
TheWashington Commanders are a professionalAmerican football franchise based in theWashington metropolitan area. They are members of theEast division in theNational Football Conference (NFC) of theNational Football League (NFL). The Commanders were founded in1932 as theBoston Braves, named after thelocal baseball franchise.[1] The franchise changed its name the following year to the Redskins and moved toWashington, D.C. in1937.[1] In2020, the team retired thecontroversial Redskins name and briefly played as the Washington Football Team before rebranding as the Commanders in2022.[1]
Over 93 seasons, the Commanders have a regular season record of641–648–29 (.497) and a playoff record of25–21 (.543).[2] They have won threeSuper Bowls (XVII,XXII, andXXVI), twoNFC championships, and 15 NFC East divisional titles.[2][3] Before theAFL and NFLmerged in 1970,[4] Washington won twoNFL Championships (1937 and1942). They also played in and lost the1936,1940,1943, and1945 Championship games. Only six teams have appeared in more Super Bowls than Washington: theNew England Patriots (11), and theDallas Cowboys,Pittsburgh Steelers,Denver Broncos, andSan Francisco 49ers (eight each), and theKansas City Chiefs (6). Washington's five appearances are tied with theGreen Bay Packers,Las Vegas Raiders,Los Angeles Rams,Miami Dolphins,New York Giants, andPhiladelphia Eagles.[5]
All of the franchise's championships were attained during two 10-year spans. The first period of success was from1936 to1945, when they went to theNFL Championship six times, winning two of them. The second period of success was from1982 and1991, when they appeared in the postseason seven times, captured four Conference titles, and won three Super Bowls. This period included the1983 and1991 seasons, when the team won 14 games, the most the team have won in a single season.[2] Washington has also experienced periods of extended failure in its history. The most notable period of continued failure was from1946 to1970, when they posted only four winning seasons and did not have a single postseason appearance.[2] During this period, they went without a single winning season between1956 to1968 and posted their worst regular-season record in franchise history, going 1–12–1 in1961.[2] Since their last Super Bowl win in 1991, Washington has only four playoff wins and only three seasons with 10 or more wins.[2]
| NFL champions(1920–1969) § | Super Bowl champions(1970–present) * | Conference champions# | Division champions † | Wild card berth ^ |
| Season | Conference | Division | Regular season | Postseason results | General manager | Head coach | Awards | Refs. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | W | L | T | ||||||||
| 1932 | — | — | 4th | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | George Preston Marshall | Lud Wray | — | [6] |
| 1933 | — | East | 3rd | 5 | 5 | 2 | — | Dennis J. Shea | Lone Star Dietz | — | [7] |
| 1934 | — | East | 2nd | 6 | 6 | 0 | — | — | [8] | ||
| 1935[a] | — | East | 4th | 2 | 8 | 1 | — | Eddie Casey | — | [9] | |
| 1936 | — | East | 1st† | 7 | 5 | 0 | LostNFL Championship (Packers) 21–6 | Ray Flaherty | — | [10] | |
| 1937[b] | — | East | 1st† | 8 | 3 | 0 | WonNFL Championship(1) (atBears) 28–21 | Jack Espey | — | [11] | |
| 1938 | — | East | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | — | [12] | ||
| 1939 | — | East | 2nd | 8 | 2 | 1 | — | — | [13] | ||
| 1940 | — | East | 1st† | 9 | 2 | 0 | LostNFL Championship (Bears) 73–0 | — | [14] | ||
| 1941 | — | East | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | — | [15] | ||
| 1942 | — | East | 1st† | 10 | 1 | 0 | WonNFL Championship(2) (Bears) 14–6 | — | [16] | ||
| 1943[c] | — | East | 1st† | 6 | 3 | 1 | WonEastern Division (atGiants) 28–0 LostNFL Championship (atBears) 41–21 | Sid Carroll | Dutch Bergman | — | [17] |
| 1944 | — | East | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | Dudley DeGroot | — | [18] | |
| 1945 | — | East | 1st† | 8 | 2 | 0 | LostNFL Championship (atRams) 15–14 | — | [19] | ||
| 1946[d] | — | East | T-3rd | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | Turk Edwards | — | [20] | |
| 1947[e] | — | East | 4th | 4 | 8 | 0 | — | Dick McCann | — | [21] | |
| 1948 | — | East | 2nd | 7 | 5 | 0 | — | — | [22] | ||
| 1949 | — | East | 4th | 4 | 7 | 1 | — | John Whelchel (3–3–1) Herman Ball (1–4) | — | [23] | |
| 1950 | American | — | 6th | 3 | 9 | 0 | — | Herman Ball | — | [24] | |
| 1951 | American | — | 3rd | 5 | 7 | 0 | — | Herman Ball (0–3) Dick Todd (5–4) | — | [25] | |
| 1952 | American | — | T-5th | 4 | 8 | 0 | — | Curly Lambeau | — | [26] | |
| 1953 | Eastern | — | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | — | [27] | ||
| 1954 | Eastern | — | 5th | 3 | 9 | 0 | — | Joe Kuharich | — | [28] | |
| 1955 | Eastern | — | 2nd | 8 | 4 | 0 | — | Joe Kuharich (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award)[29][30] | [31] | ||
| 1956 | Eastern | — | 3rd | 6 | 6 | 0 | — | — | [32] | ||
| 1957 | Eastern | — | 4th | 5 | 6 | 1 | — | — | [33] | ||
| 1958 | Eastern | — | 4th | 4 | 7 | 1 | — | — | [34] | ||
| 1959 | Eastern | — | 5th | 3 | 9 | 0 | — | Mike Nixon | — | [35] | |
| 1960 | Eastern | — | 6th | 1 | 9 | 2 | — | — | [36] | ||
| 1961[f] | Eastern | — | 7th | 1 | 12 | 1 | — | Bill McPeak | — | [37] | |
| 1962 | Eastern | — | 4th | 5 | 7 | 2 | — | — | [38] | ||
| 1963 | Eastern | — | 6th | 3 | 11 | 0 | — | — | [39] | ||
| 1964 | Eastern | — | T-3rd | 6 | 8 | 0 | — | Charley Taylor (ROY)[40][41] | [42] | ||
| 1965 | Eastern | — | 4th | 6 | 8 | 0 | — | — | [43] | ||
| 1966 | Eastern | — | 5th | 7 | 7 | 0 | — | Otto Graham | — | [44] | |
| 1967[g] | Eastern | Capitol | 3rd | 5 | 6 | 3 | — | — | [45] | ||
| 1968 | Eastern | Capitol | 3rd | 5 | 9 | 0 | — | — | [46] | ||
| 1969 | Eastern | Capitol | 2nd | 7 | 5 | 2 | — | Vince Lombardi | — | [47] | |
| 1970 | NFC | East[h] | 4th | 6 | 8 | 0 | — | Tim Temerario | Bill Austin | — | [48] |
| 1971 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 9 | 4 | 1 | LostDivisional Round (at49ers) 24–20 | George Allen | George Allen (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award)[49][30] | [50] | |
| 1972 | NFC# | East | 1st† | 11 | 3 | 0 | WonDivisional Round (Packers) 16–3 WonNFC Championship (Cowboys) 26–3 LostSuper Bowl VII (vs.Dolphins) 14–7 | Larry Brown (MVPTooltip National Football League Most Valuable Player Award &OPOYTooltip National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award)[51][52] | [53] | ||
| 1973 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 10 | 4 | 0 | LostDivisional Round (atVikings) 27–20 | — | [54] | ||
| 1974 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 10 | 4 | 0 | LostDivisional Round (atRams) 19–10 | — | [55] | ||
| 1975 | NFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 6 | 0 | — | Mike Thomas (OROYTooltip National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award)[56] | [57] | ||
| 1976 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 10 | 4 | 0 | LostDivisional Round (atVikings) 35–20 | — | [58] | ||
| 1977 | NFC | East | 2nd | 9 | 5 | 0 | — | — | [59] | ||
| 1978[i] | NFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | Bobby Beathard | Jack Pardee | John Riggins (CBPOYTooltip National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award)[60] | [61] |
| 1979 | NFC | East | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | — | Jack Pardee (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award)[62] | [63] | ||
| 1980 | NFC | East | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | — | — | [64] | ||
| 1981 | NFC | East | 4th | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | Joe Gibbs | Ken Houston (Byron "Whizzer" White Award)[65] | [66] | |
| 1982[j] | NFC# | 1st# | 8 | 1 | 0 | WonFirst Round Playoffs (Lions) 31–7 WonSecond Round Playoffs (Vikings) 21–7 WonNFC Championship (Cowboys) 31–17 WonSuper Bowl XVII(3) (vs.Dolphins) 27–17 | Joe Gibbs (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award)[30] Mark Moseley (MVPTooltip National Football League Most Valuable Player Award)[51] John Riggins (SBMVPTooltip Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award)[67] Joe Theismann (WPMOYTooltip Walter Payton Man of the Year Award)[68] Bobby Beathard (EOYTooltip Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year Award)[69] | [70] | |||
| 1983 | NFC# | East | 1st† | 14 | 2 | 0 | WonDivisional Round (Rams) 51–7 WonNFC Championship (49ers) 24–21 LostSuper Bowl XVIII (vs.Raiders) 38–9 | Joe Gibbs (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award)[30] Joe Theismann (MVPTooltip National Football League Most Valuable Player Award &OPOYTooltip National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award)[51][52] Bobby Beathard (EOYTooltip Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year Award)[69] | [71] | ||
| 1984 | NFC | East | 1st† | 11 | 5 | 0 | LostDivisional Round (Bears) 23–19 | — | [72] | ||
| 1985 | NFC | East | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | — | — | [73] | ||
| 1986 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 12 | 4 | 0 | WonWild Card Round (Rams) 19–7 WonDivisional Round (atBears) 27–13 LostNFC Championship (atGiants) 17–0 | — | [74] | ||
| 1987[k] | NFC# | East | 1st† | 11 | 4 | 0 | WonDivisional Round (atBears) 21–17 WonNFC Championship (Vikings) 17–10 WonSuper Bowl XXII(4) (vs.Broncos) 42–10 | Doug Williams (SBMVPTooltip Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award)[67] | [75] | ||
| 1988 | NFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | — | — | [76] | ||
| 1989 | NFC | East | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | — | Charley Casserly | — | [77] | |
| 1990 | NFC | East | 3rd^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | WonWild Card Round (atEagles) 20–6 LostDivisional Round (at49ers) 28–10 | — | [78] | ||
| 1991 | NFC# | East | 1st† | 14 | 2 | 0 | WonDivisional Round (Falcons) 24–7 WonNFC Championship (Lions) 41–10 WonSuper Bowl XXVI(5) (vs.Bills) 37–24 | Joe Gibbs (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award)[30] Mark Rypien (SBMVPTooltip Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award &OPOYTooltip National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award)[67][79] | [80] | ||
| 1992 | NFC | East | 3rd^ | 9 | 7 | 0 | WonWild Card Round (atVikings) 24–7 LostDivisional Round (at49ers) 20–13 | — | [81] | ||
| 1993 | NFC | East | 5th | 4 | 12 | 0 | — | Richie Petitbon | — | [82] | |
| 1994 | NFC | East | 5th | 3 | 13 | 0 | — | Norv Turner | — | [83] | |
| 1995 | NFC | East | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | — | — | [84] | ||
| 1996 | NFC | East | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | — | Darrell Green (WPMOYTooltip Walter Payton Man of the Year Award &Bart Starr Award)[68][85] | [86] | ||
| 1997 | NFC | East | 2nd | 8 | 7 | 1 | — | — | [87] | ||
| 1998 | NFC | East | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | — | — | [88] | ||
| 1999 | NFC | East | 1st† | 10 | 6 | 0 | WonWild Card Round (Lions) 27–13 LostDivisional Round (atBuccaneers) 14–13 | — | [89] | ||
| 2000 | NFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | Vinny Cerrato | Norv Turner (7–6) Terry Robiskie (1–2) | — | [90] |
| 2001 | NFC | East | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | Marty Schottenheimer | — | [91] | |
| 2002 | NFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | — | Vinny Cerrato | Steve Spurrier | — | [92] |
| 2003 | NFC | East | 3rd | 5 | 11 | 0 | — | — | [93] | ||
| 2004 | NFC | East | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | — | Joe Gibbs | — | [94] | |
| 2005 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | WonWild Card Round (atBuccaneers) 17–10 LostDivisional Round (atSeahawks) 20–10 | — | [95] | ||
| 2006 | NFC | East | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | — | — | [96] | ||
| 2007 | NFC | East | 3rd^ | 9 | 7 | 0 | LostWild Card Round (atSeahawks) 35–14 | — | [97] | ||
| 2008 | NFC | East | 4th | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | Jim Zorn | — | [98] | |
| 2009 | NFC | East | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | — | — | [99] | ||
| 2010 | NFC | East | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | — | Bruce Allen | Mike Shanahan | — | [100] |
| 2011 | NFC | East | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | — | London Fletcher (Bart Starr Award)[101] | [102] | ||
| 2012 | NFC | East | 1st† | 10 | 6 | 0 | LostWild Card Round (Seahawks) 24–14 | Robert Griffin III (OROYTooltip National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award)[56] | [103] | ||
| 2013 | NFC | East | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | — | — | [104] | ||
| 2014 | NFC | East | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | — | Jay Gruden | — | [105] | |
| 2015 | NFC | East | 1st† | 9 | 7 | 0 | LostWild Card Round (Packers) 35–18 | Scot McCloughan | — | [106] | |
| 2016 | NFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 7 | 1 | — | — | [107] | ||
| 2017 | NFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | — | Bruce Allen | — | [108] | |
| 2018 | NFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | — | — | [109] | ||
| 2019 | NFC | East | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | — | Jay Gruden (0–5) Bill Callahan (3–8) | — | [110] | |
| 2020 | NFC | East | 1st† | 7 | 9 | 0 | LostWild Card Round (Buccaneers) 31–23 | Ron Rivera | Chase Young (DROYTooltip National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award)[111] Alex Smith (CBPOYTooltip National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award)[60] | [112] | |
| 2021[l] | NFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 10 | 0 | — | Martin Mayhew | Ron Rivera | Ron Rivera (George Halas Award)[113] | [114] |
| 2022 | NFC | East | 4th | 8 | 8 | 1 | — | — | [115] | ||
| 2023 | NFC | East | 4th | 4 | 13 | 0 | — | — | [116] | ||
| 2024 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 12 | 5 | 0 | WonWild Card Round (atBuccaneers) 23–20 WonDivisional Round (atLions) 45–31 LostNFC Championship (atEagles) 55–23 | Adam Peters | Dan Quinn | Jayden Daniels (OROYTooltip National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award)[56] | [117] |
| 2025 | NFC | East | 3rd | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | — | [118] | ||
| Totals | 644 | 654 | 29 | All-time regular season record | |||||||
| 25 | 21 | — | All-time playoff record | ||||||||
| 669 | 676 | 29 | Combined record | ||||||||