Redskins’ Great – Len Hauss

Washington Redskins:

Redskins Great – Len Hauss

by Robert Janis - Capital News Services

03/10/06

He was an All-NFL selection in 1972, played in five Pro Bowls (1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972) and he is one of the 70 Greatest Redskins of all time. But, perhaps, his most unusual legacy is that he played in every game in every season of his 14 year career. That proves the toughness and dedication of Len Hauss.

Born on July 11, 1942 and raised in Jesup, Georgia, Hauss was one of two children. His father was a signal maintainer for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and his mother was a housewife.

Hauss first started playing football and baseball when he was nine or 10 years old. He continued in sports while at Jesup High School where he played football, basketball and ran track. Although he was to make his mark in the NFL as a center, his career in high school began as a fullback. "We ran the T-Formation and I was a running fullback," said Hauss. He received a scholarship to attend the University of Georgia as a fullback and played one year in that position before being moved to center. "In the '50s and '60s it was common for colleges to recruit fullbacks and then move them to the line," said Hauss. It was also the time when players were expected to play both offense and defense.
Hauss also played linebacker.

"They moved me to center I guess because they had a letterman or two who were playing fullback and they needed a lineman. I had gained some weight (at the time Hauss was listed at 6-feet 2-inches, 210 to 215 pounds) and I was pretty big for a back but the right size for center and linebacker." Obviously, he had to be taught the position. "It wasn't terribly difficult. If you are an athlete, you should be able to play any position," he said.

The Redskins drafted him in the ninth round of the 1964 NFL draft. It was a great draft class. Charley Taylor was chosen in the first round and Paul Krause was selected in the second. 1964 was also the year that Bill McPeak, the head coach and general manager of the team at the time, had traded for Sam Huff and Sonny Jurgensen.

Hauss played in the first game of his first season and then went on to play every other game for the next 14 seasons. He credits his longevity to luck and his ability to tolerate pain. "I was lucky. I didn't get injuries that would keep me from playing," he said. "I also had a pretty good tolerance for pain and a pretty good mental attitude toward playing hurt. Once I got the job, I needed to play. I thought that I ought to play every play, every day."

He claimed to have a great rapport with Jurgensen. "I think as a passing quarterback, Jurgensen appreciated the fact that I could get out and pick up the blitz quite often even though I was lighter than most centers," said Hauss.

Hauss played for two of the best head coaches in the history of the National Football League -- Vince Lombardi and George Allen. He also received counsel from some of the best offensive line coaches, all of whom went on to become head coaches. They included Abe Gibran, Mike McCormack, and Bill Austin.

Hauss did not like playing for Vince Lombardi. "Jerry Kramer once said, 'Lombardi treats us all alike. He treats us like dogs.' I didn't appreciate anyone being treated like a dog. I thought that if I give 110 percent and the two guys next to me gives 60 percent, I should not be treated like a dog. I thought that it wasn't fair to all players. But it was Lombardi's philosophy. It worked for Lombardi but it didn't work for me."

He had more respect for George Allen. "George Allen was more of a players'
coach," said Hauss. "Practices were a lot longer and he had a different philosophy than Lombardi. He was a defensive oriented coach. If you gave 100 percent he treated you like you did. If you gave 50 percent, he treated you appropriately for giving only 50 percent. He didn't treat everyone like a dog," said Hauss.

Hauss noted that he and his fellow linemen weighed less than the linemen of today. "I weighed about 235 pounds. The guards were about 245 and the tackles were about 250 to 260. We did a lot of trap blocking and we pulled a lot," he said.

Hauss played in many playoff games in his career as well as in Super Bowl VII in January, 1973. He believes that the Redskins lost to the Miami Dolphins in that Super Bowl because they had peaked too soon. "I think we peaked when we beat the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC title," he said.

Hauss actually played in seven post season games including the Super Bowl. He was cut during the 1978 pre-season.

"When I was cut I was tired of football. I had been playing for a long time and I was just tired of the football atmosphere. About 10 years or so later I considered getting back into the game as an offensive line coach. I inquired with some people I knew who were still in the game but no one suspected that I could get back into the game after so many years being out."

In 1977 and 1978 Hauss was president of the National Football League Players Association. "The president of the NFLPA was always an active player. You are elected by the players to a two year term. I was cut during my term." He had also served as a player rep during his playing days.

He ultimately went into banking and is now vice president and office manager of The Patterson Bank in Jesup, Georgia.

Hauss has been married since 1963. He has one daughter and two granddaughters. He and his wife, Janis, live in Jesup, Georgia.

He said that he does not miss the game. "Now, if I'm home on a Sunday afternoon and I have nothing else to do I will watch a game. But I don't make it a point to watch the games all the time. But I like to watch the playoff games and the Super Bowl."

When asked if he was a Redskins fan, Hauss answered, "No, I'm just a fan."

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