Washington Redskins - An american football tradition
The Washington Redskins have been around for many years. Established in 1932 in Boston, the franchise moved to the nation’s capital in 1937. Over the next few decades, there were many great players and coaches and the team went through many ups and downs. In the early years, the Washington Redskins won Eastern Division Championships in 1937, 1940, 1942, 1943, and 1945 and won the NFL championship in 1937 and 1942. The team went into decline after 1945 and didn’t show signs of improvement until 1969, when Vince Lombardi, former coach of the Green Bay Packers, was hired. Alas, Lombardi passed away of cancer shortly before the 1970 season.
Two years later, George Allen became the new head coach. This also began what was to become one of the NFL’s most renowned rivalries between the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. They reached the NFC Conference Championship in the 1972 season, defeating Dallas; unfortunately, they went on to lose to the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VII. In the seven years the George Allen was head coach, they made the playoffs five times.
In 1981, new owner Jack Kent Cooke, signed the offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers, Joe Gibbs, as head coach. It is the Gibbs era in the eighties and early nineties that I remember most.
The players that were most well known were quarterback Joe Theismann, running back John Riggins, and wide receiver Art Monk. The Washington Redskins offensive line was nicknamed “The Hogs” because they would play in the mud on the field. Their first Super Bowl win and first NFL Championship in forty years, was in Super Bowl XVII where the Washington Redskins defeated the Miami Dolphins. Future Hall of Famer John Riggins provided the game’s most memorable play when, on fourth and one, trailing the Dolphins 17-13 with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the coaches called “70 Chip” a play designed for short yardage. Riggins broke free for a forty-three yard run. The image of Riggins running through would-be tackler Don McNeal has become one of the all-time Super Bowl highlights. One touchdown later, the Washington Redskins won their first NFL title in forty years.
Joe Gibbs led the Washington Redskins to four Super Bowls, winning three of them. Their latest Super Bowl win was in Super Bowl Super Bowl XXVI in 1992. Joe Gibbs retired after twelve years of coaching with the team in 1993. He went on to found Joe Gibbs Racing in NASCAR. However, he didn’t stay away from football. In 2004, he returned as head coach and team president of the team.
The future looks bright for the Washington Redskins. After obtaining top name free agents in the off season (including Antwaan Randle El, formerly of the current Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers) the Washington Redskins are among the teams considered to be the best in the NFC going in to the 2006 season.
For more information about the Washington Redskins and the upcoming 2006 season, visit the NFL and ESPN websites as well as the team’s websites.