Joseph Robert Theismann (; born September 9, 1949) is an American former professional football player, sports commentator, corporate speaker, and restaurateur. He rose to fame playing quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). Theismann spent 12 seasons with the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and led the team to consecutive Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl XVII over the Miami Dolphins and losing Super Bowl XVIII to the Los Angeles Raiders. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
During the Redskins' 11th game of the 1985 NFL season, Theismann suffered a career-ending leg injury, forcing him to retire. 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. Theismann 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. Theismann also works on the NFL Network on a variety of programs, primarily as an analyst.
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Early life
Theismann was born to Austrian Joseph John Theismann who "ran a gas station and worked in his brother's liquor store." His Hungarian mother, Olga Tóbiás, worked for Johnson & Johnson until her retirement. Theismann 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.
College career
At Notre Dame, Theismann became the starting quarterback in his sophomore year after Terry Hanratty was injured late in the season.
In the three remaining games in the regular season, he led the Irish to two wins and a tie. In 1969, Theismann led the Irish to a number five ranking, but lost to the University of Texas in the 1970 Cotton Bowl Classic, 21–17. The next year, the Irish had a 10–1 record, a number two ranking, and won against Texas in the 1971 Cotton Bowl Classic, 24–11.
That year, Theismann was an All-American and an Academic All-American and was in contention for the Heisman Trophy, but he finished second to Jim Plunkett of Stanford University. Theismann, whose last name was actually pronounced THEES-mann, later recalled that Notre Dame Sports Information Director Roger Valdiserri insisted that he change the pronunciation of his name to rhyme with "Heisman", although in the process, Theismann learned from his grandmother that the original pronunciation of his last name was TICE-mann.
Theismann set school records for passing yards in a season (2,429) and touchdowns in a season (16). He also set a school record for passing yards in a game (526) and completions in a game (33) while playing against the University of Southern California in a torrential downpour in 1970, which the Irish lost 38–28. As a starting quarterback, Theismann compiled a 20–3–2 record while throwing for 4,411 yards and 31 touchdowns. His 4,411 passing yards rank fifth on Notre Dame's career passing list.
Theismann was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003. He was the eighth Notre Dame quarterback enshrined into the hall, joining former Heisman Trophy winners Angelo Bertelli, John Lujack, and Paul Hornung.
Professional career
Toronto Argonauts
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, Theismann elected to sign with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League for $50,000 per season.
In his rookie year, Theismann quarterbacked the Argonauts to a 10–4 record, led the league's Eastern Conference in passing statistics, and won a berth in the Grey Cup game against the Calgary Stampeders in Vancouver, British Columbia (59th Grey Cup). A fumble late in the fourth quarter by Argonaut running back Leon McQuay close to the goal line cost the Argonauts what would have been their first Grey Cup victory since 1952.
In 1971, Theismann completed 148 of 278 passes for 2,440 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. His 1972 season was shortened by injury, but he completed 77 of 127 passes for 1,157 yards and ten touchdowns. During his last CFL season in 1973, he completed 157 of 274 passes for 2,496 yards and 13 touchdowns and the same number of interceptions. Theismann was an all-star in both 1971 and 1973.
Washington Redskins
In 1974, the Washington Redskins obtained Theismann's rights from the Dolphins in exchange for the team's first-round draft pick in 1976 (the Dolphins selected linebacker Larry Gordon with the pick). Theismann left the CFL and joined the Redskins, where he served as the team's punt returner during his first season. In 1978, Theismann became the Redskins' starting quarterback, succeeding Billy Kilmer.
In 1982, Theismann led the Redskins to their first championship in 40 years against the Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII. He threw two touchdowns and with the Redskins trailing 17–13 in the third quarter made arguably the most important defensive play of the game. After his pass was deflected by Dolphins lineman Kim Bokamper, causing what appeared to be an interception and sure touchdown that would have given Miami a two-score lead and effectively taken MVP running back John Riggins out of the game, Theismann himself was able to knock the ball out of Bokamper's hands to have it result in an incompletion rather than a catch. Later on, Washington ran their way to victory. He also led the team to an appearance in Super Bowl XVIII the following year and would go on to set several Redskins franchise records, including most career passing attempts (3,602), most career passing completions (2,044) and most career passing yards (25,206), while also throwing 160 touchdown passes, with 138 interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 1,815 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was named NFL MVP in 1983 by four organizations. He earned the Player of the Game Award in the second of his two Pro Bowl appearances. Theismann also punted once in his career, for one yard against the Chicago Bears.
In an era when most quarterbacks had long since used variations of a double-bar facemask or "cage" facemasks that afforded more protection, Theismann stood out in his use of a signature one-bar face mask throughout his pro career.
However, on at least one occasion, Theismann wore a helmet with a more standard facemask. Substituting for an ineffective Billy Kilmer against the Dallas Cowboys on October 16, 1977, Theismann entered the game wearing a facemask similar to the style worn by Ken Stabler at the time.
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. The injury took place during a Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants telecast by ABC from RFK Stadium in Washington, DC.
Career statistics
Career highlights
Awards and honors
NFL
Super Bowl champion (XVII)
NFL Most Valuable Player (1983)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1983)
NFL Man of the Year (1982)
First-team All-Pro (1983)
2× Pro Bowl (1982, 1983)
Pro Bowl MVP (1983)
Bert Bell Award (1982)
Washington Commanders 90 Greatest
Washington Redskins Ring of Fame
CFL
2× CFL All-Star (1971, 1973)
College
First-team All-American (1970)
College Football Hall of Fame (2003)
Washington Redskins franchise records
Most career wins by a quarterback (87)
Most career passing yards (25,206)
Most career passing completions (2,044)
Most career passing attempts (3,602)
Broadcast and acting career
In 1985, Theismann helped call Super Bowl XIX for ABC alongside Frank Gifford and Don Meredith, becoming only the second player to do commentary on a Super Bowl telecast while still an active player at the time (the first was Jack Kemp when he helped call Super Bowl II for CBS). Theismann served as a color commentator on regional CBS NFL coverage in 1986 and 1987, then worked on ESPN's Sunday Night Football telecasts from 1988 to 2005, and on their Monday Night Football coverage in 2006.
In addition to covering football, Theismann hosted the first half of the first season of American Gladiators in 1989.
On March 26, 2007, ESPN announced that Ron Jaworski would replace Theismann in the Monday Night Football booth. Theismann rejected an offer to work on the network's college football coverage. He has since done a number of Washington Redskins pre-season games on CSN. On September 16, 2009, the NFL Network announced that Theismann would analyze game films on the show Playbook, airing Thursday and Friday nights at 6 p.m. Eastern.
On January 9, 2010, Theismann and his former head coach Joe Gibbs served as color commentators, along with play-by-play man Tom Hammond, for the Saturday AFC wild card game between the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals.
On September 6, 2010, NFL Network announced that they added Theismann to their Thursday Night Football broadcast crew alongside Bob Papa and Matt Millen. The grouping lasted one season. He also co-hosted NFL games on NBC in 2010, and co-hosted NFL Network's No Huddle in 2011.
Acting appearances
Theismann has occasionally acted, although most appearances are as himself or as himself in a fictional context. He does have several TV and movie appearances, including B.J. and the Bear (1981), Cannonball Run II (1984), and The Man from Left Field (1993).
Theismann appeared as himself, as part of a buyer group for the fictional "New York Hawks" football team on the TV series Necessary Roughness (2013) and on the post-Super Bowl episode "Operation: Broken Feather" of Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2014). His most recent acting appearances were in movies for the Hallmark Channel. In 2016's Love on the Sidelines, he appeared as the father of an injured professional football player. In 2019's SnowComing, he played an agent for professional athletes (in particular, a professional football player).
Legacy
Theismann received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Tom Landry in 1983.
Theismann was inducted into the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1997. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
In 2011, Theismann was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
On September 5, 2014, Theismann was honored by the Ride of Fame as they christened a double decker sightseeing bus in Washington, DC, dedicated to him and his achievements.
Personal life
Theismann and his first wife, the former Shari Brown, had three children: Joseph Jr., Amy, and Patrick. The couple divorced in April 1985, seven months before Theismann's injury. Theismann was engaged to television personality Cathy Lee Crosby in September 1985, and their relationship lasted until December 1990 when he filed suit against her. In January 1991, Crosby countersued for $4.5 million. The suits were settled privately in June.
His second marriage, to former Miss Connecticut winner and Miss America contestant Jeanne Caruso, ended in divorce after three years in 1995. Theismann was ordered to pay nearly $1 million of marital property and $3,500 a month in alimony. In 1996, Theismann married Robin Smith. They have homes in Virginia, Tennessee, and the Florida Panhandle.
In 1975, he founded Theismann's Restaurant and Bar in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia, later expanding to a chain of five restaurants in the DC-Baltimore area. As of 2015 the restaurant has a single location in Alexandria, Virginia.
In October 2010, the UFL's Florida Tuskers had a portion of their franchise bought by Theismann. Theismann expressed disappointment at the way he was treated during his time in the league and left the team when it was folded into the Virginia Destroyers in January 2011.