Joe Theismann

Joe Theismann (born September 9, 1949) is a former American football quarterback and current television football announcer.

Related Topics:
September 9 - 1949 - American football - Quarterback - Television

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A graduate of Notre Dame and runner-up for the 1970 Heisman Trophy (he was so obsessed with winning the award he changed the official pronunciation of his last name to rhyme with "Heisman,") Theismann was selected in the fourth round by the Miami Dolphins in the 1971 NFL Draft. In addition, Theismann was also selected by the Minnesota Twins in that year's Major League Baseball draft as a shortstop. However, instead of playing for the Dolphins, he elected to play for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He would eventually make his NFL debut with the Washington Redskins in 1974, where he voluntarily spent his first two seasons as a punt returner. In 1978, he would become their starting quarterback.

Related Topics:
Notre Dame - 1970 - Heisman Trophy - 1971 - NFL Draft - Minnesota Twins - Major League Baseball draft - Shortstop - Toronto Argonauts - Canadian Football League - NFL - Washington Redskins - 1974 - Punt returner - 1978

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As a quarterback, Theismann would set several Redskins franchise records, including most career passing attempts (3,602), most career passing completions (2,044) and most career passing yards (25,206). He would also help lead the Redskins to a win in Super Bowl XVII and an appearance in Super Bowl XVIII. He was the 1983 NFL MVP and played in two Pro Bowl games, earning an MVP award in his second game.

Related Topics:
Super Bowl XVII - Super Bowl XVIII - 1983 - MVP - Pro Bowl games

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In an era when most quarterbacks had long since used variations of a double-bar facemask, Theismann refused to use anything but a single bar facemask throughout his career as not to obstruct his vision.

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His career would end with a gruesome broken leg suffered during a sack by linebacker Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants during a Monday Night Football game in 1985.

Related Topics:
Sack - Lawrence Taylor - New York Giants - Monday Night Football - 1985

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Theismann currently works as a color commentator on ESPN's Sunday night NFL telecasts. In 2005, ESPN announced that Theismann would be joining Al Michaels on Monday Night Football telecasts beginning the following season.

Related Topics:
Color commentator - ESPN - Al Michaels

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