List of Washington Commanders seasons
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The Washington Commanders are a professional American football franchise based in the Washington metropolitan area. They are members of the East division in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football League (NFL). The Commanders were founded in 1932 as the Boston Braves, named after the local baseball franchise.[1] The franchise changed its name the following year to the Redskins and moved to Washington, D.C. in 1937.[1] In 2020, the team retired the controversial Redskins name and briefly played as the Washington Football Team before rebranding as the Commanders in 2022.[1]

Over 93 seasons, the Commanders have a regular season record of 641–648–29 (.497) and a playoff record of 25–21 (.543).[2] They have won three Super Bowls (XVII, XXII, and XXVI), two NFC championships, and 15 NFC East divisional titles.[2][3] Before the AFL and NFL merged in 1970,[4] Washington won two NFL Championships (1937 and 1942). They also played in and lost the 1936, 1940, 1943, and 1945 Championship games. Only six teams have appeared in more Super Bowls than Washington: the New England Patriots (11), and the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, and San Francisco 49ers (eight each), and the Kansas City Chiefs (6). Washington's five appearances are tied with the Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles.[5]
All of the franchise's championships were attained during two 10-year spans. The first period of success was from 1936 to 1945, when they went to the NFL Championship six times, winning two of them. The second period of success was from 1982 and 1991, when they appeared in the postseason seven times, captured four Conference titles, and won three Super Bowls. This period included the 1983 and 1991 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 from 1946 to 1970, 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 between 1956 to 1968 and posted their worst regular-season record in franchise history, going 1–12–1 in 1961.[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]
Seasons
| 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 | ||||||||||
| Boston Braves | |||||||||||||
| 1932 | — | — | 4th | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | George Preston Marshall | Lud Wray | — | [6] | ||
| Boston Redskins | |||||||||||||
| 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 | Lost NFL Championship (Packers) 21–6 | Ray Flaherty | — | [10] | |||
| Washington Redskins | |||||||||||||
| 1937[b] | — | East | 1st† | 8 | 3 | 0 | Won NFL Championship (1) (at Bears) 28–21 | Jack Espey | Ray Flaherty | — | [11] | ||
| 1938 | — | East | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | — | [12] | ||||
| 1939 | — | East | 2nd | 8 | 2 | 1 | — | — | [13] | ||||
| 1940 | — | East | 1st† | 9 | 2 | 0 | Lost NFL Championship (Bears) 73–0 | — | [14] | ||||
| 1941 | — | East | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | — | [15] | ||||
| 1942 | — | East | 1st† | 10 | 1 | 0 | Won NFL Championship (2) (Bears) 14–6 | — | [16] | ||||
| 1943[c] | — | East | 1st† | 6 | 3 | 1 | Won Eastern Division (at Giants) 28–0 Lost NFL Championship (at Bears) 41–21 |
Sid Carroll | Dutch Bergman | — | [17] | ||
| 1944 | — | East | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | Dudley DeGroot | — | [18] | |||
| 1945 | — | East | 1st† | 8 | 2 | 0 | Lost NFL Championship (at Rams) 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 (COY)[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 | Lost Divisional Round (at 49ers) 24–20 | George Allen | George Allen (COY)[49][30] | [50] | |||
| 1972 | NFC# | East | 1st† | 11 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Round (Packers) 16–3 Won NFC Championship (Cowboys) 26–3 Lost Super Bowl VII (vs. Dolphins) 14–7 |
Larry Brown (MVP & OPOY)[51][52] | [53] | ||||
| 1973 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 10 | 4 | 0 | Lost Divisional Round (at Vikings) 27–20 | — | [54] | ||||
| 1974 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 10 | 4 | 0 | Lost Divisional Round (at Rams) 19–10 | — | [55] | ||||
| 1975 | NFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 6 | 0 | — | Mike Thomas (OROY)[56] | [57] | ||||
| 1976 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 10 | 4 | 0 | Lost Divisional Round (at Vikings) 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 (CBPOY)[60] | [61] | ||
| 1979 | NFC | East | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | — | Jack Pardee (COY)[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 | Won First Round Playoffs (Lions) 31–7 Won Second Round Playoffs (Vikings) 21–7 Won NFC Championship (Cowboys) 31–17 Won Super Bowl XVII (3) (vs. Dolphins) 27–17 |
Joe Gibbs (COY)[30] Mark Moseley (MVP)[51] John Riggins (SBMVP)[67] Joe Theismann (WPMOY)[68] Bobby Beathard (EOY)[69] |
[70] | |||||
| 1983 | NFC# | East | 1st† | 14 | 2 | 0 | Won Divisional Round (Rams) 51–7 Won NFC Championship (49ers) 24–21 Lost Super Bowl XVIII (vs. Raiders) 38–9 |
Joe Gibbs (COY)[30] Joe Theismann (MVP & OPOY)[51][52] Bobby Beathard (EOY)[69] |
[71] | ||||
| 1984 | NFC | East | 1st† | 11 | 5 | 0 | Lost Divisional Round (Bears) 23–19 | — | [72] | ||||
| 1985 | NFC | East | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | — | — | [73] | ||||
| 1986 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 12 | 4 | 0 | Won Wild Card Round (Rams) 19–7 Won Divisional Round (at Bears) 27–13 Lost NFC Championship (at Giants) 17–0 |
— | [74] | ||||
| 1987[k] | NFC# | East | 1st† | 11 | 4 | 0 | Won Divisional Round (at Bears) 21–17 Won NFC Championship (Vikings) 17–10 Won Super Bowl XXII (4) (vs. Broncos) 42–10 |
Doug Williams (SBMVP)[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 | Won Wild Card Round (at Eagles) 20–6 Lost Divisional Round (at 49ers) 28–10 |
— | [78] | ||||
| 1991 | NFC# | East | 1st† | 14 | 2 | 0 | Won Divisional Round (Falcons) 24–7 Won NFC Championship (Lions) 41–10 Won Super Bowl XXVI (5) (vs. Bills) 37–24 |
Joe Gibbs (COY)[30] Mark Rypien (SBMVP & OPOY)[67][79] |
[80] | ||||
| 1992 | NFC | East | 3rd^ | 9 | 7 | 0 | Won Wild Card Round (at Vikings) 24–7 Lost Divisional Round (at 49ers) 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 (WPMOY & 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 | Won Wild Card Round (Lions) 27–13 Lost Divisional Round (at Buccaneers) 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 | Won Wild Card Round (at Buccaneers) 17–10 Lost Divisional Round (at Seahawks) 20–10 |
— | [95] | ||||
| 2006 | NFC | East | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | — | — | [96] | ||||
| 2007 | NFC | East | 3rd^ | 9 | 7 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Round (at Seahawks) 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 | Lost Wild Card Round (Seahawks) 24–14 | Robert Griffin III (OROY)[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 | Lost Wild 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] | |||
| Washington Football Team | |||||||||||||
| 2020 | NFC | East | 1st† | 7 | 9 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Round (Buccaneers) 31–23 | Ron Rivera | Chase Young (DROY)[111] Alex Smith (CBPOY)[60] |
[112] | |||
| 2021[l] | NFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 10 | 0 | — | Martin Mayhew | Ron Rivera | Ron Rivera (George Halas Award)[113] | [114] | ||
| Washington Commanders | |||||||||||||
| 2022 | NFC | East | 4th | 8 | 8 | 1 | — | Martin Mayhew | Ron Rivera | — | [115] | ||
| 2023 | NFC | East | 4th | 4 | 13 | 0 | — | — | [116] | ||||
| 2024 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 12 | 5 | 0 | Won Wild Card Round (at Buccaneers) 23–20 Won Divisional Round (at Lions) 45–31 Lost NFC Championship (at Eagles) 55–23 |
Adam Peters | Dan Quinn | Jayden Daniels (OROY)[56] | [117] | ||
| 2025 | NFC | East | 3rd | 5 | 12 | 0 | — | Bobby Wagner (WPMOY) | [118] | ||||
| Totals | 649 | 667 | 29 | All-time regular season record | |||||||||
| 25 | 21 | — | All-time playoff record | ||||||||||
| 674 | 689 | 29 | Combined record | ||||||||||
Footnotes
- In 1935, the NFL set the number of regular season games to 12. Prior to that, the NFL did not have a set number of games. The team only played 11 games however, as a road game against the Philadelphia Eagles was canceled due to bad weather.
- In 1937, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games from 12 to 11.
- In 1943, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games from 11 to 10.
- In 1946, the NFL expanded the number of regular season games from 10 to 11.
- In 1947, the NFL expanded the number of regular season games from 11 to 12.
- In 1961, the NFL expanded the number of regular season games from 12 to 14.
- In 1967, the NFL formed two conferences that were subdivided into two divisions. Prior to the realignment, the NFL was either divided into two divisions, two conferences, or neither.
- In 1970, the NFL merged with the American Football League (AFL) and saw the creation of the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC), with Washington being placed in the NFC East division.
- In 1978, the NFL expanded the number of regular season games from 14 to 16.
- In 1982, the regular season was shortened from 16 games to 9 due to the 1982 NFL strike.
- In 1987, the regular season was shortened from 16 games to 15 due to the 1987 NFL strike.
- In 2021, the NFL expanded the number of regular season games from 16 to 17.