Gene Washington (wide receiver, born 1944)

There were two wide receivers in the NFL named Gene Washington; for the other, see Gene Washington (wide receiver, born 1947)

Gene Washington
Career information
Date of birth:	(1944-11-23) November 23, 1944
Place of birth:	La Porte, Texas
Position(s):	Wide receiver
Height:	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight:	208 lb (94 kg)
College:	Michigan State
NFL Draft:	1967 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8
Organizations
As player:
1967–1972 1973–1974	Minnesota Vikings Denver Broncos
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowls:	2
Career stats
Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com
College Football Hall of Fame

Eugene Washington (born November 23, 1944) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played for the Minnesota Vikings (1967–1972) and the Denver Broncos (1973–1974). He wore #84 for Minnesota and Denver.

College career

A big 6'3", 208 lbs receiver with great speed, he ran track as well as playing football for the Michigan State Spartans. He was drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings in 1967 NFL Draft, along with college teammate, running back Clinton Jones and future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Alan Page, a defensive end from the University of Notre Dame. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

As a rookie, Washington averaged 29.5 yards per reception. In 1968 he caught 46 passes. In 1969 he had 821 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. Washington made the Pro Bowl in 1969 and 1970. He played in Super Bowl IV (1 catch for 9 yards) after the 1969 NFL season. The Vikings were upset by the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-7, on January 11, 1970 at Tulane Stadium, in New Orleans.

1965 Michigan State Spartans football—FWAA & UPI national champions

Clinton Jones Jimmy Raye Jeff Richardson Bubba Smith Gene Washington George Webster Head coach: Duffy Daugherty

1966 Michigan State Spartans football—NFF national co-champions

Clinton Jones Jimmy Raye Jeff Richardson Bubba Smith Gene Washington George Webster Head coach: Duffy Daugherty

1967 NFL Draft First Round Selections

Bubba Smith Clinton Jones Steve Spurrier Bob Griese George Webster Floyd Little Mel Farr Gene Washington Bob Hyland Loyd Phillips Cas Banaszek Paul Seiler Ray McDonald Ron Billingsley Alan Page Dave Williams Gene Upshaw Bob Matheson Harry Jones Jim Detwiler John Charles John Pitts Tom Regner Gene Trosch Don Horn Leslie Kelley

Minnesota Vikings first-round draft picks

Mason Dunaway Eller Snow Shay Jones G. Washington Page Yary Ward Hayden Siemon Foreman McNeill Riley Mullaney White Kramer Holloway Brown Martin Nelson Browner Millard Doleman Robinson Dozier McDaniel R. Smith D. Washington Steussie Alexander Stringer Clemons Rudd Moss Culpepper Underwood Hovan Bennett McKinnie Williams Udeze Williamson James Greenway Peterson Harvin Ponder Kalil H. Smith Floyd Rhodes Patterson Barr Bridgewater Waynes

AFC East BUF MIA NE NYJ North BAL CIN CLE PIT South HOU IND JAX TEN West DEN KC OAK SD NFC East DAL NYG PHI WAS North CHI DET GB MIN South ATL CAR NO TB West ARI STL SF SEA

Minnesota Vikings 1967 NFL Draft selections

Clinton Jones Gene Washington Alan Page Bob Grim Earl Denny Alvin Coleman Ken Last Bobby Bryant John Beasley Bill Morris Pete Tatman Bob Trygstad Fred Cremer Charles Hardt Jim Hargrove Jim Shea Gene Beard Dick Wagoner

Draft Years 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1984 (Supplemental) 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015