One of the NFL's oldest and most-storied franchises, the Washington Football Team were founded in 1932 as the Boston Braves. The team changed its name in 1933, and in 1937, the team relocated to Washington, D.C. and immediately won the first of its five World Championships. In addition to NFL Championship Game victories in 1937 and 1942, the Washington Football Team have won three Super Bowls, culminating their 1982, 1987 and 1991 seasons with Super Bowl titles.
History
History
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Super Bowls
Super Bowl XVII
It is perhaps the most famous play in Washington Football Team history: John Riggins' 43-yard touchdown run in Super Bowl XVII carved him a spot in football immortality in the 27-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 30, 1983. It was Washington's first NFL championship in 40 years. Riggins earned MVP honors with 166 rushing yards, while the defense limited Miami to just 176 yards of total offense. It was also the first Super Bowl win for Joe Gibbs, then in only his second season as a head coach.
Super Bowl XXII
Five possessions, 18 plays, 35 points and 356 yards--it was an offensive clinic and it all came in one magnificent quarter. In Super Bowl XXII in San Diego, the Washington Football Team turned a 10-0 first-quarter deficit to John Elway and the Denver Broncos into a 35-10 halftime lead. MVP Doug Williams engineered a second-quarter offensive explosion that remains unparalleled in NFL postseason history. The decisive 42-10 victory on Jan. 31, 1988, was the Washington Football Team's second championship in five years.
Super Bowl XXVI
The Washington Football Team capped perhaps the greatest season in franchise history on Jan. 26, 1992. In a 37-24 win over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI at the Minneapolis Metrodome, Mark Rypien passed for 292 yards and two touchdowns to earn MVP honors, while a stifling defense led by Charles Mann, Wilber Marshall, Kurt Gouveia and Darrell Green limited Buffalo running back Thurman Thomas to just 13 yards on 10 carries. The Washington Football Team finished 17-2 in 1991--the franchise's most wins ever in one season.
Greatest Washington Football Team Players
Pro Bowl
Over 200 Washington Football Team players have made appearances in the Pro Bowl since 1950.
History by the Decades
Learn about the history of the Washington Football Team decade by decade.
