The Over-the-Hill Gang (American football)

The Over-the-Hill Gang was the George Allen-coached Washington Redskins team of the early 1970s, so named due to the large number of veteran players on the team. Many of those players also played for Allen when he coached the Los Angeles Rams from 1966–1970.

The start of the Over-the-Hill Gang was the 1971 NFL Draft. Of the Redskins first five picks that year, they only used one, deciding to trade the rest. Allen had decided to build his team with experienced players who "did not have to mold to the NFL game". One of these trades was for Billy Kilmer, a quarterback who had been playing for the New Orleans Saints. As a starter for the Redskins, Kilmer threw for 3,869 yards and 32 touchdown passes. More importantly, he led the Redskins to back-to-back playoff appearances and became the first Redskins quarterback to start a Super Bowl.

This, however, was not the most important event in the '71 Draft that led to the creation of the gang. Allen later dealt seven draft choices (including the first- and third-round picks in 1971) as well as linebacker Marlin McKeever to his former team, the Rams. In exchange, the Redskins received linebackers Jack Pardee, Myron Pottios and Maxie Baughan, defensive tackle Diron Talbert, guard John Wilbur and special teams player Jeff Jordan. These players soon became a large part of the Over-the-Hill Gang defense. The Redskins also picked up Boyd Dowler, an eleven-year veteran with the Green Bay Packers, who won five championships as a Packer. He would later pick up strong safety Richie Petitbon (again from the Rams) and defensive tackle Ron McDole from the Buffalo Bills.

The average age of starters was 31 years old. Allen's strategy turned the Redskins around as the team improved to a 9-4-1 record in 1971, and finished the 1972 season with an NFC-best 11-3 record. The retooled Redskins' nine victories in 1971 was the most by a Washington team in 29 years. In his seven seasons with the club, Allen and his veterans produced seven winning records, five playoff appearances, and one trip to the Super Bowl.

References

Flashback: Trades Shook Up Allen's First Draft

Washington Redskins

Founded in 1932 Formerly the Boston Braves and Boston Redskins Based in Landover, Maryland Headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia

Franchise	Franchise History Seasons Players Coaches First-round draft picks Draft Starting quarterbacks

Stadiums	Braves Field Fenway Park Griffith Stadium RFK Stadium FedExField

Culture	Redskins Band "Hail to the Redskins" Hogettes Cheerleaders Chief Zee Joe Gibbs Team name controversy Name change advocates Trademark dispute Original Americans Foundation "Go Fund Yourself" (South Park episode)

Lore	Redskins 0, Bears 73 The Hogs The Fun Bunch The Over-the-Hill Gang The Body Bag Game Redskins Rule

Rivalries	Dallas Cowboys New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles

Division championships (14)	1936 1937 1940 1942 1943 1945 1972 1983 1984 1987 1991 1999 2012 2015

Conference championships (5)	1972 1982 1983 1987 1991

League championships (5)	1937 1942 1982 (XVII) 1987 (XXII) 1991 (XXVI)

Hall of Fame players	Battles Baugh Dudley Edwards Green Grimm Hanburger Houston Huff D. Jones S. Jones Jurgensen Krause Millner Mitchell Monk Riggins Smith Taylor

All-time leaders	Passing Receiving Rushing Kick and punt returning

Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: East Division

Seasons (84)	1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Championship seasons in bold

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The Over-the-Hill Gang (American football)

See also

References