Chris Hanburger

In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of Chris Hanburger, exploring its many facets and discovering everything this topic/person/date has to offer. From its origin to its impact today, we will delve into its history, its relevance and the various ways it has influenced society. Through a detailed analysis, we will learn about its importance in different contexts and how it has shaped the world around us. Prepare to embark on a journey of discovery and learning about Chris Hanburger, which will undoubtedly leave you with a renewed and enriching perspective.

"Hanburger" redirects here; not to be confused with Hamburger.

Chris Hanburger
refer to caption
Hanburger, circa 1966
No. 55
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1941-08-13) August 13, 1941 (age 83)
Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:Hampton (Hampton, Virginia)
College:North Carolina (1962–1964)
NFL draft:1965: 18th round, 245th pick
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:187
Interceptions:19
Touchdowns:5
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Pro Football Hall of Fame

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

Hanburger was born on August 13, 1941, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.[1] His father was a colonel in the U.S. Army.[2] He attended Hampton High School in Hampton, Virginia, where he was an all-state end.[3] Hanburger enlisted in the Army eleven days after finishing high school, as he did not see himself going to college and did not wish to move to Alaska where his father had been re-stationed. He served two years. He had planned to pursue a career as an officer, but a serious eye-socket injury during a flag football game derailed that plan.[2][4]

College football

After his military service, Hanburger accepted a scholarship from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where he played college football for the Tar Heels, under coach Jim Hickey.[4] From 1962 through 1964, Hanburger played on offense at center, as well as on defense, as a middle linebacker.[2] He was All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) at center as both a junior and senior.[5] He was voted the Tar Heels top all-time center.[3]

In 1963, the Tar Heels won the Gator Bowl 35–0 over Air Force, and a shared ACC Championship with North Carolina State.[5][6] From 1962-64 as a center, Hanburger blocked for running back Ken Willard who rushed for nearly 2,000 yards over those three years, and would go on to a ten-year career in the NFL after being taken with the second overall pick in the 1965 NFL draft.[5][7][8][9]

Professional career

“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.”[10]
John Hannah

Hanburger was selected by the Redskins in the 18th round (245th overall) of the 1965 NFL draft.[11] During his first training camp, he was encouraged by future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Sam Huff, that he could make the team. By the sixth game of his rookie season he became a starter, and started four other games that year. By the following year, he was a full-time starter.[4][12][1] He played the 1969 season under coaching legend Vince Lombardi, who died before the following season began. Future hall of fame coach George Allen took over in 1971 and headed the team, and Hanburger, through 1977.[4][13]

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.[14] 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.[10] Hanburger not only called defensive plays, but had over 100 audibles from which he could reset the defense before a play began.[4] From his Army days, he was also nicknamed "The General".[4]

Hanburger was a four-time first-team All-Pro. In 1972-73, the Associated Press (AP), Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) and Pro Football Weekly named him first-team All-Pro.[15][16] In 1975, the AP named him first-team All-Pro, and the NEA and Professional Football Writers of America (FW) named him to their second-team.[17] In 1976, the NEA named him first-team All-Pro.[18] The AP, NEA and United Press International (UPI) named him second-team All-Pro in 1969, as did the AP, NEA and FW in 1974.[19][20] Additionally, he was either a Pro Bowler (1966-69, 1972-76)[1] or an All-Conference selection[citation needed] 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 1972, he and Jack Pardee, outside linebacker on the opposite side, formed a particularly effective tandem.[1][21] Pardee had played for coach Allen in Los Angeles from 1966-70, before rejoining Allen in Washington for the 1971-72 seasons. When Pardee retired after the 1972 season, Hanburger took over as quarterback of Washington's defense.[21][22][4]

In 1972, Hanburger was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Year by the Kansas City Committee of 101.[23] He was third in the AP voting for defensive player of the year, behind Joe Greene and Nick Buoniconti.[24] During the regular season, Hanburger had four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), two fumble recoveries, and 3.5 quarterback sacks.[1] That year, the Redskins won the NFC championship game of the NFL playoffs against the defending champion Dallas Cowboys,[25] 26–3, when they limited them to 3 points, 96 rushing yards, and 73 net passing yards with Roger Staubach at quarterback, Hanburger getting a sack.[26] Though their defense allowed only 14 points and 69 net passing yards, the Redskins lost Super Bowl VII to the undefeated Miami Dolphins.[27]

Beginning with the 1968 season, Hanburger started 135 straight games, a streak that ended in 1977 after he underwent an appendicitis operation. Coach Allen described Hanburger's ensuing inability to play as the loss of the team's general.[4][1][28] 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, all with Washington. 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.[1]

Hanburger is a member of Washington's Ring of Fame, and has been named one of the 80 greatest Redskins players.[29] In 2004, he was named to the Professional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's second HOVG class.[30]

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.[31]

Personal life

After retiring, Hanburger owned an auto dealership.[32]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Chris Hanburger Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Kendle, Jon (May 30, 2021). "Stories from the Hall of Fame Archive: 'Field general' reputation fit Chris Hanburger". Canton Repository. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Chris Hanburger". hampton.gov.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Doerschuk, Steve. "CHRIS HANBURGER: Finally in Hall of Fame after 27-year wait". Canton Repository. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "No. 6: Chris Hanburger". northcarolina.rivals.com. June 9, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  6. ^ "1963 Atlantic Coast Conference Year Summary". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  7. ^ "Ken Willard College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  8. ^ "Ken Willard Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  9. ^ "65 | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Richman, Michael (2007). The Redskins Encyclopedia. Temple University Press. p. 291. ISBN 978-1-59213-542-4..
  11. ^ "1965 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  12. ^ "Sam Huff | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  13. ^ "George Allen | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  14. ^ "Washington Commanders All-Pros and Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  15. ^ "1972 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  16. ^ "1973 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  17. ^ "1975 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  18. ^ "1976 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  19. ^ "1969 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  20. ^ "1974 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  21. ^ a b "Jack Pardee Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  22. ^ "George Allen Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  23. ^ "Winners by Year, 101 Awards". www.101awards.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  24. ^ "1972 Awards Voting". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  25. ^ "Super Bowl VI - Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins - January 16th, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  26. ^ "NFC Championship - Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins - December 31st, 1972". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  27. ^ "Super Bowl VII - Miami Dolphins vs. Washington Redskins - January 14th, 1973". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  28. ^ Asher, Mark (September 1, 1977). "Redskins Lose Hanburger to Appendicitis". Washington Post.
  29. ^ "Team | Washington Commanders - Commanders.com". www.commanders.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  30. ^ "Hall of Very Good Class of 2004". Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  31. ^ "Chris Hanburger | Pro Football Hall of Fame". pfhof. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  32. ^ "80 Greatest Redskins, Washington Commanders - Commanders.com". www.commanders.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chris Hanburger.