Quick Facts
Biography
Joe Dan Washington, Jr (born September 24, 1953) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons.
Early career
Washington graduated from Lincoln High School in Port Arthur, Texas where his father coached football. Washington had a stellar college football career in the University of Oklahoma where Washington was a two time First-team All-American and finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1974 and fifth in 1975. He finished his career at Oklahoma with 4,071 career rushing yards. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Washington was drafted fourth overall in the first round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Chargers. A month prior to the start of the 1978 season, he was traded to Baltimore for Lydell Mitchell. Washington was with the Colts when he made his lone Pro Bowl appearance in 1979. He led the NFL that season with 82 receptions for 750 yards, and had 242 carries for 884 yards and seven touchdowns.
His most memorable performance was on September 18, 1978 in Baltimore's 34–27 victory over the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, when he had a hand in three of the four touchdowns scored by the Colts in a fourth quarter in which both teams combined for 41 points. He helped lead off the scoring by throwing a 54-yard option pass to Roger Carr. Washington followed that up with a 23-yard touchdown catch from Bill Troup. Washington broke a 27–27 deadlock by scoring the game-winner on a 90-yard kickoff return in a driving rainstorm. It was scored in the final seconds of the game after the Patriots came back from 27–13.
He remains the only NFL player to ever throw a touchdown, catch a touchdown and return a kickoff for a touchdown in a single game.
With the Redskins, Washington played in Super Bowl XVII and Super Bowl XVIII.
Washington was reportedly the only player who did not wear the 1982 Redskins logo on his helmet. He used the logo the Redskins had used from 1972–1981 and 1983 to present.
Washington retired with 4,839 rushing yards and 3,413 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns in his career.
Post-football career
He currently works as a financial adviser for Wells Fargo. With former basketball player Julius Erving, Washington fielded a NASCAR Busch Series team from 1998–2000.