Los Angeles Rams
Talbert was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 2nd round (17th overall) of the 1966 AFL Redshirt Draft [16] and by the Los Angeles Rams in the 5th round (66th overall) of the 1966 NFL Draft. [17] He signed with the Rams playing with them from 1967 to 1970, under coach George Allen. [2] [18] Talbot played little in 1967 and sparingly in 1968, but in 1969 he started 13 of 14 games at right defensive end and had 7.5 quarterback sacks. He surpassed this in 1970, starting all 14 games at right defensive tackle, with 11.5 sacks. [2]
In a massive trade, he was traded along with Jack Pardee, Maxie Baughan, Myron Pottios, John Wilbur, Jeff Jordan and a 1971 fifth-round pick (124th overall–traded to Green Bay Packers for Boyd Dowler) from the Rams to the Redskins for Marlin McKeever, first and third rounders in 1971 (10th and 63rd overall– Isiah Robertson and Dave Elmendorf respectively) and third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounders in 1972 (73rd, 99th, 125th, 151st and 177th overall–to New England Patriots, traded to Philadelphia Eagles for Joe Carollo, Bob Christiansen, Texas Southern defensive tackle Eddie Herbert and to New York Giants respectively) on January 28, 1971. [19] [20]
Washington Redskins
In 1971, he began playing defensive tackle for the Washington Redskins with whom he played until his retirement in 1980. [21] Talbert rejoined coach George Allen, who became Washington’s head coach in 1971, leading the team as head coach through 1977. [18]
He was one of the relatively younger members of Washington’s original over-the-hill-gang. [22] From 1971 to 1977, he started 97 of 98 possible regular season games at right tackle, and had 10 or more sacks three times; with a career high 12.5 in 1976. [2] He went to the Pro Bowl after the 1974 season, when he had 10 sacks. [23] In 1973, he was named second team All-Conference by United Press International (UPI). [24] In his last three seasons, he started 12 (1978/3.5 sacks), 16 (1979/4.5 sacks), and then five games (1980/no sacks); retiring after the 1980 season. [2]
Talbert was a key member of 1972 NFC Championship team and was the team's starting right tackle in Super Bowl VII. [25] [26] Personally, Talbert’s most memorable game was Washington’s victory over the Cowboys in the 1972 NFC championship game, on the way to the Super Bowl. [27] [28]
It was during his Washington years that Talbert played an iconic role as part of the long-standing 1970s rivalry between the Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. [29] [30] He was known for his particularly strong distaste for the Cowboys and their quarterback Roger Staubach (though he later became a friend and business partner with Cowboy Walt Garrison). [31] Talbert said “‘Losing to Dallas was the worst feeling in the world. You’d rather have your arm cut off.’” [32]
His older brother Don Talbert also played in the NFL. Ironically, Don played the first two seasons of his eight year NFL career in Dallas, and returned to Dallas for his final season in 1971, [6] Diron's first year with Washington.
Talbert played 14 NFL seasons for a total of 186 games, starting 157, with 84.5 sacks and 10 fumble recoveries. [2]
In 2002, he was named one of the 70 greatest Redskins. [28] In 2012, he was named among the 80 greatest. [33]
