Cary Conklin was a part of the Redskins' last Super Bowl Championship team and played a position that many Washingtonians refer to as the second most important job in the country: Redskins quarterback.
Last offseason, Conklin returned as a Redskins scout, meaning that another tie to the great Redskin teams of the past has returned to the organization.
Washington fans certainly remember Cary Conklin, a Redskins quarterback from 1990-93. A fourth-round draft pick in 1990, he spent his first two seasons on injured reserve with a knee injury. He backed up Mark Rypien and Rich Gannon in 1993, completing 46-of-87 passes for 496 yards and three touchdowns.
For Conklin, returning as a scout means returning to a town and a team that he loved and an opportunity to be a part of something again.
"I'm very excited to be back with the Redskins," Conklin said. "My most memorable moment was the NFC Championship game against Detroit during our Super Bowl season in 1991. I just remember looking out into the stands and watching the great Redskin fans tossing bright yellow cushions in the air.
"That Super Bowl team was quite a group. That team had a special chemistry that I hope we can establish again."
In that 1991 postseason meeting with the Lions, the Redskins prevailed 41-10 before 55,585 fans at frenetic RFK Stadium. Two weeks later, the Redskins traveled to Minneapolis for Super Bowl XXVI, where they outscored the Buffalo Bills 37-24.
Conklin now scouts college teams for the Redskins, primarily on the West Coast. Marcus Dupree, another Redskins scout, works for the team in the Southwest. Dupree is a former standout college running back at Oklahoma.
After finishing his pro career in 1995 with the 49ers, Conklin coached quarterbacks and receivers at his alma mater, the University of Washington, from 1996-98, and at Eastern Michigan in 2000-01. He then turned to scouting and returned to the Huskies.
"You need an eye for talent to be a scout," Conklin said. "I think being with a team like the Redskins with so many types of athletes it takes to win a Super Bowl has helped me. Being surrounded by a coach like Joe Gibbs and players like Mark Rypien and Art Monk gave me excellent models to follow."
After spending six years in the college ranks, Conklin wanted to return to the pro game. He's delighted to be with his former team.
Said Conklin: "I'm confident I can do a good job because I know what type of player it takes to be a champion. My experience working and coaching in the college ranks will help, too."
As a college player, Conklin was outstanding. A two-year starter at Washington, Conklin finished his career as the Huskies' second all-time leading passer with 4,850 yards. His senior year, he became the team's all-time single-season leader in passing yards (2,569) and total offense (2,502), including 16 touchdown passes. He culminated his senior year by being named to Hula Bowl MVP for the West squad.
