Washington Redskins to induct ex-GM Bobby Beathard into Ring of Fame

The Washington Redskins will induct former general manager Bobby Beathard into the team's Ring of Fame.

Team president Bruce Allen made the announcement Saturday at training camp in Richmond, Va.

"Today is a great day for the Washington Redskins and our proud history. The guy standing next to me is going to be our 49th member of our Ring of Fame at FedExField -- Bobby Beathard," Allen said Saturday at a news conference. "He's been with seven different Super Bowl teams in his career, obviously the architect of building the Washington Redskins."

Beathard, 79, will be formally honored with induction at FedExField during halftime of the team's game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 13.

Beathard's career as an NFL executive included 11 seasons as general manager of the Redskins from 1978-88. After taking the job on Feb. 24, 1978, Beathard guided the organization to three Super Bowl appearances, including victories in Super Bowls XVII and XXII. Many of the players he acquired also remained on the roster for the team's Super Bowl XXVI victory.

Beathard attended Friday and Saturday's training camp practices.

"I was in the NFL a long time with a lot of teams, but our favorite memories were always with the Redskins," Beathard said Saturday after Allen made the announcement. "Our kids grew up in Virginia, they went to high school in Virginia and went to college at various places.

"And in all my years in football, I have never, ever been in an area that has fans like the Redskins have."

In Beathard's 11 seasons as GM, the Redskins averaged 9.5 wins a year. The team posted a regular-season winning percentage of .625 (105-63) in that time frame, best in the NFC and second-best in the NFL. No team during the same time posted a better playoff winning percentage than the Redskins, who went 11-3 in postseason play in his tenure for a winning percentage of .786.

Beathard began his career as a part-time scout for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in 1963. He earned an AFL championship ring with the organization in 1966 en route to the team's berth in Super Bowl I. He would later serve as a scout for the Atlanta Falcons from 1968-71 and as director of player personnel for the Miami Dolphins from 1972-77 prior to joining the Redskins. He finished his career as general manager of the San Diego Chargers, serving in that capacity from 1990-2000.

In all, Beathard's teams made seven Super Bowl appearances, including one by Kansas City (1966), two by Miami (1972-73), three by Washington (1982-83 and 1987) and one by San Diego (1994).

Beathard worked with 23 of the existing 48 members of the team's Ring of Fame in various capacities during his career and was responsible for the acquisition of 12 players or head coaches in that membership. He also was named by a panel as a member of the 80 Greatest Redskins in 2012 during the team's 80th Anniversary celebration.