Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins
Name	Washington Redskins
Established	1932
City	Boston (1932), Boston Braves (1932), Fenway Park (1933–1936), Griffith Stadium (1937–1960), Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (1961–1996), FedExField (1997–present)
Championships	Super Bowl XVII, Super Bowl XXII, Super Bowl XXVI
Owner	George Preston Marshall (1932–1965), Jack Kent Cooke (1974–1997), Daniel Snyder (1999–2023)
Mascot	Chief Zee

Washington Redskins. The franchise was a professional American football team that competed in the National Football League (NFL) for 88 seasons. Founded in Boston in 1932, the team relocated to Washington, D.C. in 1937 under the ownership of George Preston Marshall. The organization was one of the most storied in the league, winning three Super Bowl championships and boasting a large, dedicated fanbase known for its Hail to the Redskins fight song and vibrant gameday traditions at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and later FedExField.

History

The franchise originated in 1932 as the Boston Braves, named after the city's Major League Baseball team, and played its initial season at Braves Field. The following year, the team was renamed and moved to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. In 1937, owner George Preston Marshall moved the club to the nation's capital, becoming the first NFL team in the Southern United States and establishing a fervent following. The team's early success was built by legendary coach Ray Flaherty and star quarterback Sammy Baugh, who led them to an NFL Championship victory in 1937 against the Chicago Bears. For decades, the team was the last in the NFL to integrate, finally adding Bobby Mitchell in 1962 under pressure from the Kennedy administration. The franchise's golden era arrived under coach Joe Gibbs, who led them to four Super Bowl appearances and three victories in the 1980s and early 1990s, featuring iconic players like John Riggins and Doug Williams.

Name controversy and rebranding

For decades, the team's name and associated imagery were the subject of escalating controversy and protest. Native American groups, including the National Congress of American Indians, and civil rights organizations condemned the name as a harmful racial slur. High-profile critics like President Barack Obama and influential media outlets such as The Washington Post editorialized against its use. The controversy intensified in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd and a nationwide reckoning on racial injustice, leading to pressure from major corporate sponsors including FedEx, Nike, Inc., and PepsiCo. In July 2020, facing the threat of lost revenue and after a review, owner Daniel Snyder and the NFL announced the retirement of the name and logo. The team temporarily played as the "Washington Football Team" before unveiling its new identity as the Washington Commanders in February 2022.

Championships and achievements

The franchise won five professional American football championships, including two prior to the Super Bowl era. They captured the 1937 and 1942 titles, led by Sammy Baugh. Their greatest successes came in the Super Bowl era, winning Super Bowl XVII following the 1982 NFL season, Super Bowl XXII after the 1987 NFL season, and Super Bowl XXVI concluding the 1991 NFL season. The team also appeared in, but lost, Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl XVIII. They have won numerous NFC Championship titles and their division 15 times. Individual players and coaches have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Art Monk, Darrell Green, and coach Joe Gibbs.

Notable players

The franchise has been home to many iconic figures in professional football history. Pioneering quarterback Sammy Baugh revolutionized the passing game in the 1930s and 1940s. The "Hogs" offensive line, anchored by Joe Jacoby and Russ Grimm, was legendary in the 1980s. Key players from the Super Bowl eras included powerful running back John Riggins, record-setting wide receiver Art Monk, and lockdown cornerback Darrell Green. Quarterback Doug Williams made history as the first African-American starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Other standout performers include linebacker Chris Hanburger, safety Sean Taylor, and defensive end Charles Mann.

Stadiums

The team has called several venues home throughout its history. After playing in Boston at Braves Field and Fenway Park, the team moved to Griffith Stadium upon arriving in Washington, D.C. In 1961, they began a 35-season tenure at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, known for its intense atmosphere and vocal fanbase. In 1997, the team moved to a new, larger stadium in Landover, Maryland, initially named Jack Kent Cooke Stadium after the late owner. It was later renamed FedExField through a corporate sponsorship agreement. The team has announced plans to construct a new stadium, potentially in Virginia.

Rivalries

The team maintained several intense and historic rivalries within the NFC East. Their most famous and enduring feud is with the Dallas Cowboys, a competition often dubbed "America's Game" due to its national profile and impact on the NFL playoffs. The rivalry with the Philadelphia Eagles is also notably fierce, characterized by passionate and sometimes hostile interactions between fan bases. The matchup with the New York Giants is one of the league's oldest, dating back to the 1930s. Other significant, though less frequent, rivalries included those with the Chicago Bears from early championship battles and a competitive series with the Green Bay Packers.

Category:National Football League teams Category:Sports in Washington, D.C. Category:American football teams in Maryland