On this day in Washington Football history – September 16th, 1937 – Washington beat the New York Giants 13-3.
It was opening day for the 1937 season, and 24,500 fans lined Griffith Stadium for what was technically the first ever Washington
Redskins game. The season before, the
franchise was still in Boston and called the Boston
Redskins.
Riley Smith
Washington’s
first ever NFL Draft pick Riley Smith had a brilliant day, in the first game of his second season.
Smith scored every single one of Washington’s thirteen points. He returned an interception 58 yards for the game’s only touchdown in the fourth quarter. He also had field goals of 18 and 19 yards, and even kicked the extra point on his touchdown.
More Information
Washington would finish the
1937 season at 8-3, and go on to win their first ever NFL Championship over the Chicago Bears.
The
Redskins would play 145 games at Griffith Stadium from this opener in 1937, through to 1960.
Boxscore at Pro Football Reference
