Joe Theismann

Lore & Background

Theismann was born to Austrian Joseph John Theismann and Hungarian mother Olga Tóbiás. He was raised in South River, New Jersey, and attended South River High School, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, and football. He was a high school teammate of Drew Pearson. Theismann accepted a college football scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame, where he lived in Zahm Hall.

At Notre Dame, he became the starting quarterback in his sophomore year after Terry Hanratty was injured. He set school records for passing yards in a season (2,429) and touchdowns in a season (16), and also set a school record for passing yards in a game (526) and completions in a game (33) against USC in 1970. He was an All-American and Academic All-American and finished second in Heisman Trophy voting to Jim Plunkett. Theismann was selected 99th overall in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins and in the 39th round of the 1971 Major League Baseball draft by the Minnesota Twins.

After prolonged negotiations with the Dolphins failed, he signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL for $50,000 per season. In 1974, the Washington Redskins obtained Theismann's rights from the Dolphins in exchange for the team's first-round draft pick in 1976. Theismann left the CFL and joined the Redskins, where he served as the team's punt returner during his first season. In 1978, he became the Redskins' starting quarterback, succeeding Billy Kilmer.

He led the Redskins to their first championship in 40 years against the Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. He was named NFL MVP in 1983 by four organizations. On November 18, 1985, Theismann suffered a comminuted compound fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right leg when he was sacked by linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson during a Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants, ending his career.

Reader's Guide

Theismann worked as a sportscaster and an analyst on pro football broadcasts with ESPN for nearly 20 years. He primarily partnered with Mike Patrick for the network's Sunday Night Football package and for one season of Monday Night Football with Mike Tirico and Tony Kornheiser. He also worked as a color analyst on NFL Network's Thursday Night Football package with play-by-play voice Bob Papa and Matt Millen. Theismann also co-hosts the network's weekly show Playbook. Since 2011, he has worked on the Washington Commanders preseason television broadcast team. He also works on the NFL Network on a variety of programs, primarily as an analyst.

Did You Know?

• Theismann's last name was originally pronounced TICE-mann, but Notre Dame's sports information director insisted he change it to rhyme with 'Heisman'.
• Theismann punted once in his NFL career, for one yard against the Chicago Bears.
• Theismann's leg injury was voted the NFL's 'Most Shocking Moment in History' by viewers in an ESPN poll.
• Theismann was an all-star in the CFL in both 1971 and 1973.