Pat Fischer obit

Ashburn resident, former Redskins player Pat Fischer passes away 

He was not on the list.

Longtime Loudoun County resident and former Washington Redskins cornerback Pat Fischer passed away this morning. Our condolences to his family, who shared the following obituary with us.

It is with deep and incredible sorrow that we announce the passing of Pat Fischer, a beloved father, friend, and iconic figure in the world of professional football, on October 8, 2024, at the age of 84.

Pat passed away surrounded by his loving family, leaving behind a legacy that transcends the football field and touches the hearts of everyone who knew him.

Born on January 2, 1940, in St. Edward, Nebraska, Pat’s journey was defined by resilience, passion, and an indomitable spirit. As a standout athlete from a young age, he excelled at the University of Nebraska before being drafted into the NFL in 1961.

Pat’s professional football career spanned 17 seasons, during which he played as a cornerback for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Commanders (formerly Redskins), making his mark as one of the most formidable and fearless defenders in the league despite his relatively small stature for the sport.

Standing at just 5-foot-9 (if you believe the back of the trading card) and weighing 170 pounds, Pat defied all odds, proving that heart and tenacity can triumph over size. Known for his aggressive and relentless play style, he became one of the NFL’s most respected and feared cornerbacks, earning three Pro Bowl selections during his career.

His contribution to the game and to the Washington Commanders was immeasurable, with fans and teammates alike admiring his leadership, grit, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Off the field, Pat was a devoted family man and a cherished member of his community. He was named Ashburn’s Favorite Celebrity in 2023 by the readers of Ashburn Magazine.

He brought the same tenacity and dedication to his personal life that he did to football, always putting family first, fearlessly protecting and loving them and sharing his love of the game with those around him. Pat’s humility, kindness, and integrity defined his life, making him not only a sports legend but also a role model and mentor to countless individuals.

He is survived by his children Allison Shannon (Mat Shannon) and Martin Fischer (Andrea Fischer) and his 6 grandchildren – Madison, Kamryn, Landon, Patrick, Claire and Brody. He is also survived by his best friends Bubba Tyre and Carol Nalls. Family, friends and fans will forever carry his incredible toughness and spirit in their hearts. Pat’s enduring legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched both on and off the field.

A public visitation will be held at Loudoun Funeral Chapel located at 158 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg, VA 20175 on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, from 5 – 8PM.

The family invites friends and fans to celebrate Pat’s life and legacy by attending his funeral services. A funeral mass will be held at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church located at 55 Oakcrest Manor Dr NE Leesburg, VA 20176 on Wednesday, October 16 at 10am.

Fischer was pursued by both the National Football League and the American Football League, albeit late due to concerns over his size. He was drafted in the 17th round draft by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1961 NFL draft. He was also recruited by Dallas Texans. He described the latter as a “fallback. I thought the NFL was the better league. If I didn’t make the Cardinals, I could always go on and try out for the Chiefs." Fischer was used for occasional kick returns in his rookie season and he recorded no defensive statistics that year. That would change in his second season, in limited form. In the September 16 game against Philadelphia, he recorded his first interception off quarterback Sonny Jurgensen.

Injuries limited Fischer in 1966, where he had just one interception. Fischer had disputes with Cardinal head coach Charley Winner that influenced him to leave the Cardinals in free agency. Fischer signed with Washington as a free agent in 1968. In the first of only four times the NFL exercised the Rozelle rule, the Cardinals received a 1969 second-round selection (35th overall–Rolf Krueger) and a 1970 third-round pick (69th overall–Colorado defensive back Eric Harris) as compensation. He was a 1969 Pro Bowler. The 1971 season saw the arrival of George Allen as head coach, and he instituted an approach to using veteran players exclusively to the point where his teams would be dubbed the "Over-the-Hill Gang", as the average age of starters was over the age of 30. Fischer would play a key part for the team in the following years.

In 1972, the Redskins won the NFC Championship Game of the 1972–73 NFL playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys, when they limited Roger Staubach, their quarterback, to only 9 completions in 20 attempts for 98 passing yards and three allowed sacks, Fischer and Mike Bass, the other cornerback, being particularly successful in shutting down their wide receivers. But though the Redskin defense allowed only 69 net passing yards, it could not stop the running game of the Miami Dolphins (184 rushing yards) as the Dolphins won Super Bowl VII.

Fischer finished his 17-year career with 56 interceptions, and he ranks seventh all-time in Redskins career interceptions with 27 and fourth all-time with 412 career interception return yards. The 56 interceptions were tied for 6th most in NFL history. In a near half-century since his retirement, he still ranks among the top 20 all-time. At the time of his retirement, Fischer had played in 213 NFL games, then a record for a cornerback. He was well known for his strong tackling skills despite his diminutive size. Some of Fischer's most memorable defensive match-ups occurred against Philadelphia Eagles receiver Harold Carmichael who stood eleven inches taller than Fischer. Fischer's mantra "get a leg up and you own him" is used today to motivate and teach smaller defensive backs how to defend taller wide receivers.

Fischer, alongside fellow Cardinal safety Larry Wilson were prolific defenders, and the Cardinals, in attempting to deal with the problem of having a defensive hole left by a charging Wilson in the safety blitz, found a way to try and deal with the problem in the "Bump and run coverage", in which Fischer would physically harass receivers. Fischer wasn't the first to utilize the tactic, as it started with Willie Brown early in the decade of the 1960s, but Fischer and defensive coordinator Chuck Drulis utilized the coverage to great effect.

 

Career history

St. Louis Cardinals (1961–1967)

Washington Redskins (1968–1977)

Career highlights and awards

2× First-team All-Pro (1964, 1969)

2× Second-team All-Pro (1965, 1972)

3× Pro Bowl (1964, 1965, 1969)

George Halas Award (1978)

80 Greatest Redskins

Washington Commanders Ring of Fame