Gene Brito

Gene Herman Brito (November 23, 1925 – June 8, 1965) was an American football Defensive end in the National Football League who played nine seasons for the Washington Redskins and the Los Angeles Rams from 1951 to 1960.

College career

Brito graduated from Loyola Marymount University (then Loyola University) as a multi-sport athlete, starring in football, baseball, basketball, and track.

Professional career

He began his career as an offensive end, catching 45 passes in his first two seasons before being moved to defensive end in 1953. Brito was named the NFL Player of the Year by the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club after the 1955 season.

He played in the Canadian Football League for the Calgary Stampeders in 1954 where he was an All-conference selection in the CFL's Western Conference. In the NFL he was a five-time Pro Bowler in 1953 and from 1955 to 1958.

He was selected as one of the 70 Greatest Redskins, a list compiled by the Redskins in 2002 to commemorate the 70-year anniversary of the team. He is one of four defensive ends on the team, along with Dexter Manley, Ron McDole and Charles Mann.

A staff sergeant in the U.S. Army and an Army paratrooper with U.S. forces in the Pacific during World War II.

Elected posthumously to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 He is honored with other notable football players like Alan Ameche, Mark Bavaro, Doug Buffone, Nick Buoniconti, Tony Canadeo, Gino and John Cappelletti, Vinny Ferragamo, Franco Harris, Vince Lombardi, Gino Marchetti, Leo Nomellini, Dante Pastorini, Joe Paterno, Brian Piccolo, Andy Robustelli, Phil Villapiano, among others.

Hosted "The Gene Brito Show" which aired prior to Redskins games in the 1950s making him one of the first NFL athletes to host a show and making him the most popular Redskins of his era Was then-Vice-President Richard Nixon's favorite player.