They may go years or even decades without seeing one another these days. But for several key members of the Washington Redskins’ Super Bowl XXII championship squad, Saturday night’s 10th annual Washington Football Legends Scholarship Gala remedied that.
Hosted by Redskins senior vice president of personnel Doug Williams, the MVP of the 42-10 triumph over the Denver Broncos that capped the 1987 season, and former NFL quarterback James “Shack” Harris, the evening raises funds for college scholarships for Washington-area athletes. This year’s gathering at the Bethesda North Marriott celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Super Bowl championship, while honoring current Redskins right tackle Morgan Moses, Bowie State quarterback Amir Hall (college player of the year) and Hylton running back Ricky Slade (high school player of the year).
“It seems like it was three years ago — not 30,” said Ricky Sanders, the former Redskins wide receiver who caught nine passes, include two for touchdowns, in the Super Bowl victory. Sanders flew from Houston to join former teammates for the gala, including cornerback Darrell Green, wide receiver Gary Clark, defensive end Dexter Manley, offensive lineman Raleigh McKenzie and the architect of the squad, former general manager Bobby Beathard, recently named to the 2018 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Getting back with these guys — we’re just like brothers,” said Sanders, 55. “It’s a family; it’s a fraternity.”
Asked his most vivid memory of the Super Bowl victory, Sanders didn’t hesitate. “The 35 points we scored in one quarter,” he replied, recalling the second-quarter eruption en route to the victory over John Elway’s Denver Broncos in San Diego. “That was like a dream come true. You dream of going to the Super Bowl, and to get there and be a part of something like that, it’s God’s grace that did it.”
In reuniting with Green, who is now associate athletic director at George Mason, Williams hailed him as the reason the Redskins made it to the Super Bowl, recalling his 52-yard punt return for the game-winning touchdown in the divisional playoff win against Chicago — executed despite suffering a serious rib injury in vaulting over a tackler on the play.
“He could have laid on the ground after he broke those ribs,” Williams said of Green. “But he finished holding his rib. I’m glad he didn’t stop!”
Flash forward 30 years, and Williams now plays a key role in assembling a Redskins roster that fans and alumni hope will snap the team’s 26-year Super Bowl drought. According to Green, Williams’s promotion last summer to the team’s top personnel executive has tremendous significance for his former teammates and Redskins alumni.
“I think every player is proud of that,” said Green, 58. “We’re grateful to Dan Snyder for pulling some of the guys back in. It means so much to all of us; it’s our team, our family, our community. To see a guy like Doug, who is a part of that and also involved at a high level with the organization, that creates credibility with Mr. Snyder with all of us. It means, ‘You really care about us. You’re looking out for one of our own.’ That’s special.”
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