Running back Ryan Grant wasn't a superstar, though the Notre Dame product did rush for over 1,200 yards in both 2008 and 2009 for the Green Bay Packers. In Aaron Rodgers' first two seasons as an NFL starter, Grant helped to alleviate some pressure on the eventual three-time league MVP.
After the 2011 season, Grant became a free agent, and with James Starks having emerged as a potential lead back, the Packers allowed their former Pro Bowler to leave in free agency. Grant didn't sign with a team until late September, when he latched on with Mike Shanahan's Washington Football Team.
Ultimately, Grant's time in D.C. was especially forgettable. With undrafted rookie Alfred Morris immediately performing at a star level, Grant received a lone carry during his time in Washington. After being released by Washington in late October, Grant wasn't on a roster until rejoining the Packers in the final month of the season, for what turned out to be the final four games of his career.
If you didn't forget about Grant's brief stint in D.C., we're willing to bet that you forgot that these five notable players had short tenures with the Washington Football Team:
Troy Vincent
Troy Vincent finished his career in Washington.
(Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Now the executive vice president of football operations for the NFL, Vincent was the No. 7 overall pick by the Miami Dolphins. However, Vincent's peak came as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, whom he played for from 1996-2003. While playing under legendary defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, Vincent made five Pro Bowl appearances and was an All-Pro at cornerback in 2002. Washington saw quite a bit of Vincent during his peak, but they didn't sign him until what proved to be the very end of his career. In mid-October of 2006, Washington signed Vincent to a three-year deal after he had been released by the Buffalo Bills. Vincent played in eight games - three of which he started - for a 5-11 team led by Joe Gibbs. Vincent was released before the 2007 season, which essentially put an end to his 15-year career.
Shaun Alexander
Shaun Alexander finished his career in D.C.
(Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
For a five-year stretch between 2001 and 2005, Alexander seemed on track to be a Hall of Famer. Alexander, who spent nearly all of his career with the Seattle Seahawks, peaked in 2005, when he rushed for 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns en route to winning the NFL MVP. But by the time Alexander was the cover athlete for Madden NFL 07, the workload that he had early in his career had caught up to him. After a dramatic dip in his yards per carry average in 2006 and 2007, the Seahawks released the former Offensive Player of the Year. Alexander landed with Washington in October of the 2008 season, but he carried the ball just 11 times before a career-ending release came.
Joey Galloway
Joey Galloway finished his career in Washington.
(Larry French/Getty Images)
The No. 8 pick in the 1995 NFL Draft after a decorated collegiate career at Ohio State, Galloway had tremendous longevity in the NFL. Galloway had his first two 1,000-yard receiving seasons as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 1997 and 1998, and didn't top the 1,000-yard mark again until doing in three consecutive years as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2007. Eventually, though, father time did catch up with Galloway. After an underwhelming stint with the New England Patriots in 2009, Galloway landed in Washington for the 2010 season. In his age-39 season, Galloway did catch 12 passes for 173 yards from the duo of Donovan McNabb and Rex Grossman, but he was ultimately released before the conclusion of the season.
Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson had a brieft sint in Washington.
(NFL via Getty Images)
Johnson did rush for over 1,700 yards in each of the 2005 and 2006 seasons, but it came at a price - he had 752 carries in just two years. Johnson would finish his career with 6,223 rushing yards, but 3,539 of those yards came in two seasons. The Chiefs essentially ran Johnson into the ground, and he never had another 1,000-yard rushing season. After splitting the 2009 season with Kansas City and the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson signed a three-year contract with the Washington Football Team ahead of the 2010 season. Not only did Johnson not spend three years in Washington, but he didn't even complete one before being released. In his age-31 season, Johnson ran for just two yards on five carries.
Tim Hightower
Tim Hightower had a stint with the Washington Football Team.
(Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Hightower helped the Arizona Cardinals win their first NFC Championship in 2008, his rookie season. Before the final season of his rookie contract, the Cardinals traded Hightower, a former fifth-round pick, to Washington. Unfortunately for Hightower, his time with the team was ended just five games into 2011 when he tore an ACL. For a while, it appeared that injury would end Hightower's career. However, he re-emerged with the New Orleans Saints in his age-29 season, getting 229 carries for Sean Payton's squad between 2015 and 2016.
Other Entries in This Series
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The Chicago Bears
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The Detroit Lions
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The Cleveland Browns
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The Philadelphia Eagles
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The New York Giants
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The New York Jets
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The Atlanta Falcons
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The New Orleans Saints
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The Pittsburgh Steelers
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The Buffalo Bills
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The St. Louis Rams
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The Miami Dolphins
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The San Francisco 49ers
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The Kansas City Chiefs
- 5 Players You Forgot Played For The Houston Texans
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