Washington All-Time Top-5 QBs (Part 2): Bizarre Love Triangle
In which Sonny Jurgensen, Joe Theismann and Billy Kilmer become the most dysfunctional throuple in NFL history.
PREVIOUSLY, ON WASHINGTON’S ALL-TIME TOP-5 QBs
A few decades after Sammy Baugh helped redefine both the quarterback position and NFL football, Sonny Jurgensen arrived in Washington and fit a few passing titles in between extended happy hours and romantic conquests. But when Vince Lombardi passed away after just one season in Washington, George Allen took over, bringing with him a defense-first attitude and hard-nosed (and hard drinking) journeyman Billy Kilmer.
Soon, a third quarterback arrived: a cocky youngster with lots and LOTS of baggage.
3. Joe Theismann
The Dolphins selected Theismann, a Heisman runner-up at Notre Dame, in the third round of the 1971 draft. The Theismann/Heisman rhyme was not a coincidence. Theismann changed the pronunciation of his family name from THEEZE-men in a clever bit of marketing. Simplifying the pronunciation of a name for media purposes works better for some folks than others.
Theismann and the Dolphins agreed to a verbal contract, but Theismann had second thoughts about both the deal and the Vietnam War. "I didn't know whether I was going to wind up going into the service or what," he later said."It was an issue for a very long period of time." Theismann backed away from the Dolphins offer and did not pursue an offer to play baseball in the Minnesota Twins organization. He signed instead with the Toronto Argonauts.
“The Argonauts were surprised at Theismann's availability,” the New York Times reported in 1971. “The Canadian team had given up on him after he was reported to have reached an agreement with the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.”
Theismann led the Argos to a Grey Cup victory in 1971. He was injured in 1972 but played well in 1973.
The Vietnam War draft ended in June of 1973. George Allen sought an eventual replacement for Sonny Jurgensen and an heir apparent to Billy Kilmer. Allen loved to trade away first-round picks, so he sent one to the Dolphins for Theismann’s rights, and the quarterback returned to the United States.
Let’s stop for a moment to restack. So far, Theismann has essentially changed his name in search of fame and accolades, spurned an NFL team’s contract offer at the last moment and (for want of a gentler term) dodged the draft, which did not sit well with old-fashioned football types. Heck, Norm Van Brocklin might have had him shot for desertion, given the chance.