When the word dynasty comes up in NFL circles, almost everybody thinks of the same teams. The Cleveland Browns dominated the 1950’s, followed by the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots in each subsequent decade.
Somehow, the Washington Redskins from 1982-91 get forgotten. Washington, with head coach Joe Gibbs at the helm, reached four Super Bowls during that time and won three, all with different quarterbacks. Unlike the AFC during that stretch, the NFC was loaded with roadblocks including the Chicago Bears, New York Giants and aforementioned 49ers.
Perhaps the Redskins are left off the list of dynasties because they never won consecutive championships. Maybe it is the fact Washington won two Super Bowls in strike-shortened years, in 1982 and 1987. Perhaps it is the lack of great players on the team, with only Darrell Green, Russ Grimm and John Riggins sticking out as memorable Hall of Fame talents.
Regardless of the reasons, the Redskins are unjustly cast aside by the history-makers.
Gibbs is the most underrated coach of his generation. Playing in the brutally competitive NFC East, Washington won five division titles and made the playoffs seven of 10 seasons from 1982-91. The only losing season came in 1988, when the Redskins finished 7-9. Under Gibbs, Washington won championships with Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien at starting quarterback, all of which will never see Canton without a ticket.
The Redskins were the true essence of the word team. They played tough and dirty, mauling people in the trenches behind their famous offensive line, known as “The Hogs.” Led by Joe Jacoby, Mark May, Jeff Bostic and Grimm, Washington blew open running lanes for Riggins and later Gerald Riggs and Earnest Byner. The defense was top-notch, showcasing Green, Charles Mann, Dexter Manley and others.
Washington earned its first Super Bowl victory by beating the Miami Dolphins in 1982, and came back the next season with gusto. The Redskins set a then-record for points in a season in 1983 and cruised to Super Bowl XVIII as favorites over the Los Angeles Raiders, only to be hammered 38-9. If Washington wins that game, its historical perception is completely different.
After losing Theismann to a career-ending broken leg in 1985, Washington floundered at quarterback until deep in the 1987 campaign before settling on Williams over Jay Schroeder. Williams became the first black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, throwing five touchdowns in a 42-10 rout of the Denver Broncos. The third title came in 1991 in a win over the Buffalo Bills, 37-24. The ’91 team was the best of the trio, going 14-2 after starting the season 11-0.
Today, the Redskins accomplishments in the 80’s and early 90’s are largely ignored outside of the nation’s capital. They should not be, because Washington enjoyed one of the greatest runs in NFL history.
