The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. Formerly known as the Washington Redskins, the team competes in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team plays its home games at FedExField in Landover, Maryland; its headquarters and training facility are in Ashburn, Virginia. The team has played more than 1,000 games and is one of only five in the NFL with more than 600 total wins. Washington was among the first NFL franchises with a fight song, "Hail to the Commanders", which is played by their marching band after every touchdown scored by the team at home. The franchise is valued by Forbes at US$5.6 billion, making them the league's sixth-most valuable team as of 2022.
Darrell Ray Green is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins from 1983 to 2002. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks to have ever played in the NFL. Green was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Samuel Adrian Baugh was an American professional football player and coach. During his college and professional careers, he most notably played quarterback, but also played as a safety and punter. He played college football for the Horned Frogs at Texas Christian University, where he was a two time All-American. He then played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins for 16 seasons from 1937 to 1952. After his playing career, he served as a college coach for Hardin–Simmons University before coaching professionally for the New York Titans and the Houston Oilers.
James Arthur Monk is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, New York Jets, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He is considered by many NFL players, coaches and analysts to be one of the greatest wide receivers of all time. Monk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Henry Austin Ellard is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams (1983–1993), Washington Redskins (1994–1998), and the New England Patriots (1998) of the National Football League (NFL). Ellard also qualified for the Olympic trials in 1992 in the triple jump, although he injured his hamstring during the Trials and did not make the team.
Desmond Kevin Howard is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football at Michigan, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a senior. Howard was selected fourth overall in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins and spent most of his career on special teams as a return specialist. Howard holds the NFL record for most punt return yards in a single season at 875 in 1996. With the Green Bay Packers, Howard was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXI after returning a kickoff for a 99-yard touchdown against the New England Patriots, the longest return in Super Bowl history at the time. To date, he is the only special teams player to receive the award. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
Thomas Joseph Tupa Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a punter and quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was selected in the third round of the 1988 NFL Draft to the Phoenix Cardinals. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Washington Redskins.
Steven Charles Emtman is a former professional American football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Washington and was selected first overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1992 NFL Draft. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins before retiring following the 1997 season.
Eric Quinn Metcalf is an American former professional football player who was primarily known as a return specialist, but played running back and wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection for the Browns and the Chargers. He was also the 1988 US Track and Field Champion in the long jump and a two-time NCAA Champion in the same event at the University of Texas.
Edward Wayne LeBaron Jr. was a Korean War veteran and an American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the College of the Pacific. He also was an executive vice president of the Atlanta Falcons.
Saverio Giovanni Rocca is a retired Australian professional sportsman. He played Australian rules football for Collingwood and North Melbourne in the Australian Football League, and then switched to playing American football as a punter for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins in the National Football League.
Gary C. Clark is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins (1985–92), Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (1993–94), and Miami Dolphins (1995).
Brian Keith Mitchell is an American former professional football player who was a running back and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fifth round of the 1990 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana where he was a quarterback. Mitchell is considered one of the greatest return specialists in NFL history.
Roy Calvin Green is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals (1979-1990) and Philadelphia Eagles (1991–1992).
William Edwards Blackmon is a former American football safety and return specialist. He played college football for the Boston College Eagles, and was drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He has also played for the New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, and briefly for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
Phillip Dale Lindsey is an American football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at the University of San Diego. Lindsey has also worked as a coach in the National Football League (NFL), the Canadian Football League (CFL), and the United States Football League (USFL).
Anthony Ray Barker is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Kansas before transferring to Rice University following his sophomore year. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 10th round, 280th overall selection, of the 1992 NFL Draft. He also briefly played for the Green Bay Packers.
James William Collier is a former American football tight end who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Arkansas and was drafted in the seventh round of the 1961 NFL Draft. Collier was also selected in the 31st round of the 1962 AFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. Collier scored the only touchdown for the New York Giants in the 1962 championship game when he recovered a blocked Packers' punt on the goal line.
Kory Adam Lichtensteiger is a former American football center who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Bowling Green State University.
Roy Dale McKay was a football player at the University of Texas and in the National Football League (NFL). He was an All-American fullback in 1942 and was the most outstanding back in the 1943 Cotton Bowl. In the NFL he was twice named the best punter in the league and played on the 1944 NFL Championship Green Bay Packers.
