Joe Washington

Bio

Wearing distinctive silver football shoes, Joe Washington was one of Barry Switzer’s best backs during Oklahoma’s Wishbone era of the 1970’s and 80’s. At only 5-9 and 178 pounds, Washington used his speed to run by, and leaping ability to jump over opposing tacklers. In his freshman year, he shared the left halfback spot with returning starter Joe Wylie gaining 630 yards on 115 carries as the Sooners went 11-1 ending the season as the nation’s second ranked team. Now a full-time player, Washington nearly doubled his rushing output in 1973 and totaled 1,744 all-purpose yards in a 10-0-1 season that saw Oklahoma once again finish second in the nation. Joe was an All-Conference player and a third-team All-America. In his junior year, he became a unanimous All-America, placing third in the Heisman voting and winning Conference MVP honors. That year the Sooners finished undefeated winning the national championship. OU repeated as national champs in Joe’s final season, but not without some heroic play by Washington. Trailing late against Missouri, Washington took a pitchout on a fourth-and-one play, and turned it into a 71-yard score. He repeated the same play on the two-point conversion giving the Sooners a one-point victory. Joe finished fifth in the Heisman and was a first-team All-America. For his career, Washington rushed for 3,995 yards and amassed 5,781 all-purpose yards. Joe played nine seasons in the NFL, appearing in two Super Bowls with the Redskins.

Career Highlights

• 1975 All-Conference
• 1975 First Team All-America
• 1975 Heisman - Fifth
• 1974 All-Conference
• 1974 Conference MVP
• 1974 Heisman - Third
• 1974 Unanimous All-America
• 1973 All-Conference
• 1973 Second Team All-America