Redskins present Super Bowl Rings to 1987 replacement team
June 13, 2018
by Steve Thomas
The Redskins honored the replacement players from the team’s 1987 squad with Super Bowl rings in a ceremony at Redskins Park on Tuesday. Charley Casserly, who served as the Redskins’ Assistant General Manager in 1987 and helped build the replacement squad, hosted the event and welcomed more than 25 players in attendance. Several members of the regular squad were present at the event, including Doug Williams, Gary Clark, and Dexter Manley, who joined the replacement players for a group photo.
The contributions of the replacement players were previously highlighted in the documentary Year of the Scab, which aired as part of ESPN’s “30 for 30” series in September.
To properly honor the players for their role in the team’s 1987 championship season, the Redskins worked closely with the documentary’s director, Dorsey, and a number of key partners. Baron Rings furnished the rings, while diamonds were provided by Uptown Diamond.
“The 3-0 record of the Redskins replacement players was part of the remarkable success of the 1987 Washington Redskins,” Owner Dan Snyder said in a statement in March announcing the ceremony. “Their contributions are part of Redskins history and represent an integral reason why a Lombardi Trophy from the 1987 campaign resides in our facility today. Thanks in part to the generosity of our partners on this project, we are happy to honor these players for their role in that World Championship.”
The Virginia General Assembly also officially commended the replacement members of the 1987 team in March with House Joint Resolution No. 151, expressing “the General Assembly’s admiration for their determination, hard work, and incredible achievements.” Quarterback Tony Robinson and defensive lineman Anthony Sagnella represented the replacement players during the passing of the resolution in Richmond.
The replacement players won three critical division games, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals, 28-21, the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants, 38-12, and the Dallas Cowboys 13-7 on Monday Night Football. The strike had ended four days prior to the Dallas matchup, and the Cowboys featured multiple returning starters in that contest.
The three victories earned by the replacement players helped propel the Redskins to an 11-4 regular season record and an NFC East title. The Redskins would go on to defeat the Denver Broncos, 42-10, in Super Bowl XXII to earn the team’s second Super Bowl title and fourth World Championship.
CEREMONY ATTENDEES (in order of ring presentation)
| NAME | POSITION | COLLEGE |
| Obed Ariri | K | Clemson |
| Keiron Bigby | WR | Brown |
| Derek Bunch | LB | Michigan State |
| Mark Carlson | T | Southern Connecticut |
| Joe Cofer | DB | Tennessee |
| John Cowne | C | Virginia Tech |
| Eric Coyle | C | Colorado |
| Alec Gibson | DE | Illinois |
| Allen Harvin | RB | Cincinnati |
| Charles Jackson | DB | Texas Tech |
| Ted Karras | DT | Northwestern |
| Jon Kimmel | LB | Colgate |
| Skip Lane | DB | Mississippi |
| Phil Pettey | G | Missouri |
| Tony Robinson | QB | Tennessee |
| Anthony Sagnella | DT | Rutgers |
| Tony Settles | LB | Elon |
| Willard Scissum | T/G | Alabama |
| Jack Stanley | QB | Nevada |
| Henry Waechter | DE/DT | Nebraska |
| Eric Wilson | LB | Maryland |
| Wayne Wilson | RB | Shepherd |
| David Windham | LB | Jackson State |
| Mike Wooten | C | Virginia Military |
| Jack Weil | P | Wyoming |
| Craig McEwen* | TE | Utah |
| *Honored in attendance after receiving Super Bowl ring in 1987 | ||