While we’re on the subject of decisiveness… I’ll say it plainly: Mike Nelms was one of my all-time favorite Redskins players. And like Eddie Brown some 35 years later, Andy Farkas would prove speed wasn’t the key to being a great return man, and that vision and decisiveness mattered just as much. If his career hadn’t been interrupted by WWII, he would also be better known. Dick Todd was among the best punt returners the league has ever seen, averaging more than 13 yards per return through his career, still a Redskins record. Battles was one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, and had he chosen to extend his career, he would be better known to fans. This run of three giants from the Redskins’ first decade is pointless to try and rank. The Redskins were not very good in the mid-‘60s, and it’s possible that if they were better, Harris’ recklessness might not have served them very well. One thing you’ll notice about returners – most of them don’t hold onto their job very long. He followed it up with another solid year in ’77 before being traded to the Rams. But in 1976, he put together one of the best years a Redskins punt returner has ever managed, averaging 13.5 yards per return and scoring this great TD in the rain against St.
Though he remained a dynamic presence for several more years, he never quite lived up to the promise of his 1947 season, in which he averaged 12.8 yards per punt return and 27.5 per kickoff, with two TDs. If the elusive Eddie Saenz hadn’t shared return duties with Dan Sandifer for several of his years in DC, he might have ranked higher. He took over as the primary returner in 1959, and for the next five years, served as a bridge to the reemergence of dynamic offense in the mid-1960s. The teams he played on were awful, but at least the diminutive Dickie James made it exciting to watch. The speedy wide receiver Larry Jones succeeded Mul-Key and was excellent for two years before injury took him down. He was better earlier in his career for other teams, but the future Hall of Famer was still a beast toward the end of his playing days, and his 96-yard punt return in 1950 still stands as the team record. But he was a threat for three years before eventually moving on to stardom in the Canadian League.ĭudley was only the Redskins primary kick returner for one season, though he filled in during both the 19 seasons. He replaced the very steady-but-boring Antwan Randle-El, and at barely 150 pounds, there was always the fear that he might break in two. There have been some great individual plays from the likes of Santana Moss and Jacquez Green, but Banks has been the only truly electrifying regular returner the Redskins have had in over two decades. But until someone new emerges, Banks is it. has another year like his first, he can join Banks as the only 21st-century Redskins return man on this list. Injuries would shorten his career, but what he did to poor Jim Bakken on this return will always bring a smile to older Redskins fans. But the fans loved Mul-Key and his blazing speed. In the Game Day program, his college was listed as “None.” And he had that strange hyphen in the middle of his name. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) / Redskins Greatest Returners
Mitchell played for the Redskins from 1990-99. TAMPA BAY, FL – SEPTEMBER 24: Brian Mitchell #30 of the Washington Redskins carries the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game on Septemat Tampa Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida.
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