On this Redskins throwback to September 25, 1966, the Washington Redskins defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 33–27 at D.C. Stadium. It was Week 3 of the 1966 NFL season, and the game marked the first victory under Washington’s new head coach, Otto Graham.
Key Game Highlights (September 25, 1966):
Charlie Gogolak’s Performance: Rookie kicker Charlie Gogolak played a major role, connecting on four field goals (41, 47, 29 yards) and contributing to an early 9–0 lead.
Steelers Comeback: The Steelers took a 14–9 halftime lead following a 49-yard touchdown pass from Ron Smith to Gary Ballman and a 27-yard interception return by Jim Bradshaw.
Redskins Rally: In the second half, Sonny Jurgensen rallied the Redskins with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Charley Taylor and a 35-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Mitchell.
Final Score: A 2-yard touchdown run by Charley Taylor gave Washington a 30–24 lead. Despite a late field goal by both teams, the Redskins held on to win, 33–27.
Controversy: According to reports at the time, Pittsburgh coach Bill Austin was displeased with a uniform mix-up, and Washington coach Otto Graham chose to punt from the Pittsburgh 37-yard line while holding a 6-point lead in the final minute rather than attempting a fifth field goal.
The victory moved Washington to 1-2 on the season, while the Steelers fell to 1-1-1. The Redskins finished the 1966 season at 7-7-0, 5th in the NFL East Division.