In 1940, Sammy Baugh of the Washington Redskins averaged 51.4 yards per punt, setting an NFL record. That record stood for 82 years, until Ryan Stonehouse of the Tennessee Titans broke the record, averaging 53 yards per punt.
Baugh is from Texas. Born and raised in Temple, Baugh moved to Sweetwater in high school. He was a top athlete in the state in football, basketball, and baseball. He went on to play baseball and football at Texas Christian University. In college, he got the nickname “Slingin’ Sammy” from his strong arm throwing to first base as a third baseman in baseball.
After college, Baugh originally went on to play baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, where he converted to shortstop. But, as his baseball prospects became less promising, he turned to football and joined the Washington Redskins in 1937.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback was also the punter for the Washington Redskins. He punted 338 times for an average of 45.1 yards. He left the NFL in yards-per-punt five times. He is statistically one of the best NFL punters of all time. In 1940, he had his best year punting, averaging 51.4 yards per punt on 35 punts. He is one of only 10 punters ever to average over 50 yards per punt, and up until 2007 he was 1 of only five players to have a season with a punting average of over 48 yards per punt, something he did three times.
This year, Ryan Stonehouse of the Tennessee Titans blew past Baugh’s record with 53 yards per punt on 87 points. Baugh, who was voted by our fans a few years ago as the best-ever quarterback from Texas, beating out Drew Brees, still holds the following NFL Records:
- Most seasons leading the NFL in passer rating: 6 (1940, 1943, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1950)
- Most seasons leading the NFL in passing touchdowns: 4 (1940, 1943, 1945, 1947)
- Most seasons leading the NFL in passing yards: 2 (1940, 1943)
- Most seasons leading the NFL in completions: 4 (1940, 1943, 1945, 1947)
- Most seasons leading the NFL in completion percentage: 3 (1947, 1948, 1950)
Baugh was also the first player in NFL history to throw for over 3,000 yards in a single season and was a six-time NFL champion. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 and his number 33 jersey was retired by Washington.
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