Looking back on a special day in Washington NFL franchise history

It was August 7, 1982.The Pro Football Hall of Fame was having their annual preseason game in Canton, OH, while enshrining that year's class of former players into its famous hall.

Among those awarded that day were former Chicago Bear lineman George Musso (1933-44), former fierce Chicago Bear pass rusher Doug Atkins (he also played for the Browns and Saints) 1953-1969), Merlin Olsen who some will remember more for his on years on television shows, "Little House on the Prairie" and then "Father Murphy." Olsen was an original member of the "Fearsome Foursome" of the Los Angeles Rams in the 1960s (1962-1976).Finally, enshrined that day was Robert Lee "Sam" Huff.

Huff had been an All-American linebacker at West Virginia University, before being a focus of the New York Giants defense from 1956-1963.

His defensive coordinator in his early years with the Giants was Tom Landry, who would go on to become the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Landry was credited for having designed the NFL style 4-3 defens,e where the defensive tackles would occupy the middle of the offensive line, permitting Landry's middle linebacker to roam sideline to sideline.

That linebacker was Sam Huff.But following eight NFL seasons in New York, the Giants were determined to trade off Huff, while they could still receive something in return.

Huff was unhappy about being traded to the lowly Washington Redskins, who had not achieved a winning season record since 1955.Also traded that same year (1964) to Washington was a quarterback whom the Philadelphia Eagles determined to part from, Sonny Jurgensen.

Huff and Jurgensen, neither one happy with the trade to Washington, talked through it, became good friends in playing for Washington through the 1969 season when Huff retired from the NFL.

Jurgensen remained in Washington through the 1974 season and retired.Huff joined the Redskins radio broadcasting team for the 1975 season.

Jurgensen was hired that season by CBS to be one of their analysts for television broadcasts.

Then it happened again.

Huff and Jurgensen were brought together a second time professionally.

Jurgensen would be hired to the Redskins radio broadcast team.

The plan was for the broadcast to move from a two-man team to a trio of announcers.

Frank Herzog would be the play-by-play announcer, while Huff could now focus on the Redskins defense, and Jurgensen on the Redskins offense.The popular and effective trio of broadcasters would then work together in the Redskins booth for 23 NFL seasons through the 2003 season, when Herzog's contract was not renewed.

Larry Michael would then join Huff and Jurgensen for the 2004 season.

Huff would continue through the 2012 Redskins' season, stepping down due to health reasons.

Jurgensen's last season broadcasting was the 2018 season.Huff was officially diagnosed with dementia in 2013 and died in Winchester, VA, on November 13, 2021.

But for this night, August 7, 2025, we recall back 43 years earlier to Huff being enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, August 7, 1982.

Incidentally, Jurgensen again soon followed Huff, joining the Hall the very next year in the class of 1983, along with former Redskins (and Browns) receiver Bobby Mitchell.This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Looking back on a special day in Washington NFL franchise history.

This article has been shared from the original article on yahoo, here is the link to the original article.