Redskins Great Mel Kaufman Dies: “Former Redskin Mel Kaufman has died, ABC 7 Sports has confirmed. He was 50 years old.Kaufman played for the Redskins (web | news) as a linebacker between 1981 and 1988, including as a starter three times the team went the Super Bowl: 1982, 1983 and 1987. He was also a team captain.”
Comment: Kaufman never was a superstar by any stretch, just a solid, hard working ballplayer. He didn’t care about his personal stats or making the Pro Bowl, he just wanted to do what was asked of him and help his team win games.
The play that sticks out in my mind is from the 1982 season NFC Championship game against Dallas. The Redskins were in command early but the Cowboys rallied to pull with 21-17. From my upcoming book The Redskins Chronicle:
On first down, Hogeboom threw to receiver Tony Hill on the right sideline, but he never saw Mel Kaufman. The linebacker’s leaping, over-the-shoulder interception set up a 29-yard Moseley field goal that gave the Redskins a seven-point cushion.
That essentially clinched the game for the Redskins and they were off to the Super Bowl.
Details on what caused Kaufman’s death are not yet known.
