Chris Hanburger
Encyclopedia
Christian G. Hanburger, Jr. (born August 13, 1941 in Fort Bragg
, North Carolina
) is a former American football
linebacker
in the National Football League
who played his entire fourteen year career with the Washington Redskins
from 1965 to 1978. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 2011.
in Hampton, Virginia
, Hanburger joined the Army
. Years later, he accepted a scholarship from the University of North Carolina
, where he played college football
. From 1962 until 1964, Chris played for the Tar Heels
on offense, at the center
position, as well as on defense, as a middle linebacker
. During his stay at UNC, Hanburger was named the All-Atlantic Coast Conference
center as both a junior and senior. In 1963 he helped lead his team to the Gator Bowl
and an ACC Championship.
Hanburger was drafted by the Redskins in the 18th and final round of the 1965 NFL Draft
. As a pro, he was considered as one of the best outside linebacker
s of his era and was elected to the Pro Bowl
nine times during his career, the most in Washington Redskin history. Hanburger earned the nickname "The Hangman" due to his penchant for clothesline tackles. From 1973 to 1977, he called the Redskins' defensive signals and acted as the defensive quarterback for head coach George Allen. He was a Four-time First-team All-Pro
in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976 and a Second-team All-Pro in 1969 and 1974. Additionally, he was either a Pro Bowl
er or an All-Conference selection every year from 1966 though 1976 with the exception of 1971—receiving post-season honors in 10 of 11 seasons in that span. From 1971 to 1973, he and Jack Pardee
, outside linebacker on the opposite side, formed a particularly effective tandem. In 1972, he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Year by the Kansas City Committee of 101
. That year, the Redskins won the NFC championship game of the 1972-73 NFL playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys
, when they limited them to 3 points, 96 rushing yards, and 73 net passing yards with Roger Staubach
at quarterback, Hanburger getting a sack
. But, though the defense allowed only 14 points, the Redskins lost Super Bowl VII
to the Miami Dolphins
.
Beginning with the 1968 NFL season, Hanburger started 135 straight games, a streak that ended in 1977 after he underwent an appendicitis
operation. In the Redskins' season finale of that 1977 season, he recorded 3 sacks against the Los Angeles Rams in a 17-14 win. He played in 1978 to finish his 14-year career. 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.
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 announced as a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2011.
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
who played his entire fourteen year career with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
from 1965 to 1978. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 2011.
Early life & College career
After being a star end for the "Crabbers" at Hampton High SchoolHampton High School (Hampton, Virginia)
Hampton High School is a public secondary school located in Hampton, Virginia. It is the oldest standing high school in Hampton Public Schools. It contains an International Baccalaureate World School with the Diploma Programme.Hampton high is the first high school in the Hampton city high school...
in Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
, Hanburger joined the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Years later, he accepted a scholarship from the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, where he played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. From 1962 until 1964, Chris played for the Tar Heels
North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels are the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State...
on offense, at the center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
position, as well as on defense, as a middle linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. During his stay at UNC, Hanburger was named the All-Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
center as both a junior and senior. In 1963 he helped lead his team to the Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
and an ACC Championship.
NFL 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.” |
| John Hannah |
Hanburger was drafted by the Redskins in the 18th and final round of the 1965 NFL Draft
1965 NFL Draft
The 1965 National Football League Draft took place on November 28, 1964. The first player selected was Tucker Frederickson, back from Auburn, by the New York Giants. The draft was marked by the failure of the St...
. As a pro, he was considered as one of the best outside linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
s of his era and was elected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
nine times during his career, the most in Washington Redskin history. Hanburger earned the nickname "The Hangman" due to his penchant for clothesline tackles. From 1973 to 1977, he called the Redskins' defensive signals and acted as the defensive quarterback for head coach George Allen. He was a Four-time First-team All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976 and a Second-team All-Pro in 1969 and 1974. Additionally, he was either a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er or an All-Conference selection every year from 1966 though 1976 with the exception of 1971—receiving post-season honors in 10 of 11 seasons in that span. From 1971 to 1973, he and Jack Pardee
Jack Pardee
-NFL:-External links:...
, outside linebacker on the opposite side, formed a particularly effective tandem. In 1972, he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Year by the Kansas City Committee of 101
Kansas City Committee of 101 Awards
The Kansas City Committee of 101 was founded by Jack Wheeler. The name was chosen because the membership was limited to 101 Chief's fans and cost $1,000 to join. The group began presenting its annual NFL awards in 1969. They started as NFL and AFL Awards. After the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, however,...
. That year, the Redskins won the NFC championship game of the 1972-73 NFL playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, when they limited them to 3 points, 96 rushing yards, and 73 net passing yards with Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
at quarterback, Hanburger getting a sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. But, though the defense allowed only 14 points, the Redskins lost Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII
Super Bowl VII was an American football game played on January 14, 1973, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1972 regular season...
to the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Beginning with the 1968 NFL season, Hanburger started 135 straight games, a streak that ended in 1977 after he underwent an appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
operation. In the Redskins' season finale of that 1977 season, he recorded 3 sacks against the Los Angeles Rams in a 17-14 win. He played in 1978 to finish his 14-year career. 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.
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
Les Richter
Leslie Alan Richter was a Los Angeles Rams National Football League football player, former head of operations for NASCAR and president of the Riverside International Raceway. He played in 8 Pro Bowls as a linebacker. Richter was born in Fresno, California...
. On February 5, 2011, Hanburger was announced as a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2011.