Mel Kaufman Melvin Kaufman ( February 24 , 1958 – February 7 , 2009 ) was an American football linebacker in the National Football League who played his entire eight - year career with the Washington Redskins . He played college football at California Polytechnic State University . Biography . Early life . Kaufman was born in Los Angeles , California and attended Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica , California , where he earned two varsity letter s while playing high school football . College career . Kaufman played four seasons of college football at California Polytechnic State University after being redshirted in 1976 . In 1978 , he recovered a blocked punt against Portland State University . In 1979 , he recorded 67 tackles and two interceptions . During Cal Poly ' s 1980 national championship season , Kaufman returned an interception 79 yards for a touchdown against California State University , Northridge . Kaufman earned his bachelor ’ s degree in social science and industrial relations at Cal Poly in 1984 . Professional career . Kaufman was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Redskins in 1981 , along with former Cal Poly teammate LeCharls McDaniel , by Redskins general manager Bobby Beathard . A defensive team leader and team captain with the Redskins from 1981 – 88 , Kaufman was a starting linebacker on three NFC championship teams ( 1982 , 1983 and 1987 ) . He played in three Super Bowl s with the Redskins , winning Super Bowl XVII and XXII , and losing Super Bowl XVIII . Kaufman also was a scout for the Redskins in Super Bowl XXVI . Kaufman announced his retirement from football on July 5 , 1989 . He started 78 of 91 games , recorded 18 . 5 sacks , seven interceptions , and five fumble recoveries . Coaching career . After his playing career , Kaufman was a scouting supervisor for the Redskins from 1989 through 1998 . He then became a mental health counselor and football , basketball and baseball coach at Masada High School in Gardena , California from 2000 – 05 and a football official ( youth and high school games ) in the Pacific Coast Conference in 2006 and 2007 . Kaufman had been out of football at the college and professional levels for about 10 years before he was hired as linebackers coach at Cal Poly in Spring 2007 . He helped guide the Mustangs to an 8 - 3 record , a Great West Conference title and a berth in the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs . Personal . Kaufman served as an assistant manager at Blue Sky ' s , a moving and storage company in Los Angeles , in 1998 and 1999 . As a volunteer , he was director of the minority internship program and a training camp director for the Redskins , worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington , D . C . , served on the board of directors for the Northern Virginia chapter of the American Lung Association as well as the board of advisors for Virginia Commerce Bank . Kaufman was also a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Investigation , Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States military , working with and speaking to children and adults . Death . Kaufman died in his Santa Margarita home about three weeks shy of his 51st birthday . An autopsy performed by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff ' s Office revealed the cause of death as an intra - abdominal hemorrhage due to hemorrhagic pancreatitis .