MIAMI (MCT) — Joe Theismann’s journey from the halls of Notre Dame to the Redskins’ starting quarterback job took eight long years — a path that first diverted him through the Canadian Football League and, believe it or not, Washington’s special teams.

Robert Griffin III needed about eight seconds from the time the Redskins drafted him out of Baylor to officially become the man.

Theismann, who retired in 1985, was Washington’s last true franchise quarterback. Griffin, born in 1990, hopes to become its next.