Former Redskins star defensive end Dexter Manley diagnosed with coronavirus

Dexter Manley (Scott Grant, CFLPhotoArchive.com)

Former Washington Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley of Houston, Texas has been diagnosed with coronavirus. The 62 year-old has been in a Washington, D.C. hospital since Friday because he has had some problems breathing according to Mike Rosenstein of nj.com.

Manley played 11 seasons in the National Football League with the Washington Redskins, Phoenix Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 143 games, he started 120 games, with two interceptions, six fumble recoveries for 29 yards, one touchdown, one safety and 97.5 sacks.

Manley’s finest NFL season came in 1986 when he was selected to the Pro Bowl. That year he had 18.5 sacks, which was second most in the NFL. Manley was only behind the great Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants, who had 20.5 sacks. Also in 1986, Manley also had one fumble recovery for a touchdown and was a first-team all-pro.

Manley’s first career NFL interception came on November 21, 1982 in a 27-17 Redskins win over the Giants. He then had his second career interception also against the Giants in a 33-17 Washington win on November 13, 1982.

Manley then had his lone career NFL touchdown in a 44-38 win over the Minnesota Vikings on November 2, 1986. Nicknamed the “Secretary of Defense,” Manley put the Redskins up 16-14 at the time with a 26-yard defensive fumble return for a major score.

Manley then had his lone career safety on October 22, 1989. That came in a 32-28 Redskins win over the Buccaneers.

A two-time Super Bowl champion, Manley helped the Redskins beat the Miami Dolphins 27-17 on January 30, 1983, and then the Denver Broncos 42-10 on January 31, 1988. In both seasons that Manley won the Super Bowl, the NFL went on strike in each of those particular seasons. In 14 postseason games, Manley had one fumble recovery. That came in a 31-7 Redskins win over the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 1983 NFL playoffs.

Manley also spent three seasons in the Canadian Football League. He was with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1992 and 1993 and the Shreveport Pirates in 1994.

Currently there are 7,270 cases of coronavirus in the District of Columbia. There are also 392 deaths.