The Redskins Blog

Kerrigan Talks Neil Armstrong’s Legacy

(AP photo)

Redskins outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan came oh-so-close to meeting Neil Armstrong on multiple occasions, but interacting with the American hero was just not in the cards those days.

Armstrong, remembered for his famous “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” phrase upon stepping foot on the moon in 1969, died Saturday at 82.

Kerrigan said he’s proud to have at least one thing in common with Armstrong: both are Purdue University alums.

“It definitely makes you proud to be a Boilermaker when you know the man on the moon was from Purdue,” Kerrigan said Saturday after the Redskins’ 30-17 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts at FedExField. “His death is sad, but at the same time, we’re still proud to have him as a Boiler alum.”

Kerrigan said he had attended multiple Purdue-sponsored events in which Armstrong was also a guest, but never got the chance to actually meet the Wapakoneta, Ohio, native.

“I never formally met him,” Kerrigan said. “I was recently at an awards banquet at Purdue with him, but unfortunately, never had the privilege of shaking his hand.”

Kerrigan said Armstrong was an avid Purdue football supporter, and led the Ross-Ade Stadium crowd in a rendition of the song “Shout,” a fourth-quarter school tradition, on a couple occasions during Kerrigan’s Purdue career from 2007 to 2010.