Billy Kilmer

#17 · Washington Commanders
Retired 22 Years In The NFL
🏆 Pro Bowl (1972)
Billy's
HAIR
33.9
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Billy Kilmer or the Commanders?

Billy Kilmer Legacy

HEYTC AI
Billy Kilmer was the ultimate gridiron chameleon, the last single-wing tailback wizard from UCLA who survived a near-fatal car wreck to morph into a pro football Swiss Army knife—quarterback, runner, receiver, even punter—for 18 rugged seasons. What made him special? That gambler's grit, rocking the single-bar face mask like a rebel while platooning with Sonny Jurgensen to drag the 'Skins to Super Bowl VII after an NFC-best 11-3 '72 rampage. Kilmer embodied the NFL's wild pre-Pass Era heart, forever etched in Commanders lore as the tough-as-nails everyman who outlasted 'em all.

Billy Kilmer Rating Breakdown

Season
Great
Fantasy
Good
Playoffs
Subpar
Overall
Chill
8 years with the Commanders

Billy Kilmer Career Stats via Wikipedia

20,495 Pass Yards
152 Touchdowns
146 INTs
53.1% Comp %
33.9 HAIR
61-52 Record

Frequently Asked Questions About Billy Kilmer

How does Jayden Daniels compare to Billy Kilmer?

Jayden Daniels is torching it as the Commanders' starter, with 3,568 passing yards, 25 TDs, and a playoff run to the NFC Championship—already tying rookie win records like Big Ben's 14. Kilmer's Over the Hill Gang grit got Washington to Super Bowl VII in '73, but Daniels' rocket arm and 1,026 rushing yards dwarf Kilmer's wobbly-pass era, though both own that franchise QB swagger.

Is Billy Kilmer in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Nope, Billy Kilmer's not in Canton—his 20,495 yards and 152 TDs over a gritty career, including that '73 Pro Bowl and Super Bowl push, didn't punch the Hall ticket. Think of him as the ultimate barroom legend: beloved by Redskins diehards for dumping beers with coaches more than padding stats, but voters wanted flashier resumes.

What is Billy Kilmer doing now in 2026?

At 86 in 2026, Kilmer's kicking back in Florida, still the life of the party with golf rounds and Commanders tailgates—last spotted signing autographs at alumni events. No broadcasting gigs or big charity headlines lately; guy's earned his whiskey sours after hauling the Over the Hill Gang to glory, content as Washington's rogue elder statesman.

How would Billy Kilmer perform in today's NFL?

Kilmer's cannon arm and gunslinger guts—19 TDs leading the NFL in '72, 84.8 rating—would feast under pass-happy rules with better protection, maybe cracking 90 ratings like his playoff brawls hinted. But his 53% completion and TO habit? Modern defenses would pick those wobblers; he'd be a feisty bridge guy, not a franchise savior.

How does Billy Kilmer compare to Joe Theismann?

Theismann lapped Kilmer statistically—52.07 rating to Billy's 33.85, plus two Super Bowl rings to one trip—but Kilmer's '72 demolition of Dallas (26-3) showed brawler heart Theismann's polish lacked. Both Commanders icons, yet Joe's TV polish edged Billy's barfly vibe; Kilmer won with TD efficiency (5.8%) in a run-first era.