The 1987 NFL season was a fever dream. If you weren't there, or if you only look at the record books, you might think it was just another Super Bowl year for Joe Gibbs. It wasn't. It was chaos. When people talk about the Washington Redskins roster 1987, they usually jump straight to the "Scabs"—the replacement players who filled in during the strike. But the real story is how a locker room divided by picket lines and massive egos somehow glued itself together to beat John Elway in the big game.
It started with a walkout.
Players wanted free agency. Owners wanted control. For three weeks, the stars stayed home, and the "Washington Scabs" took the field. Most experts thought Joe Gibbs would fail here. He didn’t. While other teams crumbled under the resentment between the regulars and the replacements, Washington went 3-0 with guys who were literally coming off construction sites and out of retirement homes.
That 3-0 stretch is the reason they made the playoffs. You can't talk about this roster without mentioning Ed Rubbert, the quarterback who became a local folk hero for a month. Or Anthony Allen, who set a then-record with 255 receiving yards in a single game against the Cardinals. These weren't NFL stars. They were placeholders who played with a terrifying amount of desperation.
The Quarterback Carousel: Williams, Schroeder, and the Replacement
Honestly, the quarterback situation was a mess. Jay Schroeder had been the guy. He was coming off a Pro Bowl season in '86 where he threw for over 4,000 yards. But Joe Gibbs had a feeling about Doug Williams.
Schroeder was talented but, let's be real, he wasn't exactly the most popular guy in the locker room. He had a bit of an aloofness that grated on the Hogs. Doug Williams, on the other hand, was the soul of the team even when he was sitting on the bench. When the strike ended and the regulars returned, the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
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Schroeder started most of the season, but injuries and inconsistent play kept the door open. Williams eventually took the job for good in the playoffs. It’s wild to think that the MVP of Super Bowl XXII started only two games in the regular season. That doesn't happen in today's NFL. You don't just "switch" to a backup for the Super Bowl run and expect to hang 42 points on the Broncos.
Then you had the strike QBs. Ed Rubbert was the main guy during the three replacement games. When he got hurt against the Cowboys, Tony Robinson—who was literally on work release from prison—came in and led them to a win over a Dallas team that actually had some of its starters, like Randy White and Tony Dorsett, back on the field. It was embarrassing for Dallas. It was legendary for Washington.
The Hogs and the Identity of the 1987 Line
You can’t mention the Washington Redskins roster 1987 without bowing down to the Hogs. This was the peak of their powers, or at least the peak of their grit.
Joe Jacoby and Russ Grimm were the anchors. These guys were massive for the era. Grimm was dealing with a knee injury that forced him to miss a huge chunk of the season, which shifted the chemistry of the line. But Raleigh McKenzie stepped in at guard, and the unit didn't skip a beat.
The Hogs weren't just a nickname; they were the tactical advantage. In the 1980s, if you could run the "counter trey," you won games. Gibbs ran it until the defense's ribs broke. They averaged nearly 30 points a game in the postseason because the line decided they weren't going to let Doug Williams get touched.
The replacement offensive line deserves a shoutout too. Guys like Darrick Brilz—who actually ended up having a long NFL career afterward—showed that the "system" Gibbs and line coach Joe Bugel built was bigger than any individual player. They treated the replacement players like starters. They coached them hard. That's the difference between a 12-4 Super Bowl champion and a team that falls apart during a labor dispute.
The Defensive Backbone
While the offense got the headlines, the defense was nasty. Dexter Manley and Charles Mann were arguably the best defensive end duo in the league. Manley was a force of nature—8.5 sacks in a shortened season. Mann was the technician on the other side with 9.5 sacks.
The secondary featured Darrell Green, who was basically a cheat code. In the divisional playoff game against the Bears, Green returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown while literally holding his torn rib cage together with one hand. It is one of the most iconic plays in NFL history. He was the fastest man in football, and without him, the 1987 roster doesn't get past Chicago.
The Strike: Three Games That Changed Everything
Most people forget that the replacement players won all three of their games. This was crucial. If they go 1-2 or 0-3, the regulars come back to a losing record and a locker room full of finger-pointing.
The "Scabs" beat:
- The St. Louis Cardinals (28-21)
- The New York Giants (38-12)
- The Dallas Cowboys (13-7)
That Cowboys game was the peak. Dallas had stars return to break the strike. Washington stayed 100% replacement players. And Washington still won. It solidified the culture. It told the regulars, "Look, even the guys off the street are winning in this system. You better get your act together."
When the veterans returned, there was definitely friction. Some players were pissed at those who crossed the line. But the 3-0 cushion provided by the replacements took the pressure off. They were already in the driver's seat for the NFC East.
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The Running Back Committee
George Rogers was the "name" back. He was a former Heisman winner and had a decent year with over 600 yards, but his legs were starting to go. He was a power runner, a bruiser.
But then there was Kelvin Bryant. He was the lightning to Rogers' thunder. And, of course, the Super Bowl hero nobody saw coming: Timmy Smith.
Timmy Smith’s inclusion on the Washington Redskins roster 1987 is one of the great statistical anomalies in sports. He was a rookie. He hadn't done much all year. Then, in the Super Bowl, he gets the start because Rogers is hobbled, and he rushes for 204 yards. A record. He never did anything like it again. It’s like he was touched by a magic wand for exactly sixty minutes of football and then turned back into a regular guy.
The Wide Receiver Corps: The Posse
Art Monk, Gary Clark, and Ricky Sanders. They called them "The Posse."
This was the first time in NFL history a team had three 1,000-yard receivers in a single season (though technically that happened in '89, the 1987 season was where the foundation was solidified). Monk was the reliable chain-mover. Clark was the deep threat with an attitude. Sanders was pure speed.
In the Super Bowl, Sanders was the one who broke the Broncos' spirit. He had 193 receiving yards and two touchdowns. When you look at the roster, you see a perfect distribution of talent. You couldn't double-team Monk because Clark would kill you. You couldn't help on Clark because Sanders would fly past you.
Why This Roster Still Matters
We live in an era of super-teams and massive contracts. The 1987 Washington team reminds us that depth and coaching matter more than "paper" talent.
They won with:
- A backup quarterback who became a legend.
- A group of replacement players who saved the season.
- A rookie running back who had the game of his life.
- A defense that stayed disciplined while the world was watching the strike.
It’s a masterclass in management. Joe Gibbs didn't just coach football; he managed a crisis. He kept the veterans from hating the replacements (mostly) and kept the replacements focused on the mission.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you are looking to truly understand the impact of the Washington Redskins roster 1987, don't just look at the Pro Football Reference page. That only tells you the stats.
- Watch "The Replacements" (The 30 for 30 Documentary): It gives a much better perspective on the strike players than any box score ever could. You'll see the faces of the guys who kept the season alive.
- Analyze the 2nd Quarter of Super Bowl XXII: Washington scored 35 points in one quarter. Study the play-calling. It wasn't just talent; it was Gibbs exploiting a Denver defense that was terrified of the deep ball.
- Compare the '87 Roster to the '91 Team: While the '91 team is often called the greatest in NFL history, the '87 team was more resilient. They dealt with more internal drama and still came out on top.
- Research the "Scab" Ring Controversy: For years, the replacement players didn't get Super Bowl rings. That was finally corrected in 2018. Understanding that delay helps you understand the lingering bitterness of the 1987 season.
The 1987 season wasn't perfect. It was messy, political, and at times, ugly. But the roster—from the Hall of Famers like Darrell Green to the guys whose names are barely remembered like Tony Robinson—worked. It’s a reminder that in football, the "who" matters, but the "how" is what wins trophies.