Boston Redskins

Boston Redskins. The Boston Redskins were a professional American football franchise that competed in the National Football League from 1932 to 1936. Owned by George Preston Marshall, the team played its home games at Fenway Park and later Braves Field. Despite a brief existence, the club won the NFL Eastern Division championship in 1936 before relocating to become the Washington Redskins.

History

The franchise originated in 1932 as the Boston Braves, named after the baseball team with which it shared Braves Field. Under the ownership of George Preston Marshall and partners Vincent Bendix and Jay O'Brien, the team struggled financially and competitively in its early years. In 1933, Marshall became the sole owner and renamed the team, a move coinciding with the hiring of head coach Lone Star Dietz. The team's tenure in Boston was marked by poor attendance, attributed partly to fan preference for the collegiate game and the success of local teams like Boston College and Harvard. Key early players included back Cliff Battles and tackle Turk Edwards, who would become franchise cornerstones.

Relocation to Washington

Following the 1936 season, despite winning the NFL Eastern Division championship, owner George Preston Marshall decided to move the franchise. Disappointing fan support in Boston, including a poorly attended NFL Championship game that was moved to the Polo Grounds in New York City, was the primary catalyst. Marshall selected Washington, D.C. as the new home, attracted by the untapped market in the Southern United States. The move was approved by fellow National Football League owners, and the newly christened Washington Redskins began play at Griffith Stadium in 1937. The relocation immediately proved successful, with the team winning the NFL championship in its first season in the nation's capital behind the legendary rookie Sammy Baugh.

Season-by-season records

In their inaugural 1932 season as the Braves, the team finished with a 4–4–2 record under coach Lud Wray, placing fourth in the league. The 1933 season, the first under the new name, resulted in a 5–5–2 finish. The 1934 campaign saw a slight improvement to 6–6 under Eddie Casey. After a disappointing 2–8–1 record in 1935, the team rebounded dramatically in its final Boston season. Coached by Ray Flaherty, the 1936 squad posted a 7–5 record, winning the NFL Eastern Division and earning a berth in the title game, where they were defeated by the Green Bay Packers at the Polo Grounds.

Players of note

The roster featured several early National Football League stars who later found greater fame in Washington, D.C.. Hall of Fame running back Cliff Battles led the NFL in rushing in 1933 and 1937. Offensive tackle Turk Edwards was a dominant lineman and a future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. Quarterback Riley Smith was the team's first-ever NFL Draft selection in 1936. Other notable contributors included end Wayne Millner, tackle Bruiser Kinard, and back Pug Rentner. Many of these players, including Battles, Edwards, and Millner, formed the core of the Washington Redskins' 1937 championship team.

Head coaches

The team was led by four different head coaches during its five-year history. Lud Wray, formerly of the Frankford Yellow Jackets, coached the inaugural 1932 season. Lone Star Dietz took over for the 1933 and 1934 seasons. Eddie Casey, a former star for the Harvard Crimson, coached the 1935 season. Future Hall of Famer Ray Flaherty, who had been an end for the New York Giants, was hired in 1936 and led the team to its only division title; he accompanied the franchise to Washington, D.C., where he won an NFL championship in 1942.

Category:National Football League teams Category:Defunct National Football League teams Category:Sports in Boston Category:1932 establishments in Massachusetts Category:1936 disestablishments in Massachusetts