Tag: Super Bowl Champions

Washington’s 1991 team ranked as greatest Super Bowl champion of all time

It’s about time that 1991 team is recognized for its greatness.

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII to become the first repeat champion in nearly 20 years. Kansas City is officially a dynasty with three Super Bowl championships in the past five seasons.

Where do the 2023 Chiefs rate among the greatest Super Bowl champions ever?

ESPN’s Aaron Schatz recently ranked the top 57 Super Bowl champions ahead of Sunday’s game using the DVOA metric. Once the game ended, Schatz updated his rankings.

Where were the 2023 Chiefs? No. 42.

Before we reveal No. 1, let’s give a brief explanation of what the DVOA metric is, courtesy of FTN:

DVOA measures a team’s efficiency by comparing success on every single play to a league average based on situation and opponent.

That’s just the ultra-short version of the DVOA. FTN’s website has a much more in-depth explanation.

Back to the list. No. 1 is none other than the 1991 Washington Redskins. We’ll allow Schatz’s own words to explain why Washington came in on top of the list.

Here’s the team that DVOA says is the greatest of all time. Washington led the NFL in points scored and was second in points allowed. It lost by a field goal to the Cowboys after an 11-0 start, then sat its starters in the second half of the final week and lost to the Eagles by two points. That was it for losses.

For the 1991 season, Washington was second in offensive DVOA behind San Francisco, third on defense behind Philadelphia and New Orleans and first on special teams. But what’s more impressive is where Washington ranks in DVOA out of 1,309 teams going all the way back to 1981. It’s the only team to rank in the top 50 for all three phases. (Specifically, Washington is 50th in offense, 36th in defense and 19th in special teams.)

Washington won games during the regular season by scores like 45-0 (Detroit), 34-0 (Phoenix) and 23-0 (Philadelphia). It beat the Falcons 56-17 and the Rams 27-6. Then came the playoffs. A rematch with the No. 8 Falcons ended with a score of 24-7. The Lions made it to the NFC championship despite ranking only 13th in DVOA, only to be pummeled by Washington, 41-10. Washington had a 37-10 lead over the No. 4 Bills with half of the fourth quarter left in Super Bowl XXVI, eventually winning the Lombardi Trophy 37-24 after two late Bills touchdowns sandwiched around a successful onside kick.

This isn’t Schatz cherry-picking the winner. This isn’t a case of Schatz drawing a team from a hat. Schatz uses in-depth data to show Washington’s greatness.

Washington fans have always believed the 1991 team was shortchanged in terms of its greatness. Everything on that team was elite, from the coaching to the offensive line to the running game, passing game, special teams and defense. It’s a shame that era of Washington football doesn’t have more members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which is a discussion for another day.

Is Joe Gibbs the most underrated coach in NFL history?

Michael Vick recently made the case for Andy Reid as the greatest coach of all time. Why is Joe Gibbs never even in the conversation as one of the greatest?

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The Washington NFL franchise has been in existence for over 90 years. One of the NFL’s flagship franchises, the Commanders, have been in a downward spiral since Daniel Snyder purchased the team in 1999. However, good news is on the horizon, with Josh Harris set to take over as Washington’s new owner later this month.

One of the bright spots of Snyder’s tenure was bringing legendary Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs out of retirement for four seasons. While Gibbs didn’t reach the same levels of success from his first 12-year tenure with Washington, he did lead the franchise to two playoff berths in four seasons, which is pretty remarkable in retrospect.

In his first 12 years as head coach of Washington, Gibbs led the team to four Super Bowls and three championships. And he did it with three different quarterbacks, another remarkable achievement, considering the QB/coach combinations that have dominated the NFL over the last 20 years.

Recently, former NFL quarterback Michael Vick said Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, Vick’s former head coach during his time in Philadelphia, could be the greatest coach of all time.

“I was actually thinking this year like, after Andy won the Super Bowl, he only got two, but he went to like four or five NFC Championship Games every year y’all was in the AFC Championship Game,” Vick said per Chiefs Wire.

“He might be the greatest coach of all time. You don’t have to win championships to be considered. You know, I understand Belichick and Brady and that whole dynamic. But coach [Reid] did it in Philly, and then he doing it in KC. I’m always shout out coach like I love that man to death; like for real, literally I do anything for him.”

It’s difficult to argue against Reid or Bill Walsh. But, understandably, Bill Belichick stands atop the mountain.

But what about Gibbs?

We’ve made the argument for Gibbs over and over that he doesn’t receive the respect he’s earned. He’s a Hall of Famer in two sports. His first run with Washington was the most successful period in the franchise’s long history. What he did during his second stint, considering everything around him, was also impressive. Yet, he’s never mentioned as possibly the greatest coach in NFL history.

Whether you believe he is or not, he certainly belongs in the conversation.

Longtime NFL writer Clark Judge recently heard Vick’s comments and wrote a column making the case for Gibbs to be mentioned as one of the greatest.

Here’s an excerpt from Judge’s column:

He may be one of the greatest of all time, too … except nobody makes that argument. But you could. And it has nothing to do with numbers like all-time victories or winning percentage and everything to do with his quarterbacks. Because Joe Gibbs accomplished something no other modern-era head coach has.

He won three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks, none of whom is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Judge listed all of Gibbs’ accomplishments, and while he didn’t necessarily say Gibbs is the greatest coach of all time, he said he’s one of them.

Joe Gibbs was a magnificent head coach who made Washington first in war, first in peace and first in the NFL. He may not have been the greatest coach of all time, but I know this: He’s one of them. Andy Reid is, too, but his story isn’t complete, and we don’t know how it ends. But we do know about Joe Gibbs … and one suggestion for Michael Vick.

Washington fans can’t agree on anything. One thing Washington fans can agree on is their love and respect for Joe Gibbs. It spans generations.

Why isn’t Gibbs mentioned when these subjective rankings or debates occur around this time every year? Is it recency bias? Is it because Washington has been so bad in recent years that Gibbs and the franchise’s success are a distant memory?

Regardless of the answer, it’s unfortunate. Gibbs is not only of the greatest football coaches of all time, he’s also one of the greatest human beings.

A depressing stat defines the Commanders over the last 30 years

A sad and depressing look in comparison to the other 31 NFL franchises.

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Much of the Washington Commanders’ fall from the NFL’s elite has been blamed on owner Daniel Snyder. While that is true, Washington’s fall began before Snyder bought the team in 1999.

Washington last won a Super Bowl in the 1991 season after going 14-2. That team should be considered one of the best in NFL history. The then-Redskins made the playoffs again the following season, but legendary coach Joe Gibbs retired in March 1993, and the franchise was never the same.

Over the next six seasons before Snyder bought the team, Washington won an average of six games per season and missed the playoffs each year. Under Snyder, things have gotten worse, much worse, for various reasons.

In looking back at that 1991 season, The 33rd Team posted a graphic Sunday showing just how far Washington has fallen. That 1991 season was the last time Washington won 11 games or more. Even worse, every other NFL franchise has won at least 11 games since then. The team next closest to Washington: the Jacksonville Jaguars, who last won 11 games in 2007.

Yes, the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals and even the Houston Texans have won 11 games since Washington did it last.

Washington has won at least 10 games three times over the last 32 years [1999, 2005 & 2012]. One of those years [2005], it was Gibbs who led Washington to 10 wins when he came out of retirement for four seasons.

At some point, the Commanders will have to win 11 games again. Remarkably, the franchise never won more than 10 games in Snyder’s 24 seasons as owner.

It’s an embarrassing statistic for fans who’ve continued to support the franchise. But better times should be ahead — and soon.

Comparing Dan Snyder’s record as owner vs. Jack Kent Cooke’s time as Washington owner

What a difference a change in ownership made for Washington.

If you want one specific number showing the decline of Washington’s NFL franchise, look no further than owner Daniel Snyder’s 24-year record.

Under Snyder’s direction, Washington is 56 games under .500 — a 164-220-2 record — with a 2-6 mark in the playoffs. That means Snyder’s teams have made the playoffs once every four years with a predictable result.

Meanwhile, Jack Kent Cooke, Washington’s legendary owner from 1969 until his death in April 1997, the franchise had a record of 250-169-3. That’s a remarkable 81 games over .500. To put the numbers further into perspective, Peter King of NBC Sports, in his weekly column, compared Cooke’s final 24 years as owner, in which Washington was 53 games over .500 to Snyder’s overall record.

King counted Washington’s record in 1997 and 1998 because although Cooke died before the 1997 season, his estate still owned Washington.

When Snyder took over in 1999, he actually inherited a good team. But in true Snyder fashion, he thought he knew better and began to tear it down with his ill-conceived free-agent spending spree in 2000.

Oh, care to guess Cooke’s record as owner in the playoffs? The Squire’s teams were 18-10 with three Super Bowl championships. You know, the same Super Bowl trophies Snyder would always show off in press conferences back when he made a splashy signing.

Under Cooke, Washington made the playoffs, on average, every other season.

Washington, now called the Commanders, will be sold soon. A group led by Josh Harris is expected to become Washington’s next owner. A native Washingtonian, Harris knows all too what the franchise should look like.

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Ravens hire an offensive coordinator and it’s not Eric Bieniemy

What does this mean for Washington?

The Baltimore Ravens found an offensive coordinator Tuesday, and it’s not Kansas City OC Eric Bieniemy.

The Ravens named Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken as their new offensive coordinator. Monken has spent the past three seasons with the Bulldogs, the two-time defending national champions.

What does this mean for the Washington Commanders? That’s one less team Washington must compete against for a chance to hire Bieniemy. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN over the weekend, the Ravens and Commanders appeared to be the biggest threats to hiring Bieniemy away from the Chiefs.

Washington reached out to Bieniemy to set up an interview Monday morning, the day after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl.

The Ravens also wanted to speak with Bieniemy, but after waiting until after the Super Bowl and interviewing 14 candidates overall, according to head coach John Harbaugh, Baltimore hired Monken.

The Commanders interviewed former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman on Tuesday.

Bieniemy is believed to be Washington’s top target. However, with head coach Ron Rivera facing an uncertain 2023 due to potential new ownership, the question is, does Bieniemy want more stability?

One thing is certain; the Ravens are no longer a threat in potentially luring Bieniemy away from the Super Bowl champions. While that doesn’t mean Bieniemy is interested in Washington, it doesn’t hurt.

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Legendary former Washington GM Bobby Beathard dies at 86

Bobby Beathard is one of only a few general managers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He led Washington to two Super Bowl championships.

The most influential executive in the history of the NFL’s Washington franchise, Bobby Beathard, died at 86 on Monday.

Beathard played college football at Cal Poly before a brief stint in the NFL as a player. He was on the preseason roster of the then-Washington Redskins [1959] and San Diego Chargers [1961]. Interestingly enough, those would be the teams Beathard would spend the majority of his executive career with.

Beathard began his scouting career in 1963 with the Kansas City Chiefs. In 1968, he moved to the Atlanta Falcons, where he spent the next three years before landing a promotion with the Miami Dolphins in 1972 as the director of player personnel. The Dolphins won two Super Bowls while Beathard served in his role, including the famous 1972 team that went undefeated.

It was in 1978 that Beathard landed with Washington as the general manager. He built rosters that went to three Super Bowls, winning two, and was responsible for drafting multiple future Hall of Famers, such as Darrell Green, Art Monk and Russ Grimm. He is also the GM who hired Joe Gibbs as Washington’s head coach in 1981.

Beathard was Washington’s general manager for 10 years before resigning in 1989. After taking a year off, Beathard accepted the role as general of the San Diego Chargers in 1990 for 10 seasons.

Beathard built a Chargers roster that went to the first Super Bowl in their franchise history in 1994. He retired in 2000.

After retirement, Beathard earned spots in Washington’s Ring of Fame, the Chargers Hall of Fame and the Cal Poly Hall of Fame. In 2018, he received the ultimate honor as he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Fittingly, it was Gibbs who was there to introduce Beathard.

Beathard’s son Jeff is a national scout with the Washington Commanders, and his grandson C.J. just finished his sixth NFL season in 2022 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

We’ll have more on the life and legacy of Bobby Beathard.

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PHOTOS: Some of the top images from Dave Butz’s NFL career

We look back at some of the top images from Dave Butz’s legendary career.

It’s been a sad year for fans of the Washington NFL franchise. Over the past 12 months, Sam Huff, Charley Taylor, Brig Owens, Dwayne Haskins and Joe Patton passed away.

Sadly, on Friday, another franchise icon died. Dave Butz, who spent 14 of his 16 NFL seasons in Washington, died at the age of 72.

For any of the fans who had the pleasure of remembering Washington’s glory years, Butz is remembered fondly. Butz’s size and helmet are the first things you noticed when seeing him, but when the game began, Butz, along with Dexter Manley, Charles Mann and Darryl Grant would dominate the opposing offense.

As we remember Butz, let’s take a look back at some of the top images from his NFL career.

Washington Super Bowl Coach stands alone

As Sean McVay and Zac Taylor look to win their first Super Bowl Sunday, we shall never forget Joe Gibbs won three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks.

How is it that one coach stands out in contrast to all Super Bowl champion coaches?

Vince Lombardi won the first two Super Bowls with Bart Starr as the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback. Don Shula and Miami won two with Bob Griese. Tom Landry steered Dallas to two Super Bowl trophies with Roger Staubach at the helm. Chuck Noll and the Pittsburgh Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s with Terry Bradshaw behind center.

Tom Flores and the Raiders won two with Jim Plunkett as the leader of the offense. Bill Walsh was the head coach with Joe Montana the field general for three Super Bowl crowns for the 49ers. The 49ers won two more with head coach George Seifert coaching and Montana and Steve Young as signal-callers.

Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer both coached the Cowboys to Super Bowl rings with Troy Aikman taking the snaps from center. Denver’s Mike Shanahan as head coach and John Elway in the pocket for the Broncos won it all twice.

Tom Coughlin’s NY Giants took the crown twice with Eli Manning the on-field general. Last but certainly not least, New England’s Bill Belichick won six rings with Tom Brady as the quarterback.

Seifert is the only one above to win a second Super Bowl with a second quarterback (Montana and Young).

There is also Marv Levy and the Bills who went to multiple Super Bowls with Jim Kelly under center — and lost. Likewise, Dan Reeves led Elway and the Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances — they also lost all three.

Yet, there is one other coach to win more than multiple Super Bowls with more than one quarterback, Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins. Gibbs not only won more than one Super Bowl with more than one quarterback, he accomplished the feat three times!

Gibbs led Washington to Super Bowl trophies with Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien winning Super Bowls XVII, XXII and XXVI.

Starr, Griese, Staubach, Bradshaw, Montana, Young, Aikman and Elway are already in the Hall of Fame. Without question Brady will be in the HOF and Eli Manning a 2-time SB MVP is likely to be elected to the HOF. Only Jim Plunkett is likely to not make the HOF.

By contrast, Theismann was only an All-Pro once (1983), and Williams and Rypien were never All-Pro. Rypien had a great year only in 1991. Williams though never even a pro-bowler, was a veteran leader and had huge moments like the playoff win at Chicago (1987) and a nearly perfect 2nd quarter in Super Bowl XXII, earning the MVP.

Joe Gibbs is distinctive among Super Bowl coaches with multiple wins, doing so with three non-Hall of Fame quarterbacks.  Hats off to Coach Joe, who is remarkably now age 81. The Washington franchise and fans were certainly blessed to have enjoyed Joe Jackson Gibbs as head coach.

Joe Gibbs talks Washington’s new name on the anniversary of team’s last Super Bowl win

Joe Gibbs spoke on Wednesday, talking about the 1991 Super Bowl champions, Ron Rivera and the pending name change.

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Joe Gibbs is the greatest coach in Washington history. Joe Gibbs is the most successful individual in Washington’s franchise history. And Joe Gibbs is the most beloved person in Washington history.

On the 30th anniversary of Washington’s last Super Bowl win, the legendary head coach joined “BMitch & Finlay” on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., and looked back at Washington’s 1991 team.

There were plenty of good stories from Gibbs. He joked with BMitch (Brian Mitchell), then a second-year running back and return man. He told stories on some of Washington’s greatest characters. And, in typical Gibbs fashion, he mentioned the words “super smart” and “guts” on more than one occasion.

He joked about the Detroit Lions — a 12-4 team in 1991— that Washington beat by a combined 86-10 score in the team’s two games, including the NFC championship. Detroit’s coach at the time, Wayne Fontes, was a good friend of Gibbs, and Gibbs would apologize to him when the two talked, telling him, “you guys bring out the best in us.”

While Gibbs was his usual happy self, he also made sure everyone knew that team was much more than him or Washington’s high-powered offense. Gibbs praised the players, defensive coordinator Richie Petitbon, special teams and the fans.

And, before Gibbs finished his interview, Finlay asked him if the upcoming name change was bittersweet. Gibbs offered a thoughtful and, as expected, positive response.

I think it’s two things: Will it be a little bit, bittersweet? Yes. Because everything I had, I grew up in North Carolina, and the only football team we could get on TV was the Redskins. I grew up kind of never thinking I’d ever have a chance to coach them. Everything in my house is Redskins. And I think everybody there that is a fan, that’s part of our history. But also, I think for our fans and all of us that love the Redskins, and I feel like I am the biggest Redskins’ fan in the world. Whatever that name is, we are Washington football fans, and we are going to get behind it.

Gibbs also discussed head coach Ron Rivera:

And I think right now with Ron being there, I really feel like Ron is the coach that can get us going. We just need to get the things around him that help him. Think about all the things they’ve went through the last two years.

Finally, Gibbs spoke on his love for the franchise, where between two stints, he spent 16 years as the head coach.

We’re gonna rally, all of us, whatever the name is, we’re gonna rally behind that name. We are Washington football fans. I think it’s the greatest sports franchise in the world. I believe that. I think it’s got a solid base of fans that love that team. It’s the only thing that unites that city. It’s the greatest city in the world to be a part of. I love that. 

This almost 30-minute interview was a welcomed trip down memory lane for longtime Washington fans. The past 30 years have caused much pain and anguish, leaving many to abandon the franchise they once loved. But the one thing any current or lapsed Washington fan can agree on is their love and respect for Gibbs.

“We’re all excited about the new name,” Gibbs said. “Let’s go.”

We agree, Coach. Let’s go.