Bobby Beathard died at his home in Franklin, Tennessee, on January 30. He was 86.
Beathard worked for the Washington Redskins as general manager from 1978-88 and then the San Diego Chargers (1990-2000).
[Commanders Wire will focus on Beathard’s time as Washington GM]
George Allen had a winning record in all of his seven seasons (1971-77) as head coach and general manager. However, it came with a price. Beathard was hired as GM because Allen had traded away the future for the present (Allen’s present). In his exuberance to win now, he so often traded away too much for aging veterans.
Beathard took on a huge challenge as Washington did not even possess a draft choice in the first five rounds of the 1978 draft. The next draft was even worse, owning only three choices in the first ten rounds.
Yet, Beathard managed to scout well enough to select in the 1979 draft, Don Warren (4th rd), Rich Milot (7th rd) and Monte Coleman (11th rd).
In his third draft, he finally had a first-round choice (18th), and with it, he selected Art Monk who became a Hall-of-Fame wide receiver.
In 1981, Beathard hit it out of the park… several times!
First, he hired San Diego Chargers Offensive Coordinator Joe Jackson Gibbs to be the next head coach of the Redskins. He chose Gibbs, though Gibbs had not previously been a head coach at any level.
Secondly, his 1981 draft remains far and away the best in franchise history. He traded down from No.9 overall to No. 20 and selected Mark May. He traded a round-two choice to Baltimore for running back Joe Washington. He selected future HOF guard Russ Grimm in round three. Dexter Manley was his selection in round five. In round eight, he grabbed Charlie Brown, and in round nine, he seized on Darryl Grant. Concluding his draft, he took Clint Didier in round 12. What a draft!
If that wasn’t enough, following the draft, he then signed an undrafted free-agent offensive lineman, Joe Jacoby.
After 1981, Beathard most often would trade away first-round choices for proven veterans while building the depth of his roster with players from the lower rounds and undrafted free agents.
Trading away some choices brought him veterans such as George Rogers, Terry Orr, Raleigh McKenzie, Wilber Marshall and Gerald Riggs.
With choices he kept, he drafted Darrell Green, Vernon Dean, Charles Mann, Kelvin Bryant, Jay Schroeder, Barry Wilburn, Dean Hamel, Markus Koch, Alvin Walton, Mark Rypien, Kurt Gouveia, Brian Davis, Ed Simmons, Timmy Smith, Chip Lohmiller and Stan Humphries.
When the USFL folded, and there was a supplemental draft, Beathard selected Tony Zendajas, Gary Clark and Clarence Verdin. Beathard then sent a third-round pick to the Patriots for Ricky Sanders.
Two other notable trades were when he sent flashy running back/returner Mike Oliphant to the Cleveland Browns for steady, hard-working Earnest Byner and when he traded Jay Schroeder to the Raiders for Jim Lachey.
Finally, Beathard remarkably signed many undrafted free agents and players cut who had not been successful with another team, who actually contributed to the Redskins success in winning two Super Bowls and three NFC championships during Beathard’s tenure as Washington GM.
Such notable signings were:
Virgil Seay, Mel Kaufman, Neal Olkewicz, Nick Giaquinto, Greg Williams, Jeff Hayes, Pete Cronin, Alvin Garrett, Mike Nelms, Otis Wonsley, Todd Bowles.
Bobby Beathard’s hard work certainly brought Washington coaches, players and fans much enjoyment.
RIP, Bobby Beathard.
