The Washington Redskins Team History is a storied saga filled with legendary players, iconic coaches, championship triumphs, and dramatic transformations. From their humble beginnings in Boston to decades of dominance in D.C., the Redskins became one of the NFL’s most recognizable franchises. This deep dive explores the team’s rich legacy, historic milestones, and the cultural impact it left on professional football.
And So It Begins: Boston Braves
In July of 1932, the NFL awarded a team to the city of Boston. The ownership group for the new franchise was headed by a man with little football background, George Preston Marshall. He owned a chain of laundromats in Washington, DC. Marshall was known for his flair for promotion and his persuasive communication skills. The team would play at Braves Field, home of Boston’s National League baseball team, and so they took the name ‘Boston Braves’.
The team lost money in it’s inaugural season prompting Marshall to take sole ownership of the team the following year. He moved the team to Fenway Park in July of 1933, and changed the team’s official name to the ‘Boston Redskins’.
George Preston Marshall Redskins
The team’s first success came in 1936 when they won the NFL’s Eastern Division and earned the right to host Green Bay in the NFL championship game. Marshall was angry with Boston fans for their poor attendance in the team’s final home game.
In protest, he moved the game to the Polo Grounds in New York. The Redskins gave up their home field advantage and lost 21-6. The team would never play another game in Boston.
Enter Washington D.C.
Washington Redskins Team History: The Move
In 1937 Marshall moved the Redskins to Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. Under the glow of floodlights, the Washington Redskins would become a resounding success story. Marshall’s ingenuity and foresight would bring about many new innovations such as the first ever marching band and the first ever fight song. The band still plays to this day and are the only remaining commissioned marching band in the NFL. The song is still heard every time the Commanders score a touchdown – well, a version of it anyway.
Slingin’ Sammy Baugh career
The 1937 season would also see the debut of Slingin’ Sammy Baugh from Texas Christian University. The Skins sixth overall draft pick would throw many passes that year, and for many years to come. In fact, Baugh revolutionized the look of pro football offenses forever. He would play 16 seasons, most of it going two ways and for 60 minutes a game. He was the first player to ever pass for 10,00 yards. Then he was the first player to ever pass for 20,000 yards. Ultimately, he would pass for more than 22,000 yards and re-write the NFL record books.
Early Championships In Washington Redskins Team History
Marshall’s ingenuity coupled with Sammy’s arm, would earn the Redskins their first NFL championship in 1937. In their first nine seasons together in Washington, they never had a losing season. In that time they won 5 NFL Eastern Division championships and the NFL championship again in 1942.
Media Mogul
The Redskins drew a large following not only in the Washington, D.C. area but around the country. In 1944 they became the first NFL team to have a radio network. In 1950 they made history again by unveiling their new television network. That same season, the Washington Redskins, along with the Los Angeles Rams, became the first NFL teams to have all of their games—home and away—televised. Fans in many states who didn’t have a pro football team to call their own listened to or watched the Redskins at home.
The Move To RFK
The Redskins moved out of Griffith and into D.C. Stadium in 1961.
The stadium would later have it’s name changed to Robert F. Kennedy and would remain the Redskins home until 1996.
At RFK stadium, the Redskins would start a string of unprecedented sold out games, that still continued long into the days at Fed Ex Field.
1969 was a year juxtaposed with glory and tragedy. Washington hired legendary coach Vince Lombardi in February. He would guide the Redskins to their first winning record in 15 years. But along the way they would lose George Preston Marshall, the man who had molded the Redskins. They would also lose Lombardi to cancer before the start of the 1970 season.
George Allen
George Allen took over in 1971 and was named NFL coach of the year in his first season. The following season, the Redskins made it to the Super Bowl (VII) where they lost to the Miami Dolphins 14-7. The Redskins’ best players of that era were quarterback Sonny Jurgensen and wide receiver Charley Taylor, who set a record for most passes caught in a career.
Joe Gibbs Era Begins
On October 12, 1981, the Redskins hired San Diego Chargers’ mastermind offensive co-ordinator Joe Gibbs to take over for Jack Pardee. He became the 17th coach in Redskins history and would go on to become not only the most successful coach, but probably the most revered figure in the franchise’s considerable history.
First Strike
In 1982, the NFL Players Association announced the beginning of a union strike. It was the first work stoppage in league history. The regular season resumed on November 20 after eight weeks of games were not played. A total of 98 games were erased as a result of the 57 day strike.
First Super Bowl In Washington Redskins Team History
Because of the shortened season, the NFL adopted a format of 16 teams competing in a Super Bowl Tournament for the 1982 playoffs.
The NFC’s number-one seed, Washington, defeated the AFC’s number-two seed, Miami, 27-17 in Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, January 30.
John Riggins scored the winning touchdown on what is now the most memorable and famous single play in franchise history.
70 Chip.
The Diesel was Super Bowl MVP.
Super Bowl Let Down
The Redskins continued their dominance folllowing their Super Bowl victory, going an impressive 14-2 through the regular season, and advancing all the way to Super Bowl XVIII. Not only did they only lose two games in 1983, but those two losses were by a combined two points.
The bookmakers favored Washington by three, and most expected the Redskins to peel off their second straight Lombardi trophy, but Los Angeles had other ideas.
Marcus Allen and the Raiders stunned the burgundy and gold faithful, with a 38-9 thrashing of the Redskins. At the time, the 29-point margin of victory was the largest in Super Bowl history.
Jack Kent Cooke
In 1985, Jack Kent Cooke took sole ownership of the Redskins; he had purchased a 25 percent share of the team in 1961, and had become majority owner in 1974.
Widely regarded as one of the best franchise owners in the history of professional sports. His vision, leadership, and relentless drive to win shaped the Redskins into a powerhouse, bringing them three Super Bowl championships during his tenure.
Strike Two
Washington would not make it as far as the Super Bowl again until after the 1987 season. Ironically, it was a strike-shortened season again as a 24-day strike shrunk the regular season from 16 games to 15 games.
Washington went 11-5, before beating the Chicago Bears 21-17 in the divisional playoff, and then the Minnesota Vikings 17-10 in the NFC Championship.
Second Super Bowl In Washington Redskins Team History
The Redskins were actually three-point underdogs for Super Bowl XXII. Many expected John Elway and the Denver Broncos, to be able to better Doug Williams and the Washington Redskins. Denver scored less than two minutes into the game and added a field goal on their second drive to stake out a 10-point early lead. What happened after that became widely recognized as the best quarter of football in Redskin history.
The Quarter
Williams and his Washington teammates started the second quarter with an 80-yard bomb to Ricky Sanders; it would be the first of FIVE Redskin touchdowns in the quarter.
When all was said and done, Williams had put up 228 yards and 4 touchdowns, Timmy Smith had run 5 times for 122 yards and a touchdown, and at 35-10, the game was ostensibly over by half-time. Williams secured a place in history as the first African-American quarterback to ever win the Super Bowl, and the Redskins had their second Lombardi trophy.
Third Super Bowl In Washington Redskins Team History
In 1991 the Redskins dominated competition going 14-2 in the regular season. With Mark Rypien at the helm and The Hogs smashing huge holes for Earnest Byner, Washington rolled right into Super Bowl XXVI. They outclassed the Buffalo Bills 37-24 in a game only made close by two late Buffalo TD’s when the game was already out of reach.
That game capped off a record breaking season for the offensive line who allowed an unbelievably low NINE sacks all season long (including playoffs). Washington had secured it’s third Lombardi of the decade, with three different quarterbacks.
Historic Art Monk Catch
On October 12, 1992, Art Monk caught a 10 yard pass from quarterback Mark Rypien in the fourth quarter and stepped out of bounds. It wasn’t a particularly notable catch, but it was extremely significant.
Monk surpassed Steve Largent’s NFL record for career receptions, with his 820th catch.
In the final minutes of the game, with the Redskins leading 34-3, Coach Joe Gibbs called three consecutive passing plays to ensure Monk would break the record. He was immediately mobbed by teammates as they celebrated the achievement.
He would go on to finish his career with 920 receptions (888 with the Redskins), and eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The End of The Era
On March 5, 1993 Joe Gibbs, who led the Washington Redskins to 3 Super Bowl victories and 8 playoff appearances in 12 NFL seasons, resigned and was replaced by his longtime assistant, Richie Petitbon. It was the end of an era… well, era one at least.
The Move To Jack Kent Cooke Stadium
In 1997 the Redskins moved into a new state-of-the-art stadium in what is now Landover, Maryland; but originally, the community was called Raljon – a name devised by Cooke that combined the names of his sons Ralph and John.
The Passing Of The Squire
Cooke passed away of cardiac arrest at age 84 on April 6,1997, just before the stadium was to open. The stadium was posthumously named Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in his honor.
Cooke’s son took over the team following his death, but there were instructions in JKC’s will for the team and stadium to be left to his foundation, and with the instructions to sell it.
The Dan Snyder Era Begins
John Kent Cooke put in a competitive bid to keep the team in the family, but lost to local businessman Daniel Snyder and a team of investors, for a record-setting $800 million. The stadium was renamed Fed Ex Field after Fed Ex paid an astounding 200 million dollars for the naming rights.
Sean Taylor
On Nov. 27, 2007, Washington safety and young superstar Sean Taylor died as a result of a gun shot suffered in his home. He was just 24 years old.
Please visit THN’s Sean Taylor tribute page to honour one of the most extraordinary athletes in Redskin history.
The Redskins Era Ends
On Monday. July 13th, 2020, the Redskins Era ended. The organization announced that they were retiring ‘Redskins’ as the team nickname and mascot. They also announced that they were removing all instances of the name and mascot from all digital materials, social networks and website.
Interim Name Announced
On Thursday July 23rd, 2020, Washington announced that they would be conducting “in-depth branding” research before deciding on a new name. They also announced that in the interim, they were to be referred to as The Washington Football Team.
Washington Redskins Team History Becomes The Washington Commanders Team History
On February 2, 2022, the Washington Football Team officially unveiled its new identity: the Washington Commanders. It followed more than 18 months of extensive market research, fan surveys, and branding consultations. The name was selected to honor the region’s strong military ties and leadership legacy, aiming to unite past tradition with a forward-looking vision.
This long-anticipated rebrand brought an end to the use of the franchise’s former name, which dated back to 1933. While the change was met with mixed emotions, it represented a decisive step toward a more inclusive and modern NFL brand.
With a fresh name, new uniforms, and a revitalized image, the Washington Commanders name change marked the beginning of a new chapter—one grounded in respect, resilience, and the hope of restoring gridiron glory.
Hail to the Commanders.
The Dan Snyder Era Ends
Ding, dong, the witch is dead. Dan Snyder sold the Washington Commanders after 25 tumultuous years
The exact reason Dan Snyder sold the Washington Commanders may never be fully known. Speculation continues to swirl: Did the NFL pressure him behind the scenes? Was the final straw toxic workplace allegations or financial misconduct? Or was it more about the team’s uncertain stadium future, a billion-dollar revenue stream the league couldn’t afford to jeopardize?
Whatever the cause, the outcome was clear: Snyder’s controversial 25-year tenure came to an end on July 19th, 2023. For fans and the broader NFL community, it marked the end of an era defined by dysfunction. It also the beginning of what many hope will be a return to pride, stability, and success for one of the league’s most storied franchises.
The Commanders’ ownership change isn’t just a headline—it was a turning point
Josh Harris Group Takes Over
In July 2023, Josh Harris officially purchased the Washington Commanders for a record $6.05 billion. Thusly ending the turbulent 24-year tenure of former owner Dan Snyder. Harris, who also co-owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, brought a renewed sense of hope and professionalism to a fan base desperate for change. His ownership group includes notable figures like Magic Johnson and Mitchell Rales, signaling a strong, unified front.
One of Harris’s first major moves was hiring Adam Peters as general manager, a respected talent evaluator from the San Francisco 49ers. Shortly after, he brought in former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as head coach, aiming to restore a winning culture. The Harris era represents a clean slate for the franchise, with a focus on transparency, competitiveness, and reconnecting with the community. For the first time in decades, Washington fans have reason to believe again.
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