In just his second season in the NFL, linebacker London Fletcher won a Super Bowl ring with the St. Louis Rams, playing alongside 'The Greatest Show on Turf.'
Thirteen seasons and two cities later, Fletcher is still chasing his second ring, a reminder of the long odds that it takes to be called 'champion.'
His pursuit is what drives him to be the Iron Man, having never missed a game in his 224-game career. It's a goal that would likely put the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career.
And it's a goal that he feels confident he can achieve in Washington, which is why he re-signed with the Redskins, following the aggressive trade to land a franchise quarterback.
"I'm in my 15th season, and to go into another year without a quarterback was not very appealing to me," he said this week. "Obviously, them being able to get that second pick was something huge for me."
Whether it was Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, Fletcher said he liked where the team was headed for the future. But quarterback wasn't the only position where the Redskins improved.
"From the big picture stand-point, they've added some playmakers on the offense," he said. "Fred Davis is back. We got [Tim] Hightower back. Santana [Moss] is looking great, so we've got a lot more weapons.
"Everyone has a job to do. With Robert [Griffin III], it just allows him to do his job."
Which, in turn, allows Fletcher to do his job.
Through the first four games of 2011, the Redskins's offense led the NFL in time of possession, which kept the defense healthy and rested. Fletcher hopes that upgrades on offense will translate to execution on both sides of the ball.
"It's not all on [Griffin III]. On defense, we have a job to go out and do," he said. "I like the talent on our football team. We're all a team, all with one goal in mind: just to win as many football games as possible."
To ensure that happens, Griffin III's locker has been placed next to Fletcher's for the 2012 season. The two have already forged a bond--one likely to grow over time.
"You can see why everybody spoke so highly about him," Fletcher said. "He's willing to work, he works hard, he's in here early, and he's in his playbook. He has an aura about himself, that people want to gravitate to."
If that gravitation helped pull Fletcher back to Washington, then the rookie quarterback has already made an impact for the Redskins.
