We are ranking the Top 10 All-Time Best NFL Offensive Players from Texas high school football.
This list is based solely on each player’s NFL career — MVPs, total stats, All-Pro teams, Super Bowl wins, and Pro Bowl selections.
Landing at #5 is Sammy Baugh. The Sweetwater, Texas native revolutionized professional football by excelling not just as a quarterback, but also as the league’s top punter and a dominant defensive back. Baugh’s unparalleled versatility and jaw-dropping accomplishments firmly place him among the game’s all-time greats.
Early Life and High School Career
Born Samuel Adrian Baugh in Temple, Texas, Baugh moved to Sweetwater as a teenager. At Sweetwater High School, he sharpened his passing and punting skills by practicing with a swinging tire, developing pinpoint accuracy long before it was common. His natural athleticism and tireless work ethic made him one of Texas’ most promising athletes.
College Career at TCU
At Texas Christian University, Baugh became a two-time All-American, throwing for 3,320 yards and 40 touchdowns during an era when passing was rare. He led TCU to two bowl wins, earning MVP honors in the first-ever Cotton Bowl. Baugh also starred in baseball, where he earned the nickname “Slingin’ Sammy” for his powerful throwing arm.
NFL Career and Achievements
Baugh’s NFL career with Washington was nothing short of legendary:
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2× NFL Champion (1937, 1942)
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6× Pro Bowl Selection
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4× First-Team All-Pro
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Led NFL in completion percentage 8 times (still a record)
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Led NFL in passing yards 4 times
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Led NFL in punting average 5 times
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1943: Led NFL in passing, punting, and interceptions
Drafted sixth overall in 1937, Baugh immediately elevated the Washington Redskins, leading them to a championship in his rookie season. Over his 16-year career, he pioneered the modern passing game, completing 56.5% of his throws at a time when 40% was considered elite.
Amazingly, Baugh wasn’t just a quarterback. He was also the NFL’s best punter, retiring with a 45.1-yard average — second-best in league history even today. On defense, he starred at safety, once leading the NFL with 11 interceptions in a single season.
In 1943, Baugh had arguably the greatest individual season in NFL history: he led the league in passing, punting, and interceptions. No one else has ever done that in the same season.
Legacy
Baugh retired with 13 NFL records across three positions: quarterback, punter, and safety. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1963 and earned spots on the NFL’s 50th, 75th, and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
His ability to dominate every phase of the game set a standard no player has matched since. Baugh’s innovations helped transform football from a grind-it-out ground sport into the aerial show fans know today.
In a fan poll of the best Texas-born players ever, Baugh overwhelmingly won, underscoring his lasting greatness.
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2× NFL Champion
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Led NFL in completion percentage 8 times
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Only player to lead NFL in passing, punting, and interceptions in the same season
Sammy Baugh’s dominance as a passer, punter, and defender — combined with his championship success and record-setting career — secures him the #5 spot among the greatest offensive players from Texas high school football.
