The Brutal Football Mind of Chris Hanburger

I've always wondered why Chris Hanburger never became a Coach in the NFL. When you talk about "intellectual brutality" you're talking about Number 55 of the Washington Redskins Chris Hanburger.

I remember Hanburger had a nose for the ball. He was a Pick-6 Linebacker if there ever was one. Ryan Kerrigan is the only Redskin I can think of that ever came close to Hanburger's penchant for the interception. 

He wasn't very big. Six-two. Two eighteen with pads on. He was the size of today's Hybrids. But he packed a punch. His hook tackles are illegal today. He also threw a few clotheslines. Teamed up with Sam Huff on Lombardi's 1969 team, Hanburger was a painful presence for opposing offenses. If Sam didn't get you in the middle, Hanburger shoehorned you on the outside. Those two were devastating on an ethereal level.

You'd see the offense looking good on a play then out of nowhere here comes 55 like he was shot from a rocket launcher to blow it all up in the backfield. As often as not, Hanburger made plays with his Brain. Reading and reacting like it was second nature. That was probably drill work and film study. Pattern recognition, baby. Christian Hanburger had it boy. Instant diagnosis. Lightning insight.

Chris Hanburger plainly and simply knocked hell out of people. 

He was a turnover manufacturer of outrageous proportions. He had nineteen picks and seventeen fumble recoveries. No doubt some of that was due to George Allen nagging the Redskin Defense to get turnovers. "We have to get five turnovers to beat Dallas!"

If today's Washington football team on defense has any room for improvement, it is in the turnover department. If they have a good harvest of turnovers this year they could be a true horror for other teams. Commanders defenders should have a look at Hanburger's old highlights. Just watching him pick the ball off improves your olfactory glands and you can just smell the pigskin spinning in the air ripe for the picking and the sixing.

Rick Snider paid tribute to "Chris Linebacker" on a pre-draft YouTube a year ago noting Hanburger was drafted in the 18th Round. Meaning don't overlook those late round picks and undrafted free agents. 

They can become Hall-of-Famers.

Sage advice this year as well as one of the most fun Washington football offseasons in recent memory continues.