Joe Lavender
Encyclopedia
Joseph "Joe" Lavender is a former American football
cornerback
who played ten seasons in the National Football League
for the Philadelphia Eagles
from 1973
–1975
, and the Washington Redskins
from 1976
–1982
. He was drafted by the Eagles in the twelfth round of the 1973 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at San Diego State
.
as the starting cornerback opposite the other cornerback, Pat Fischer
and had 6 interceptions. He also had impressive interception totals in 1979 and 1980 with 6 each. But in 1982, Lavender was replaced as a starter by a rookie, Vernon Dean
, though he remained on the team as a backup, the year the Redskins won Super Bowl XVII
, his final one in the NFL.
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...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
who played ten seasons 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...
for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1973
1973 NFL season
The 1973 NFL season was the 54th regular season of the National Football League. The season featured O.J. Simpson becoming the first man to rush for 2,000 yards in one season...
–1975
1975 NFL season
The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:...
, and 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 1976
1976 NFL season
The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
–1982
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
. He was drafted by the Eagles in the twelfth round of the 1973 NFL Draft
1973 NFL Draft
The 1973 National Football League Draft was held on January 30–31, 1973.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. 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...
at San Diego State
San Diego State Aztecs football
The San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of...
.
Professional career
In his first year as a Redskin (1976), he replaced Mike BassMike Bass
Michael Thomas Bass is a former professional American football player who played defensive back for the Detroit Lions and the Washington Redskins...
as the starting cornerback opposite the other cornerback, Pat Fischer
Pat Fischer
Patrick Fischer is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1961 to 1967, and the Washington Redskins from 1968 to 1977....
and had 6 interceptions. He also had impressive interception totals in 1979 and 1980 with 6 each. But in 1982, Lavender was replaced as a starter by a rookie, Vernon Dean
Vernon Dean
Wellington Vernon Dean is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and Seattle Seahawks...
, though he remained on the team as a backup, the year the Redskins won Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
, his final one in the NFL.