American football player (born 1941)
American football player
Christian G. Hanburger, Jr.
(born August 13, 1941) is an American former professional
football
player who was a
linebacker
in the
National Football League
(NFL). He played his entire 14-year career with the
Washington Redskins
, from
1965
through
1978
, and was elected to the
Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 2011.
Early life and college career
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After being a star
end
for the "Crabbers" at
Hampton High School
in
Hampton, Virginia
, Hanburger joined the
United States Army
. He later accepted a scholarship from the
University of North Carolina
in Chapel Hill, where he played
college football
for the
Tar Heels
. From
1962
through
1964
, Hanburger played on offense at
center
, as well as on defense, as a middle
linebacker
. He was All-
Atlantic Coast Conference
at center as both a junior and senior. In
1963
, the Tar Heels won the
Gator Bowl
and a shared ACC Championship with
NC State
.
NFL career
[
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]
“He was at that time the smartest player in the league. We did everything we could to try to eliminate him from the play. We knew if we didn't neutralize him, then we had less of a chance of winning.”
[1]
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John Hannah
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Hanburger was selected by the Redskins in the
18th round
(245th overall) of the
1965 NFL draft
. As a professional, he was considered one of the best outside
linebackers
of his era and was elected to the
Pro Bowl
nine times during his career, the most in Washington Redskin history. Hanburger earned the nickname "The Hangman" due to his penchant for clotheslining tackles. From 1973 to 1977, he called the Redskins' defensive signals and acted as the defensive quarterback for head coach
George Allen
.
[1]
Hanburger was a four-time first-team
All-Pro
(1972, 1973, 1975, 1976) and a second-team All-Pro in 1969 and 1974. Additionally, he was either a
Pro Bowler
or an All-Conference selection every year from 1966 through 1976 with the exception of 1971?receiving post-season honors in 10 of 11 seasons in that span. From 1971 to 1973, he and
Jack Pardee
, outside linebacker on the opposite side, formed a particularly effective tandem. In
1972
, Hanburger was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Year by the
Kansas City Committee of 101
. That year, the Redskins won the
NFC championship game
of the
NFL playoffs
against the
defending champion
Dallas Cowboys
, when they limited them to 3 points, 96 rushing yards, and 73 net passing yards with
Roger Staubach
at quarterback, Hanburger getting a
sack
. Though their defense allowed only 14 points, the Redskins lost
Super Bowl VII
to the undefeated
Miami Dolphins
.
Beginning with the
1968
season, Hanburger started 135 straight games, a streak that ended in
1977
after he underwent an
appendicitis
operation. In the Redskins' season finale of that season, he recorded three sacks against the
Los Angeles Rams
in a 17?14 win. He played in 1978 to finish his 14-year career. In his career, he picked off 19 passes, recovered 17 fumbles, recorded 46 sacks and scored five touchdowns, two on interception returns and three from fumble recoveries.
[2]
In 2004, he was named to the
Professional Football Researchers Association
Hall of Very Good in the association's second HOVG class.
[3]
On August 25, 2010, Hanburger was nominated as a senior candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011 along with former Rams linebacker and kicker
Les Richter
. On February 5, 2011, Hanburger was officially inducted at the enshrinement ceremony where his bust, sculpted by
Scott Myers
, was unveiled.
References
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External links
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Quarterbacks
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Running backs
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Wide receivers /
ends
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Tight ends
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Offensive
linemen
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Pre-modern era
two-way players
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Defensive
linemen
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Linebackers
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Defensive backs
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Special teams
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Coaches
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Contributors
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Italics
denotes members who have been elected, but not yet inducted.
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