Washington Redskins

The Washington Redskins are a National Football League team based in the Washington, D.C. area. Previously known as the Boston Braves, the team joined the NFL in 1932. The Redskins play at FedEx Field, located in Landover, Maryland in Prince George's County, Maryland, and is headquartered and trains in Ashburn, Virginia, a community in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Franchise History

Establishment in Boston

The city of Boston was awarded an NFL franchise in 1932, under the ownership of George Preston Marshall. On the heels of Marshall's entry to the National Football League, and evidently influenced by his racial policies, the other NFL teams dropped all black players in 1933 and none signed blacks again until 1946.

Related Topics:
Boston - NFL - Franchise - 1932 - George Preston Marshall - 1933 - 1946

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While in Boston, the team took the same name as one of the local baseball teams at the time, the Boston Braves. To help differentiate the two teams, Marshall changed the name of the football Braves to the Redskins. Both teams played at Braves Field until the Redskins moved to Fenway Park (home of the Boston Red Sox) in an attempt to boost attendance.

Related Topics:
Boston Braves - Braves Field - Fenway Park - Boston Red Sox

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The Redskins in Washington, D.C.

The move to Fenway Park was unsuccessful and attendance was poor, so Marshall decided to move the team to Washington, D.C. in 1937. Upon making the move, the team instantly won a title. They also signed an innovative rookie quarterback from Texas Christian University: future Pro Football Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh. In an era where the forward pass was rare, the Redskins used it as their primary method of gaining yards. Baugh also played numerous other positions, including cornerback and punter.

Related Topics:
Washington, D.C. - 1937 - Quarterback - Texas Christian University - Pro Football Hall of Fame - Sammy Baugh - Forward pass - Cornerback - Punter

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The team's early success endeared them to the fans of Washington, D.C. However, after Baugh's retirement, the Redskins began a slow decline. Marshall continued to refuse to integrate the team, despite pressure from the Washington Post and the Federal Government (a typical comment by Post writer Shirley Povich was "Cleveland Browns runner Jim Brown integrated the Redskins' end zone"). Under threat of civil rights legal action by the Kennedy administration, the team became the final pro football franchise to integrate, in 1962 when the Redskins signed wide receiver Bobby Mitchell, a future hall-of-famer.

Related Topics:
Washington, D.C - Washington Post - Federal Government - Shirley Povich - Cleveland Browns - Jim Brown - Civil rights - Kennedy - 1962 - Wide receiver - Bobby Mitchell - Hall-of-famer

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Even with the addition of Bobby Mitchell, the Redskins were still not performing up to expectations. In 1969, the Redskins hired future hall-of-famer Vince Lombardi — who gained fame coaching with the Green Bay Packers — to be their new head coach. Lombardi led the team to a 7-5-2 record, their best since 1955, but died of cancer after the season ended. Also in 1969, long time owner, and President Emeritus, George Preston Marshall died.

Related Topics:
1969 - Vince Lombardi - Green Bay Packers - Head coach - 1955 - Cancer - Emeritus

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Two years later the team signed George Allen as their head coach. Allen helped to foster the team's rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys, which has turned into one of the NFL's most famous rivalries. The Redskins reached the NFC Conference Championship in 1973, defeating Dallas 33-3, only to lose to the undefeated Miami Dolphins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII.

Related Topics:
George Allen - Dallas Cowboys - NFC - 1973 - Miami Dolphins - Super Bowl VII

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In 1981, Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke signed the offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers, Joe Gibbs, as their head coach. He coached the team to four Super Bowls, winning three of them. The first was Super Bowl XVII, where the Redskins defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-17 on January 30, 1983, in Pasedena, California. Future Hall of Famer John Riggins provided the game's signature play when, on 4th and 1, with the Redskins down 17-13 with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, he broke free for the then-longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history (43 yards). One touchdown later, the Redskins won their first NFL title in 40 years by a 27-17 score.

Related Topics:
1981 - Jack Kent Cooke - Offensive coordinator - San Diego Chargers - Joe Gibbs - Super Bowl - Super Bowl XVII - Miami Dolphins - John Riggins

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The Redskins' second title was in Super Bowl XXII on January 31, 1988, in San Diego, California. In this game, the Redskins routed the Denver Broncos 42-10 after starting the game with a 0-10 deficit, the largest come-from-behind victory in Super Bowl history. This game is more famous for the stellar performance by quarterback Doug Williams who passed for four touchdowns in the second quarter en route to becoming the first black quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory. Rookie running back Timmy Smith had a great performance as well, running for a Super-Bowl record 203 yards.

Related Topics:
Super Bowl XXII - Denver Broncos - Doug Williams - Super Bowl - Timmy Smith

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The Redskins won their latest Super Bowl on January 26, 1992, in Super Bowl XXVI in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Redskins, the most dominant team in the NFL in the 1991 season, defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24. On March 5th, 1993, Joe Gibbs retired after 12 years of coaching with the Redskins. In what would prove to be a temporary retirement, Gibbs pursued an interest in NASCAR.

Related Topics:
Super Bowl - Super Bowl XXVI - Buffalo Bills - NASCAR

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The Redskins are one of only two teams in the NFL with an official marching band. The other is the Baltimore Ravens, who revived the band of the city's former NFL team, the Baltimore Colts. The Redskins' band predates the Colts franchise by about 15 years. Also, the Redskins were the first team to have a fight song, "Hail to the Redskins."

Related Topics:
NFL - Baltimore Ravens - Baltimore Colts - Hail to the Redskins

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From 1961 to 1996 the Redskins played at D.C. Stadium, which was renamed RFK Stadium in 1969.

Related Topics:
1961 - 1996 - RFK Stadium

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The Snyder era

In 1997, Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke died. His son, John Kent Cooke, was unable to pay the death duties for the business, and the team was later sold to Daniel Snyder in a deal that was the most expensive in sporting history. Snyder, who grew up as a Redskins fan and who made his money in cable television, has made many controversial moves since owning the team. The most controversial habits Snyder has practiced is the continuous hiring and firing of head coaches, first firing incumbent coach Norv Turner, firing replacement Marty Schottenheimer after only one season, and in 2002, hiring University of Florida head coach Steve Spurrier to replace Schottenheimer. After two mediocre years, Spurrier resigned after the 2003 season with three years left on his contract.

Related Topics:
1997 - Jack Kent Cooke - John Kent Cooke - Daniel Snyder - Cable television - Norv Turner - Marty Schottenheimer - 2002 - University of Florida - Steve Spurrier - 2003

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For the 2004 season, Snyder successfully lured former coach Joe Gibbs away from NASCAR to return as head coach and team president. Snyder also expanded FedEx Field to a league-high capacity of 91,665 seats.

Related Topics:
2004 - Joe Gibbs - NASCAR - FedEx Field

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Gibbs' return to the franchise did not pay instant dividends, however, as the Redskins finished the 2004 season with a record of 6 wins and 10 losses. Despite an impressive defense, the team struggled offensively, and quarterback Mark Brunell - an off-season acquisition from the Jacksonville Jaguars - proved to be a major disappointment. Some of Gibbs' other new signings, such as cornerback Shawn Springs and linebacker Marcus Washington did impress, however, while the jury remains out on talented running back Clinton Portis.

Related Topics:
Mark Brunell - Jacksonville Jaguars - Cornerback - Shawn Springs - Linebacker - Marcus Washington - Running back - Clinton Portis

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In the 2004 NFL draft, the Redskins picked Sean Taylor of Miami. His impact on the team was immediate, and was known as a vicious hitter. Often times, Lavar Arrington, a hard hitter himself, would tell Sean Taylor not to hit so hard.

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Since Dan Snyder took over the team, the Redskins have had a reputation for being very active during the off-season and signing free agent players to large contracts; not always ideal in the era of a salary cap. This off-season, however, the Redskins seem to have been more modest, with their most high-profile signing - wide receiver Santana Moss - joining the team via a trade with the New York Jets. Other signings included center Casey Rabach and wide receiver David Patten.

Related Topics:
Free agent - Salary cap - Wide receiver - Santana Moss - New York Jets - Casey Rabach - David Patten

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The 'Skins (as they are known to their fans) still found a way to turn heads, however: at the 2005 NFL Draft, the team drafted with the ninth pick Cornerback Carlos Rogers of Auburn. The team then traded away multiple picks to move up in the draft and select quarterback Jason Campbell from Auburn University. The move leaves the team's future at the vital quarterback position in some doubt, considering Brunell and Patrick Ramsey also remain on the roster at the present time.

Related Topics:
2005 NFL Draft - Jason Campbell - Auburn University - Quarterback - Patrick Ramsey

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Although Ramsey is relatively young, Joe Gibbs, will most likely take his time with Jason Campbell, in hopes that he would eventually replace Patrick Ramsey as the starting quarterback.

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It should be noted, that during Gibbs' first tenure with the Redskins, he did not have a franchise quarterback, so his success can be attributed largely to his coaching ability.

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As of 2004, Forbes Magazine values the franchise at over $1 billion, the highest in the NFL and of any U.S. sports franchise.

Related Topics:
2004 - Forbes Magazine

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The Redskins have one of the most loyal fans in all of sports; many have been on the season ticket waiting list for over 35 years.

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