Washburn attended Shelby High School in Shelby, North Carolina and was a student and a letterman in basketball. In basketball, he was a three-time All-Conference selection and as a senior, he averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game. Cliff Washburn graduated from Shelby High School in 1998.
He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at The Citadel. High school College football Washburn played college football at The Citadel.
He played college basketball for the Bulldogs until his Senior year, when his eligibility for basketball expired and he joined the football team
He did not play football, including the high school level, until his senior year at The Citadel. He still graduated even though he didn"t finish his final project his senior year.
National Football League Washburn was signed by the New York Giants of the National Football League as an undrafted free agent in 2003. On August 11, 2008, Washburn signed with the Houston Texans, only to be a final training camp casualty on August 31.
However, on January 5, 2009, Washburn was re-signed by the Texans under a reserve/future contract.
He was released at the end of training camp on September 5, 2009. Canadian Football League On July 4, 2006, Washburn signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and played in six regular season games for them during the 2006 Canadian Football League season, all of them as a starting tackle. Washburn also played in the East Division final for the Argos in a losing cause.
Washburn was re-acquired by the Argonauts on September 29, 2008.
After being released by Houston, Washburn re-joined Toronto on September 28, 2009. On October 14, 2009, Washburn was traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in exchange for a 5th round draft pick in 2010 and a conditional draft pick in 2011.
Las Vegas Locomotives Washburn signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League in June 2010. He was released on November 1.
Washburn has also been a member of the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Las Vegas Locomotives. He has also been a member of the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers.
