Tag: Joe Gibbs (1981-92)

Commanders don’t do ‘Dallas Week’ these days

Washington fans from long ago remember how special “Dallas Week” was through the years.

Those old enough to recall Washington vs. Dallas NFL games will recall the term “Dallas Week.”

Dallas had won the division five consecutive seasons from 1966-1970 and Washington only had one single winning season those years (1969) when they were 7-5-2.

George Allen was hired to be the new Washington head coach, and he instantly talked of how Dallas had owned the division but Washington was going to fight for the division.

In his first season, Washington headed to the old Cotton Bowl Stadium to face the Cowboys in Week 3. During the week, Allen began to refer to the week as “Dallas Week.”  What followed shocked one city and excited the other.

Both teams were 2-0 when Washington went to Dallas to face the defending conference champs in a wet, rainy game. Washington shocked the NFC Champion Cowboys 20-16.

Allen had fired up the city the week of the game, and when the team arrived at Dulles Airport Sunday night, thousands of fans were at the airport to greet the victors back home. “Dallas Week” had been born!

“Dallas Week” continued to be huge through the George Allen years (1971-77). There were huge wins for both teams, and both became in the top tier of NFC teams.

Dallas won the Super Bowl that 1971 season and Washington returned the next season to defeat Dallas in the NFC Championship game 26-3 at RFK.

In 1973, Brig Owens had a fourth-quarter pick-six, and then Ken Houston stopped Walt Garrison on the one-yard line to hold on for a 14-7 win at RFK. In 1974, Roger Staubach was concussed, and his replacement Clint Longley threw two touchdown passes leading Dallas to a 24-23 Thanksgiving Day win.

Dallas, in 1979, won perhaps the greatest regular-season game in the storied rivalry. Washington led at Dallas 34-21 after a long John Riggins touchdown run. But Staubach brought back Dallas to win 35-34 in the final seconds.

Joe Gibbs (1981-92) had his fair share of big wins and losses against Dallas. Washington won the 1982 NFC Championship game over Dallas 31-17 at RFK. In the 1983 season opener, Washington led 23-3 at the half at RFK, but Dallas stormed back to win 31-30. When the teams met late in the year at Dallas, both were 12-2. Washington crushed Dallas 31-10. The next season in Dallas, the Cowboys led 21-6, only to see Washington come back and win 30-28.

1989 was a miserable year for Dallas as they went only 1-15. Yet, that win was at RFK against Washington. In 1991, Dallas at home led Washington 21-10 on MNF. But Washington came back to win 33-31, went on to win their first 11 games of the season, and then lost at RFK to Dallas.

The 1995 Cowboys were again dominant, winning their third Super Bowl in four seasons. But strangely they lost both times to an ineffective 6-10 Washington team.

Yes, back in those days, it was “Dallas Week.” Today, the DMV appears to have mostly fickle, bandwagon fans, nothing like the 70-90s years. “Dallas Week” means little to the fan base compared to what it did for 30 years dating from George Allen’s arrival.

Tuesday, former Washington tight end Rick “Doc” Walker was filling in for Kevin Sheehan on his Team 980 radio program. Walker talked often of “Dallas Week” of how he missed the energy it once provided the DMV.

Walker also talked with two former Washington defensive greats, defensive tackle Darryl Grant (1981-1990) and defensive end Dexter Manley (1981-89) who were both teammates with Walker (1980-85).

This week has no energy, no juice as the rivalries’ games did in the past. We can only hope the new administration will bring back “Dallas Week” once again to the DMV.

New Commanders co-owner Mitchell Rales: ‘This is incredibly humbling’

Rales also grew up a passionate fan of the team and is excited for the future.

Friday’s introductory press conference for the Josh Harris new ownership team was humbling for new minority owner Mitchell Rales.

Rales talked of how his family moved to the area when he was age 10. The family started going to Redskins games, and he went to every home game those years growing up in the area.

“This is incredibly humbling. I mean, I wish my parents were here to see this day,” Rales said.

He spoke of being chosen to play in a Maryland seniors high school all-star game but having to be matched up often against a lineman much bigger and better. He knew then college football was not for him, and he has known that his respect for players at a higher level has grown immensely over the years.

His candidness was refreshing in that he had the courage to admit the task before the new ownership group is quite the challenge. He is right. The franchise has not won a playoff game since the 2005 season, and only two playoff wins came in the 24 years Daniel Snyder owned and too often interfered with the football operations. Consequently, much of the fan base in the last decade has determined enough was enough. They were not going to give Snyder any more of their money.

“So we’re here to really build this again from the bottom up, the right way, by engaging everybody in a passionate, inspiring way,” Rales said. “And we’re going to need help from everybody here. Not just us. We can’t do it on our own. We’re going to work our butts off, but we need everybody to rally to the occasion.”

Rales appealed to the past, while also acknowledging you can’t live in the past. Rales knows what it was like during those George Allen years when the Redskins, in Allen’s seven years, never had a losing season. During those seven years, the Redskins posted records of 9-4-1 (1971), 11-3 (1972), 10-4 (1973), 10-4 (1974), 8-6 (1975), 10-4 (1976) and 9-5 (1977).

Ask yourself now, how great would it be for you as a fan, for the DMV fan base, if the next seven seasons, the team posted records as good as the Allen teams did?

Even more, the Gibbs teams of (1981-92) were even better, with only one losing season, four Super Bowl games and three Super Bowl championships. Dare we even think if they could be duplicated, how the DMV would respond?

“I remember what it was like, and I want to see those days here again, more for the community building of our fans and our other communities than even myself. So thank you, and I look forward to working with all of you in the time to come.”

Perhaps Daniel Snyder’s largest error as owner of Washington

The mistakes were countless, but what do you think Snyder’s biggest mistake was?

[connatix div_id=”3f8b015acdd24c648befc5d5dac47469″ player_id=”afe1e038-d3c2-49c0-922d-6511a229f69c” cid=”7cbcea0d-4ce2-4c75-9a8d-fbe02a192c24″]

What do you recall as one of the biggest Daniel Snyder mistakes as owner of Washington’s NFL franchise?

During the hugely disappointing 2000 season in which Washington was 7-6, Snyder feeling he needed to make a splash fired head coach Norv Turner, and Washington finished 8-8.

After that 2000 season Snyder then hired a very hands-on football coach in Marty Schottenheimer. Marty felt he needed to get his message across to his team that the culture was going to be much different with Marty at the helm. He angered veterans in training camp, cut starting quarterback Jeff George after only two games, and the team went on to start 0-5.

But say what you will about Marty Schottenheimer, the man could coach a football team. He had taken the Cleveland Browns to consecutive AFC Championship games (1986-87). If that wasn’t enough, he coached the Kansas City Chiefs to a 101-58-1 .634 winning percentage.

Can Washington fans even imagine their team going an entire decade with a .634 winning percentage? Well not one of them under the age of 30 can do so.

Joe Gibbs in his first coaching term in Washington was 124-60 (.674). He also won 4 NFC Championships and 3 Super Bowls. George Allen in his seven seasons as Washington head coach (1971-77) was 67-30-1 (.691), winning one NFC championship, losing one Super Bowl.

Back to Marty. After being 0-5 the team was 6-8 when they traveled to New Orleans for a Sunday Night national television broadcast. Washington was physical, aggressive and frankly manhandled the Saints 40-10. Schottenheimer must have been so proud of his team’s performance.

When the 2001 team finished 8-8 there was a real hope, a real confidence that Marty could bring seasons of winning to Washington. But there was Schottenheimer and Snyder unable to form an agreement on how much power Marty would have over the football team.

Snyder had badly disrupted the 1999 playoff team, playing general manager ruining team chemistry. In Schottenheimer he saw someone strong enough who would seize and demand more control than made Snyder comfortable.  Snyder fired him, went out and hired Steve Spurrier, promising him a general manager that according to Spurrier, never truly materialized.

Schottenheimer never won a Super Bowl, but in his 21 years of NFL head coaching experience he did win 200 games (200-126-1 .613).  Had Snyder simply let Marty do his thing, and Snyder simply given up wanting to be head of player personnel, Washington fans most likely would have enjoyed winning football for a decade and not experienced the Steve Spurrier and Jim Zorn eras.

Might this have been the biggest mistake Snyder made in his years as owner?

Washington’s Bubba Tyer honored by Pro Football Hall of Fame

Washington’s legendary former trainer receives a big honor.

Former Washington Redskins and Commanders trainer Lamar “Bubba” Tyer is becoming a recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Awards of Excellence for the class of 2023.

Tyer spent 37 years in the Washington organization; in 25 of those years, Tyer was the head athletic trainer. He retired in 2009.

Tyer’s service began with the Washington Redskins in 1971 when the team’s headquarters was in Herndon. During his career, he served under head coaches George Allen (1971-77), Jack Pardee (1978-80), Joe Gibbs 1981-92), Richie Petitbon (1993), Norv Turner (1994-200) and Marty Schottenheimer (2001).

Then in 2002, he moved to serve as a front-office administrator, retired and was inducted into the franchise’s Ring of Fame at FedExField in 2003. However, when Joe Gibbs returned, Tyer rejoined “Coach Joe” as Washington’s Director of Sports Medicine. He served with Gibbs (2004-07) and Jim Zorn’s first season 2008, before retiring in January 2009.

When the Washington Football Team lost its head trainer in 2021, Ryan Vermillion, due to a criminal investigation, resulting in his being placed on administrative leave on Oct. 4, 2021, the team, in desperate need with several injuries, contacted Tyer, still retired. He rose to the occasion, volunteered and served the remainder of the season.

The 17 recipients for 2023 will be recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame with an evening reception on June 28. There will also be an awards luncheon the following day, which will be hosted by Dan Fouts, the former San Diego Chargers HOF quarterback.

 

 

 

Remembering former Washington GM Bobby Beathard, 1937-2023

We remember Bobby Beathard. His legacy in Washington, like Joe Gibbs, is unmatched.

Bobby Beathard died at his home in Franklin, Tennessee, on January 30. He was 86.

Beathard worked for the Washington Redskins as general manager from 1978-88 and then the San Diego Chargers (1990-2000).

[Commanders Wire will focus on Beathard’s time as Washington GM]

George Allen had a winning record in all of his seven seasons (1971-77) as head coach and general manager. However, it came with a price. Beathard was hired as GM because Allen had traded away the future for the present (Allen’s present). In his exuberance to win now, he so often traded away too much for aging veterans.

Beathard took on a huge challenge as Washington did not even possess a draft choice in the first five rounds of the 1978 draft. The next draft was even worse, owning only three choices in the first ten rounds.

Yet, Beathard managed to scout well enough to select in the 1979 draft, Don Warren (4th rd), Rich Milot (7th rd) and Monte Coleman (11th rd).

In his third draft, he finally had a first-round choice (18th), and with it, he selected Art Monk who became a Hall-of-Fame wide receiver.

In 1981, Beathard hit it out of the park… several times!

First, he hired San Diego Chargers Offensive Coordinator Joe Jackson Gibbs to be the next head coach of the Redskins. He chose Gibbs, though Gibbs had not previously been a head coach at any level.

Secondly, his 1981 draft remains far and away the best in franchise history. He traded down from No.9 overall to No. 20 and selected Mark May. He traded a round-two choice to Baltimore for running back Joe Washington. He selected future HOF guard Russ Grimm in round three. Dexter Manley was his selection in round five. In round eight, he grabbed Charlie Brown, and in round nine, he seized on Darryl Grant. Concluding his draft, he took Clint Didier in round 12.  What a draft!

If that wasn’t enough, following the draft, he then signed an undrafted free-agent offensive lineman, Joe Jacoby.

After 1981, Beathard most often would trade away first-round choices for proven veterans while building the depth of his roster with players from the lower rounds and undrafted free agents.

Trading away some choices brought him veterans such as George Rogers, Terry Orr, Raleigh McKenzie, Wilber Marshall and Gerald Riggs.

With choices he kept, he drafted Darrell Green, Vernon Dean, Charles Mann, Kelvin Bryant, Jay Schroeder, Barry Wilburn, Dean Hamel, Markus Koch,  Alvin Walton, Mark Rypien, Kurt Gouveia, Brian Davis, Ed Simmons, Timmy Smith, Chip Lohmiller and Stan Humphries.

When the USFL folded, and there was a supplemental draft, Beathard selected Tony Zendajas, Gary Clark and Clarence Verdin. Beathard then sent a third-round pick to the Patriots for Ricky Sanders.

Two other notable trades were when he sent flashy running back/returner Mike Oliphant to the Cleveland Browns for steady, hard-working Earnest Byner and when he traded Jay Schroeder to the Raiders for Jim Lachey.

Finally, Beathard remarkably signed many undrafted free agents and players cut who had not been successful with another team, who actually contributed to the Redskins success in winning two Super Bowls and three NFC championships during Beathard’s tenure as Washington GM.

Such notable signings were:

Virgil Seay, Mel Kaufman, Neal Olkewicz, Nick Giaquinto, Greg Williams, Jeff Hayes, Pete Cronin, Alvin Garrett, Mike Nelms, Otis Wonsley, Todd Bowles.

Bobby Beathard’s hard work certainly brought Washington coaches, players and fans much enjoyment.

RIP, Bobby Beathard.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Remembering Washington’s first Super Bowl win part 2

Some of the numbers from Washington’s Super Bowl triumph over Miami 40 years ago.

Jan. 30, 1983 (40-year anniversary), the Washington Redskins won their first Super Bowl championship, defeating the Miami Dolphins 27-17 in Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.

This week Commanders Wire will take several looks at that first Washington Super Bowl Championship victory.

Part one

Game Highlights

Remembering some of the numbers of Super Bowl XVII:

The Dolphins, having routed the Jets 28-0 in the AFC championship, were a 3-point favorite.

Washington entered the game 11-1, while Miami was 10-2.

Miami’s head coach Don Shula was coaching in his 5th Super Bowl, while Joe Gibbs was only in his first season of playoff competition.

When Washington pulled even 10-10 late in the half, the Redskins then gave up Fulton Walker’s 98-yard kickoff return putting Miami up 17-10.

Washington absolutely shut down the Miami offense, outscoring the Dolphins 17-0 in the second half for their 27-17 win.

Washington took its first lead (20-17) in the final quarter when John Riggins ran for 43-yard touchdown.

Many actually forget, but Washington drove again and scored when Joe Theismann rolled right and found Charlie Brown from six yards for the final 27-17 margin.

The Redskins defense held the Dolphins to a mere 9 first downs and 176 total yards from scrimmage.

Washington pounded the Dolphins on the ground all day, rushing 52 times for 276 yards, 166 by John Riggins, voted Super Bowl MVP.

John Riggins’ 38 rushing carries remains a Super Bowl game record.

John Riggins’ 166 rushing yards set a new Super Bowl game record. It has since been surpassed by Marcus Allen (191) in SB XVIII and Timmy Smith (204) SB XXII.

The Washington defense rattled Miami QB David Woodley that with the exception of his 76-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Cefalo, Woodley completed a mere 3 of 13 passes for 21 yards.

John Riggins’ run of 43 yards was actually not the longest Washington rush of the day. In the third quarter, Joe Theismann handed to John Riggins, running to his right, who then handed to Alvin Garrett, coming back to the left. Garrett gained 44 yards on the play.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Joe Theismann recalls Washington Super Bowl win 40 years ago Monday

Joe Theismann remembers Washington’s first Super Bowl win 40 years to the day.

40 years ago, Monday, Jan. 30, 1983, the Washington Redskins won their first Super Bowl Championship, defeating the Miami Dolphins 27-17 in Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

This week Commanders Wire will take several looks at that first Washington Super Bowl Championship victory.

Joe Theismann appeared this morning as a guest on the Al Galdi Podcast. Here are some of Theismann’s memories regarding SB XVII.

AG: “Do you ever get tired of talking about Super Bowl XVII? Or not really?

JT: “Oh, heavens, no!”

“That was such an incredible experience for us as a city, for us as a football team and for me personally. As kids growing up you dream about the opportunity to play in a Super Bowl.”

“To be a part of that football team and a part of that team in that era, it was an incredible run for us as a football team (Theismann played for Joe Gibbs 1981-85). To have the chance to be the quarterback for that football team was a fun ride.”

“I described ourselves as a bunch of characters with character. Tremendous different personalities, but when it came time to play, everybody absolutely did everything they could for one another.”

Galdi played the audio from NFL Films of Theismann talking with the team prior to kickoff.

“We’ve worked harder than anybody to get here. Nobody can beat us. And it’s worth 70,000 dollars and a big ring!”

Regarding the fourth quarter, 4th & 1 John Riggins 43-yard touchdown run:

“I remember it like it was yesterday. It was 4th and 1, it was 70 Chip.”

“Clint Didier started in motion, stopped and came back. As I handed the ball to John, I had the best seat in the house. I hand the ball to John, the hole opens up, I said, ‘we got the first down’ and Don McNeal hits him. It looked like butter just falling off of a hot knife. McNeal just sort of slid down his side, and then J.R. took off.”

“I saw Clint Didier running down the field, and I was running down the field yelling at Clint, ‘Don’t clip anybody! Don’t clip anybody!’ J.R. gets in the end zone and it is an unbelievable play.”

I have included the play with the call from the legendary Frank Herzog on the Redskins Radio broadcast.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

Remembering this week 40 years ago in Washington NFL history

We continue our look back at the 1982 season when Joe Gibbs, Joe Theisman, John Riggins, The Hogs and Dexter Manley ruled Washington.

40 years ago, the 1982 Washington Redskins became the first team in franchise history to win a Super Bowl.

This very week, 40 years ago, NFL fans were so excited to see their teams get back in action.

The 1982 season had begun with the first two weeks of the season having a dark cloud of suspicion over them. Each day of those two weeks, analysts and the press wondered aloud and through the print media whether the NFL would actually see a strike take place during the season.

The prior season, Joe Gibbs’ first in Washington had started horribly, as Gibbs brought in his Air Coryell offense for Joe Theismann to orchestrate. However, Washington lost their first five games, and Gibbs would later say he actually kept thinking if he would be fired before he ever won his first game as an NFL head coach.

But the 1981 team rebounded as Gibbs determined to go more with his personnel, shape more of a ball-control offense using running backs John Riggins and Joe Washington. The team won eight of their last eleven games, finishing 8-8.

Having drafted such players in 1981 as Mark May, Russ Grimm, Dexter Manley, Darryl Grant and Clint Didier and signed Joe Jacoby as an undrafted free agent, the 1982 season was one of promise and hope.

The season had opened Sept. 12 with Washington the underdog traveling to Philadelphia who had been to the Super Bowl in 1980 and the playoffs in 1979 and 1981. Trailing 27-14 entering the final quarter, the Redskins roared back, winning 37-34 in overtime.

Week 2 saw Washington again a road team, this time at Tampa Bay. Joe Gibbs was returning to Tampa for the first time as a head coach. Gibbs had earlier been on the Bucs staff under John McKay.

In a game that saw heavy amounts of rain, Washington slid their way to a 21-13 victory in Tampa. Washington was 2-0, a strike was officially announced the next night and the nation lost the NFL for the next 57 days. NFL games in weeks three through ten were lost.

November 21, Washington would be back in action, but because of the scheduled game being in New York against the Giants, Redskins fans were still unable to see their favorite team play at home in RFK. Washington would not play a game at RFK in the 1982 season until November 28, their second game of the season against the Eagles.

40 years ago this week, Washington was 2-0, coming off of an NFL Strike, about to begin for a second time a season when the franchise would go on to win its first Super Bowl (XVII).

Ron Rivera is getting ‘tired of it’

Ron Rivera is “tired” of all the negative stories surrounding the franchise. He’s absolutely right. How does he think longtime fans feel?

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=none image=https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera is frustrated, and understandably so.

At the NFL owner’s meetings, Rivera expressed his frustrations on the franchise often being the target of bad news. “Quite honestly I’m tired of it, I really am,” Rivera said via John Keim of ESPN.

“But the only way to fix it is winning, and that’s the truth.”

No doubt, Rivera must be tired of hearing about the inappropriate culture at Ashburn, prior to his arrival. But also following his arrival, his first Washington football team was called the uh, lame, “Washington Football Team.” His owner in February was accused on national television of inappropriately touching a woman not his wife. After the allegations, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced another investigation into the sexual climate of the franchise.

I feel for Ron Rivera, I really do. No one would want the past to continually be brought up in your face, when you are attempting to change the culture yourself since your arrival in 2020.

Coach Ron has been here two years, but I must ask, how does he think we feel? I have been following the franchise passionately since the 1969 season.

I grew up watching George Allen have winning years in each of his seven seasons (1971-77). Joe Gibbs made us proud to be Washington fans, during his tenure (1981-1992) coach Joe had one losing season in 12 years! In those years, Coach Joe experienced eight playoff births, five NFC title games, four Super Bowl appearances and three Super Bowl championships.

In the 29 seasons that have followed, Washington has only been to the playoffs six times (1999, 2005, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2020). And Gibbs came back for a four-year stint and led Washington to two of those playoff appearances.

I’m tired of the franchise for the past 29 seasons having 18 losing seasons. I’m tired of the franchise for the past 29 seasons winning only two playoff games.

I’m tired of the owner having meddled in signing overpriced, unmotivated free agents, disrespecting the football scouts, coaches and front office to draft a quarterback because his son went to the same high school.

I’m tired of the owner creating a culture that runs off entirely too many good hard-working employees on the business side, being an embarrassment for the sexually inappropriate culture he did nothing to eliminate. And now I am tired of hearing he himself may have inappropriately touched Tiffani Johnston.

I believe Ron Rivera is sincerely tired of his two years with the team. How much more must many of us be tired after the last 29 years?