A Basic History of the Washington Redskins Football Team

The Washington Redskins are a professional football team that plays in the National Football League. The Redskins play in the East Division of the National Football Conference.

The franchise was founded in 1932 when the Boston Braves became a part of the National Football League. The team changed their name to the Redskins before the 1933 season and was the Boston Redskins from 19333-1936. In 1937, the team moved away from Boston to Washington, D.C., becoming the Washington Redskins.

During the team's time playing in the NFL prior to the AFL-NFL merger, they spent time playing in the Eastern Division, the American Conference, the Eastern Conference, and the Capitol Division. After the AFL-NFL merger, the Washington Redskins began playing in the NFC East.

The Redskins have won a total of twelve Division Championships. They won the NFL East and NFC East six times each. The Redskins have won the NFC Championship five times in 1972, 1982, 1983, 1987, and 1991. They won the NFL Championship twice in 1937 and 1942.

The Washington Redskins have also won three Super Bowls for the 1982, 1987, and 1991 seasons.

During the team's time in Boston, they played in Braves Field in 1932 and in Fenway Park from 1933-1936. After moving to Washington D.C., the Redskins played in Griffith Stadium from 1937-1960. From 1961-1996, the Redskins played in RFK Stadium, which was known as D.C. Stadium from 1961-1968.

In 1997, the Redskins began playing in their current location, FedEx Field, which was known as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium from 1997-1999.

Twelve former players for the Redskins are currently enshrined in the National Football Hall of Fame. Those players are Cliff Battles, Sammy Baugh, Bill Dudley, Albert Glen Edwards, Ken Houston, Sam Huff, Sonny Jurgensen, Paul Krause, Wayne Millner, Bobby Mitchell, John Riggins, and Charley Taylor.

Former head coaches of the Redskins George Allen, Ray Flaherty, and Joe Gibbs are also all in the Hall of Fame. Gibbs is currently in his second stint coaching the team. The founder and former owner of the team, George Preston Marshall, is also in the Hall of Fame.

Sammy Baugh's number 33 is the only number officially retired by the Washington Redskins. After his number was retired, the Redskins changed their policy to not retire numbers.

While the numbers of other former greats are not officially retired, the Redskins have withheld the numbers of players including Joe Theismann, Sonny Jurgensen, and John Riggins.

The Washington Redskins are owned by Dan Snyder, and the head coach is Joe Gibbs. The official colors of the Redskins are burgundy, gold, and white.