College of Education and Human Development

Charley Casserly is Honored as a Member of the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024

George Mason University’s very own sports great Charley Casserly was inducted into the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday, July 21, 2024, during a formal ceremony at Nationals Park. Casserly, faculty in the Sport Management program within the School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management (SRTM), was recognized for his distinguished career during which he made many contributions to sports in the Washington, D.C. area.

Casserly played a long-time and integral role in the leadership of Washington’s football team. Starting his career as an unpaid intern in 1977 under then coach and general manager George Allen, Casserly went on to serve as assistant general manager for seven years, spanning two Super Bowl champion seasons, and another decade as general manager, including the 1991 season where Washington finished 17-2 overall, with three playoff victories en route to a Super Bowl championship. On the eve of Super Bowl 50, USA Today ranked the 1991 Washington team as the best championship winning team in NFL history up to that moment in time. After his tenure with Washington’s team, Casserly was appointed general manager for the NFL expansion Houston Texans, where he served until 2006. Casserly’s career also includes extensive broadcasting experience in Washington, appearing on local television shows for WUSA, WJLA, WTTG and Home Team Sports, and on WTOP and WJFK radio.

Credit: Courtesy of Washington Nationals

Following his induction into the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame, the Washington Commanders paid tribute to Casserly, issuing a statement in which they highlighted some of the trade moves he negotiated that led the team to success. The italicized excerpts below capture some of the team’s history during Casserly’s leadership, illustrating what made Washington so special and why it had one of the most loyal and dedicated fan bases of any NFL team during that winning era.

“...Casserly's input and leadership in crafting Washington's rosters over the years led to the franchise acquiring some of its all-time great players. He advocated for players like Joe Jacoby and Jeff Bostic, two of the famous Hogs offensive line. He led the effort in putting together a team of replacement players during the 1987 strike—a monumental effort that was done in less than a week—that went 3-0, including a ‘Monday Night Football’ win over the Dallas Cowboys.”

“...As a general manager, Casserly orchestrated some of the biggest trades in franchise and NFL history. He led the effort to acquire all the New Orleans Saints’ 1999 draft picks along with their 2000 first- and third-round picks in exchange for Washington’s fifth overall pick.”

Washington used some of those 1999 draft picks to trade to the Chicago Bears in exchange for the Bears seventh overall pick, which they used to draft Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey, in what was one of the most significant trades involving draft picks in the organization’s history.

The Washington Commanders statement notes, "Casserly's moves had a long-lasting impact on the team after his final draft with the team in 1999. Washington finished first in the NFC East with a 10-6 record and won a home playoff game over the Detroit Lions.”

The full text of the Washington Commanders media announcement may be accessed here.

When asked what he enjoyed the most about working in sports in the Washington, D.C. area, Casserly was emphatic in his answer: “Having been a part of the Washington Football Team for 23 years.” He added, “It was a combination of their rich tradition and the best fans in the NFL that made it an honor to go to work each day.”

Casserly offered his thoughts on the characteristics he believes are most important for an individual to achieve success not only in sports, but in any endeavor. At the top of the list was having a strong work ethic. “George Allen, the Hall of Fame Coach of Washington, told me when he hired me that he was looking for someone like he was 26 years ago,” Casserly stated. “Someone who will open the place up in the morning and close it up at night. That's what I did.” Casserly believes having a strong work ethic today is just as important as it was back then. He emphasized, “Do your job! Be great at what you do no matter how small the task is. You are being evaluated on everything.”

Casserly discussed the importance of perseverance, being resourceful, and gaining as much experience as you can while working toward your career goals. He advised, “Build your resume. Don't take a job for money. Take it to help you get to where you want to go. It is never too early to build your resume.”

“I wanted to coach football,” Casserly continued. “I was not a very good player so after playing football in college each fall, I coached high school football through my master's degree years. I went to clinics, read books, subscribed to three coaching magazines, visited college practices in the spring, went to watch pro teams practice in the summer, wrote two articles in coaching journals before I graduated from college. I belonged to a number of coaching associations. After I graduated, I volunteered to coach for two years at Springfield College. I continued to teach in high school to earn money. This continued to build my resume. I wanted to become a head high school coach. I was offered a job, but it came with a pay cut. I took the job. When I went to the Washington football team it was as an unpaid intern. I took another cut in pay!"

Casserly added that in developing a career strategy, versatility is another key component. “Be able to do more than one thing,” he explained. “Always have a backup plan. When I graduated with my master’s degree from Springfield College, I was certified to teach multiple subjects. This gave me more options to get a teaching job, thus more opportunities to coach football.”

Casserly also elaborated on the need to be proactive and resolute in pursuing professional opportunities. “Apply to multiple job openings,” he stated. “Send the resume to the director of the department you are interested in. I had a student in my class who sent out 300 letters looking for an internship. He got one offer. I had another student in class send out 800 letters upon graduating from college looking for a job in a college athletics department. He got three responses. Don’t wait for jobs to be open, be aggressive in applying to places. That is why it is critical to build your resume.”

Casserly then talked about his love of teaching—something that eventually led him to become a faculty member at George Mason. He stated, “When I went to college it was with the idea to become a teacher. I loved doing it because of the thrill of being able to help people. That passion never left me. I always wanted to end my career as a teacher. When we moved back to Washington, D.C. from Houston in 2007, I contacted local colleges about teaching. George Mason was the first to respond with an offer. That began a great relationship with the university.”

For Casserly, it all comes down to the students and being a mentor to them. “What I enjoy most,” he stated, “is being able to help the students on an individual basis to pursue their career goals. There is a certain feeling you get inside when they have success that no money can buy.”

Casserly expressed his gratitude and appreciation of his colleagues at SRTM, “I especially want to thank Robert Baker, Dave Wiggins, and Craig Esherick for their support and guidance through the years.”

Students of Charley Casserly hold him in high regard citing his dedication, mentorship, and vast wealth of knowledge. One of these students is Ilyas Hamidzada who is pursuing a Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Studies at SRTM where he is also a Teaching Assistant in the Sport Management program. In this capacity, Hamidzada has worked under Casserly for more than three years.

Hamidzada observed, “Everyone knows Professor Casserly’s impact on Pro Football and the NFL, but it goes beyond that, into the classroom and the lives of all those who he helped. He was a high school teacher and athletic director before getting his opportunity in the NFL. After he retired from Pro Football, he knew he was a teacher at heart and became a professor at George Mason University, so he can pay his knowledge and mentorship forward to the next generation. Some of the lessons he teaches his students are to make sure they have a strong work ethic. He emphasizes hard work and integrity; he understands how pivotal it is to accomplish your goals and to be successful the right way. Every student that has taken his class can tell you his philosophy of being the ‘first-in, last-out' and always being the hardest worker in the room. You might not always get the opportunity to do that, but you need to have that same mindset of hard work. He’s done it himself and there was no doubt his induction into the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame is well-deserved.”

Hamidzada continued, “When he was the General Manager of the Houston Texans, he would meet with the organization’s interns and give them a presentation. A lot of General Managers today don’t pay attention to interns, he did and believed in helping and developing them. One of the things he would tell the interns was, ‘Dreams are where we end up. Goals are how to get there. Always have a plan!’ He was not only a mentor to these interns, but to me and other students here at George Mason University.”

Robert Baker, Director of SRTM and professor in George Mason’s Sport Management and Sport and Recreation Studies programs, described Casserly as an iconic figure in the Washington, D.C. sports community and praised him for being a valued member of the SRTM faculty. He commented, “Charley has made outstanding contributions as an NFL executive and broadcaster, but it’s important to note that his contributions to our students’ professional preparation have been unparalleled. Charley has been with our Sport Management program for nearly two decades, imparting lessons and bolstering students’ career efforts. It has been my pleasure to have worked closely with him throughout, seeing first-hand how he walks the walk and does everything the right way. It’s clear to see why he has been so successful in every endeavor. Charley is so deserving and has earned every accolade that comes his way.”

Casserly’s name and all other Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame inductees are prominently displayed at Nationals Park. The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) community extends its warmest congratulations to Charley Casserly as we honor him for a long and remarkable career filled with many achievements that have had a lasting and positive impact on Washington sports.