pass—he punted lasers, picked off 11 in '43 alone, and dragged the Redskins to two titles. They broke the mold after him.

How would Sammy Baugh perform in today's NFL?

Sammy Baugh would feast in today's pass-happy NFL—rules banning DBs from mugging receivers suit his rifle arm that led the league in passing six times, completion percentage nine more, all while two-way grinding. Imagine his 56.5% accuracy and 7.3 yards per throw with RPOs and no leather helmets; he'd carve defenses like a rancher roping steers.

How does Sammy Baugh compare to Joe Theismann?

Sammy Baugh edges Joe Theismann as Commanders passing king with 21,886 yards and 187 TDs to Joe's 25,206 and 160, but Theismann's 52.07 rating laps Baugh's gritty 41.52 in a softer era. Sammy slung it revolutionary-style across 16 bruising seasons; Joe danced for one Super Bowl ring—both legends, but Baugh's the three-tool pioneer who changed the game.