Windham was drafted in the ninth round of the 1984 NFL draft by the New England Patriots, but never played for the team. He was signed in 1987 by the Washington Redskins. The 1987 season began with a 24-day players' strike, reducing the 16-game season to 15. The games for weeks 4–6 were won with all replacement players, including Windham. The Redskins have the distinction of being the only team with no players crossing the picket line.[1] Those three victories are often credited with getting the team into the playoffs and the basis for the 2000 film The Replacements.