Defensive statistics aren’t easy to come by for NFL players who played in the 1960s and 1970s -- sacks didn’t even become an official stat until 1982 -- but perhaps you don’t need numbers to understand how Chris Hanburger played the game. Perhaps you just need to know how he got his nickname.
Chris Hanburger: ‘Hangman’ And Redskin Great Enters NFL Hall of Fame
One of the game’s great linebackers goes into Canton.
Hanburger was known for wearing a two-bar facemask and would often tackle players with a single-arm clothesline, earning the nickname “The Hangman.” Hanburger was quick to defend himself, though, telling those that didn’t like his style of tackling they “should duck.”
Hanburger played for 14 seasons, all with the Washington Redskins, and was a member of some great D.C. teams in the 1970s. He was elected to nine Pro Bowls and was part of the first Washington team to play in the Super Bowl. Hanburger had 19 career interceptions, including two he returned for touchdowns, during his career and retired as the career leader in fumbles returned for touchdowns with three.
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