RICHMOND, Va. – The Washington Redskins announced today that the team has selected former General Manager Bobby Beathard to become the 49th member of the team's Ring of Fame. Beathard will be formally honored with induction at FedExField during halftime of the team's game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 13.
Beathard's illustrious career as an NFL executive included 11 seasons as General Manager of the Redskins from 1978-88. After taking the job on Feb. 24, 1978, Beathard guided the organization to three Super Bowl appearances, including victories in Super Bowls XVII and XXII. Many of the players he acquired remained on the roster for the team's Super Bowl XXVI victory as well.
In Beathard's 11 seasons as General Manager, the Redskins averaged 9.5 wins a year. The team posted a regular season winning percentage of .625 (105-63) in that time frame, best in the NFC and second-best in the NFL. No team in that time frame posted a better postseason winning percentage than the Redskins, who went 11-3 in postseason play in his tenure for a winning percentage of .786.
Beathard began his career as a part-time scout for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in 1963. He earned an AFL championship ring with the organization in 1966 en route to the team's berth in Super Bowl I. He would later serve as a scout for the Atlanta Falcons from 1968-71 and as Director of Player Personnel for the Miami Dolphins from 1972-77 prior to joining the Redskins. He finished his career as General Manager of the San Diego Chargers, serving in that capacity from 1990-2000.
In all, Beathard's teams made seven Super Bowl appearances, including one by Kansas City (1966), two by Miami (1972-73), three by Washington (1982-83 and 1987) and one by San Diego (1994).
Beathard worked with 23 of the existing 48 members of the Redskins' Ring of Fame in various capacities during his career and was responsible for the acquisition of 12 players or head coaches in that membership. He was also named by a blue ribbon panel as a member of the 80 Greatest Redskins in 2012 during the team's 80th Anniversary celebration.
More information about the Ring of Fame and its 48 current members can be found online by accessing http://www.redskins.com/team/history/ring-of-fame.html.
