After the Washington Redskins triumphed in Super Bowl XXII, the Skins braintrust knew it would need to reload, especially on defense.
In particular, the Washington linebacking corps was going to need some new blood sooner rather than later. Veteran Rich Milot retired in the offseason, and Mel Kaufman and Neil Olkewicz were now in their 30s.
The solution? Wilber Marshall.
Marshall was the All-Pro linebacker for the Chicago Bears who had been an instrumental part of the legendary Bears defense of the mid-80s. Marshall had gotten to see the Redskins up-close, as the two teams had met in the 1984, 1986, and 1987 playoffs.