Former 14-year NFL veteran and Washington Redskins center Len Hauss has died at the age of 79.
Hauss played 196 games during those 14 seasons (all with Washington), exhibiting incredible endurance and dependability, starting 192 consecutive games.
Born and raised in Georgia, Hauss played his college football for the Georgia Bulldogs. In what became quite a productive draft, the Washington Redskins in 1964 drafted Hall of Famer WR Charley Taylor (round 1), Hall of Famer S Paul Krause (round 2), Jim Snowden (round 5), and Hauss in round 9 (115 overall).
Hauss, wearing number 56 his entire career, was voted to five NFL Pro Bowls (1966, ’68, ’69, 1970, ’72).
Hauss was voted first-team All-NFC in 1971 and 1974, and in 1972 was voted All NFL second-team by Pro Football Writers.
Hauss holding on to the starting center job for Washington from 1964-1977 was an integral component of the running game featuring NFC leading rusher Larry Brown, the 1972 NFC Player of the Year. That Washington team won the NFC East (11-3) and defeated the Green Bay Packers (16-3) and defending Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboys (26-3) before bowing to the Miami Dolphins (14-7) in Super Bowl VII.
Long-time Washington sports writer Rick Snider remembers Len Hauss:
Rick Snider’s Washington says RIP Len Hauss, the best center ever for the Washington Redskins/Washington Football Team. Gimme two minutes. pic.twitter.com/84nuGPFa1u
— Rick Snider’s Washington (@Snide_Remarks) December 16, 2021
Hauss was voted one of the 70 Greatest Redskins in 2002 and is included in the Washington Football Team Ring of Fame.
Following a 16-3 playoff victory over Green Bay, here is a glimpse of the team celebrating and Hauss himself presenting a game ball.
Hauss, playing fullback, helped lead Jesup High School (GA) to a state championship in 1959, defeating Rossville 35-7. Hauss rushed 22 times for 145 yards, scoring two touchdowns on a one-yard run and a 16-yard reception. Hauss rushed for over 1,500 yards as a senior, scoring 15 touchdowns.
Hauss leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Janis Johnson Hauss of Jesup; a daughter, Lana Hauss Snyder of Winder, Georgia; a sister; and two granddaughters.