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.
Joe Jackson Gibbs is an American auto racing team owner and former professional football coach. In football, he was head coach for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1981 to 1992, and again from 2004 to 2007. During his first stint with the Redskins, he led them to eight playoff appearances, four NFC Championship titles, and three Super Bowl titles over 12 seasons. Gibbs is the only head coach to have won Super Bowls with three different starting quarterbacks. Gibbs is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history.
Christopher Ken Cooley is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah State Aggies and was drafted by the Redskins in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
Leonard Ray Brown Jr. is a former American football coach and guard who played 20 seasons in the NFL. He last served as the offensive line coach for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for The University of Memphis and transferred to Arkansas State University. Brown was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He also played for the Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions over 20 seasons.
The Hogs were a nickname given to the offensive line of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League during the 1980s and early 1990s. Renowned for their ability to control the line of scrimmage, the Hogs helped the Redskins win three Super Bowl championships under head coach Joe Gibbs. The Washington Commanders pay homage to the Hogs with their mascot, Major Tuddy.
The Washington Commanders, an American football team belonging to the National Football League (NFL), have also played as the Boston Braves, Boston Redskins, Washington Redskins, and Washington Football Team. Founded in 1932, the team has won five professional American football championships including two NFL Championships and three Super Bowls. Washington has also captured 15 NFL divisional titles and five NFC championships. The Redskins branding used by the team from 1933 to 2019 was seen as pejorative by various Native American groups and was retired in 2020 due to pressure from several NFL and team sponsors as part of a wave of name changes in the wake of the George Floyd protests. The team played as the Washington Football Team for two seasons before rebranding as the Commanders in 2022.
Wayne Vernal Millner was an American professional football player who was an offensive and defensive end for the Boston / Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Gerald Thomas Smith was a professional American football tight end for the National Football League (NFL)'s Washington Redskins for 13 seasons, from 1965 through 1977. By the time he retired, he held the NFL record for most career touchdowns by a tight end. Smith publicly announced he had AIDS in August 1986, being the first professional athlete to do so. He died two months later. A 2014 documentary from the NFL Network's A Football Life series profiles his career, as well as his "double life as a closeted gay man and a star athlete."
Sherman Smith is a former professional American football running back who played eight seasons for the Seattle Seahawks and San Diego Chargers between 1976 and 1983. He was also the running backs coach for the Seahawks, as well as the former offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins. After his playing days were over, he embarked upon a second career as a football coach, starting at Redmond Jr. high school, then college, and finally back in the National Football League (NFL) with the Houston Oilers / Tennessee Titans, the Redskins, and the Seahawks.
Alan Scott Galbraith is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and Green Bay Packers. He was part of the Super Bowl XXVIII championship team over the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at the University of Southern California.
Ronald Allen Middleton is an American football coach and former player who is the tight ends coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Middeton played professionally as a tight end for the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Redskins of the NFL. He played college football at Auburn University. He played on the Escambia County High School "Blue" Devils football team in Atmore, Alabama. Middeton has coached for Troy Trojans, the Ole Miss Rebels, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Frederick Martin Davis is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at USC.
The 1982 Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 51st season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 46th in Washington, D.C. Although the Redskins lost all their preseason games, they were to advance from an 8–8 record the previous season to become one of the only 2 teams in NFL history to win the Super Bowl after not winning a pre-season game. Only the 1990 Buffalo Bills and the 2000 New York Giants have since made it to the Super Bowl after a winless pre-season.
The Body Bag Game was a Monday Night Football game that was played on November 12, 1990, between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins at Veterans Stadium. The Eagles defeated the Redskins, 28–14. Its nickname comes from a pre-game boast from Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan, who told reporters his team would inflict a beating on Washington so bad "they'll have to be carted off in body bags". Then during the game, nine Washington Redskins players left with injuries, and an Eagles player reacted to one of those injured Redskins by yelling, "Do you guys need any more body bags?"
Shane Waldron is an American football coach who is the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins and New England Patriots.
Selvish Capers is a former American football offensive tackle. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football for West Virginia University.
Niles Paul is a former American football tight end. He played college football as a wide receiver at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and was selected in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.
Michael L. Pope is an American former coach in the National Football League (NFL). He is best known as the tight ends coach for the New York Giants, serving on all four of their Super Bowl championship teams.
Brian Angelichio is an American football tight ends coach for the Minnesota Vikings. He previously coached for the Panthers, Buccaneers, Browns, Packers, and Redskins.
Wes Phillips is an American football coach and former player who is the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He is the son of former Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips and the grandson of former Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints head coach Bum Phillips.
