Hall of Famers

Albert Glen Edwards -- much better known as “Turk” first gained prominence as an All-America tackle at Washington State and as a star on the Cougars' 1931 Rose Bowl squad. When he finished college a year later, he received offers from three National Football League clubs and he chose the highest bid –- $1,500 for 10 games from the newly organized Boston Braves, a team that would later take the name Boston Redskins and then move to Washington in 1937.

Signing Edwards was a sensational move for the new team for Turk responded with nine superior seasons, winning All-NFL honors from major media outlets every year of his career except his last one. A 6-2, 255-pound tackle does not create unusual notice today, but in the 1930s, a player of that stature stood out like the Rock of Gibraltar. And that is the way Edwards played the game — typifying overwhelming strength and power and yet he possessed enough agility to do a superb job every minute of every game.

Like many of his time, Turk was an iron man, playing on both offense and defense. Edwards continued to stand out long after the Boston Redskins had become the Washington Redskins, but almost unbelievably, the seemingly indestructible Edwards was injured at a coin-tossing ceremony prior to a game against the New York Giants in the 1940 season. After calling the coin toss and shaking hands with the opposing team captain, Edwards attempted to pivot around to head back to his sideline. However, his cleats caught in the grass and his oft-injured knee gave way, bringing his season and career to an unusual end.

He stayed on with the Redskins first as an assistant coach and then as head coach until after the 1946 season. Then after 17 straight campaigns with the Redskins, Edwards retired from pro football.