Thank You Bubba Tyer

With the Redskins almost as long as I have been alive

In a story that may have been missed by some Redskins fans, long time trainer and head of sports medicine Bubba Tyer retired from the team back on 16 January. He had been with the team for a total of 37 years, including 25 as head athletic trainer.

Bubba joined the Redskins in 1971, joining up with the team the same year as George Allen, after not making the playoffs for twenty-five straight years through 1970 Washington qualified for the playoffs thirteen of Bubba's first twenty-two with the team. Some of the players Bubba treated over his career with the Redskins:

Darrell Green, Ken Houston, Deacon Jones, Terry Metcalf, Eric Metcalf, Sonny Jurgensen, Art Monk, John Riggins, Gerald Riggs and Charley Taylor. Ken Harvey, Stan Humphries, Jay Schroeder, Heath Shuler, Bruce Smith, George Starke, Olanda Truitt, Len Hauss, Andy Heck, Billy Kilmer, Ki-Jana Carter, Sam Wyche and Russ Grimm. Adrian Murrell, Ross Tucker, Andre Reed, Terry Orr, Stephen Alexander, Shawn Barber, Greg Jones, Richie Petitbon, Tony Banks, Shar Pourdanesh, Terry Allen and Fred Smoot. Wilber Marshall. Jeff George, Al Noga, Mike Sellers. LaVar Arrington, Irving Fryar, Todd Husak, Champ Bailey, Antonio Pierce, Rod Gardner, Brad Johnson, Reggie Roby, Dana Stubblefield, Ethan Horton, Flipper Anderson, Kent Graham, Russ Grimm, Ryan Kuehl, Jim Lachey, Tydus Wynans, Kenard Lang, Michael Westbrook, Stephen Davis, Albert Connell, Don Warren, Monte Coleman, Kurt Gouveia, Trent Green, Adam Archuleta, Henry Ellard, Pete Kendall, Randy Thomas, Deion Sanders, Santana Moss, Jamie Asher, Jon Jansen, Jeff Bostic, Desmond Howard, Chris Samuels, Calvin Hill, Ladell Betts, Leonard Marshall, Marco Coleman, Eddie Murray, Leslie Shepherd, Rodney Peete, Tim Johnson and Rob Johnson. Chad Morton, Rich Gannon. Todd Collins, Joe Theismann, Dan Wilkinson, James Thrash, Cary Conklin and Shawn Springs. John Friesz, LaRon Landry, Diron Talbert and London Fletcher. TJ Duckett, Alvoid Mays, Brian Mitchell, Reggie Brooks, Patrick Ramsey, Tre' Johnson, George Rogers. Robert Green, Mark Brunell, Rock Cartwright, Ray Brown, Matt Turk, Brandon Lloyd, Ricky Ervins, Gus Frerotte, Derrick Dockery, Chris Horton, Tom Carter, Carlos Rogers and Robert Royal. Matt Millen, Mark Moseley, Clint Didier. Mel Kaufman, Ryan Clark, Mark Schlereth, Frank Wycheck, William Bell, Andre Collins. Sean Taylor. Chip Lohmiller, AJ Johnson, Greg Manusky, Colt Brennan, Mark Rypien, Clinton Portis, Laveranues Coles and Chris Cooley. Ricky Sanders, Ali Hali-Sheikh, Ed Simmons, Mo Elewonibi, Joe Washington, Carl Banks, Pat Fischer. Earnest Byner, Barry Wilburn, Marvcus Patton, Joe Jacoby, Dexter Manley, Brad Edwards, Jumpy Geathers, Martin Mayhew, Ravin Caldwell, Jess Atkinson, Fred Stokes, Mark Moseley, Larry Brown, Gary Clark, Doug Williams, Mike Nelms, Alvin Walton, Charlie Brown. Mike Tice, Brig Owens, Neal Olkewicz, Mark May, Chris Hanburger, Max Zendejas, Dave Butz, Deacon Jones, Jack Pardee, Mark Murphy, Rick Doc Walker, Charles Mann, Steve Bartkowski, Raleigh McKenzie and Jason Taylor.

Think about that. And think about this: with Bubba retiring, the George Allen era finally comes to an end.


Bubba moved to an administrative position in 2002 then retired in 2003 and was elevated to the Redskins Ring of Fame. Then when Joe Gibbs returned in 2004 he asked his old friend Bubba to come back, and Bubba could not say no.

Now, after five years back with the team and at 67 years old, Bubba has decided to call it a career. He may be gone but will not be forgotten and will not allow himself to be forgotten, he says he will be attending the Redskins first game at the Cowboys new stadium in 2009 (op. cit.).


Here is another metric for you: Bubba's career in Washington spanned 602 regular season games. Bubba was a fixture of the team and recognized by perhaps three generations of Redskins fans.

Thank you Bubba for your service and your contribution to Redskins history. Enjoy yourself in retirement!



Bubba Tyer: uncredited photo from here.