Over their 92 seasons in the NFL, the Commanders have accumulated a record of 629 wins, 643 losses, and 29 ties, which is the thirteenth-worst all-time
regular season record among active franchises in terms of
win–loss percentage.[2] They have also made the
playoffs twenty-five times and have the ninth-best playoff record in terms of win-loss percentage with 23 wins and 20 losses.[2] The franchise has won five
NFC championships and 15 NFL divisional titles.[2]
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.[6]
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.[6] 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.[6] Washington is currently experiencing its second period of failure, which began in
1993 and continued through the entire franchise ownership of
Daniel Snyder. Since 1993, they have posted only eight winning seasons and six postseason appearances.[6]
Larry Brown (
MVPTooltip National Football League Most Valuable Player Award),[54] (
OPOYTooltip National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award)[55]
Joe Gibbs (
COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award)[32] Joe Theismann (
MVPTooltip National Football League Most Valuable Player Award),[54] (
OPOYTooltip National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award)[55] Bobby Beathard (
EOYTooltip Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year Award)[76]
Joe Gibbs (
COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award)[32] Mark Rypien (
SBMVPTooltip Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award),[74] (
OPOYTooltip National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award)[88]
Chase Young (
DROYTooltip National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award)[125] Alex Smith (
CBPOYTooltip National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award)[65]
^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 for teams to play.[10] The Redskins only played 11 games, however, as a road game against the
Philadelphia Eagles was canceled due to snow and rain.
^In 1937, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games, which had been 12 games since 1935, to 11.[10]
^In 1943, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games, which had been 11 games since 1937, to 10.[10]
^In 1946, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 10 games since 1943, to 11 games.[10]
^In 1947, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 11 games since 1946, to 12 games.[10]
^In 1961, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 12 games since 1947, to 14 games.[10]
^The franchise plays their first game at
D.C. Stadium (RFK). The Redskins lost to the Giants 24-21 in front of 37,767 fans.[39]
^The
1967 NFL season marks the first season in the league's history where the league was divided into two conferences which were subdivided into two divisions. Up to 1967, the league was either divided into two divisions, two conferences, or neither.
^The NFL underwent a realignment of teams in the
1970 season, with the Redskins moving to the NFC East division.
^At the end of the
1973 season, the Redskins and the
Cowboys finished the season with identical 10–4 records. Using the NFL's tie-breaking procedures, Dallas finished ahead of Washington in the NFC East based on better point differential in head-to-head games.[57]
^At the end of the
1976 season, the Redskins and the
St. Louis Cardinals ended the season with identical 10–4 records. Using the NFL's tie-breaking procedures, Washington finished ahead of St. Louis based on head-to-head sweep.[62]
^At the end of the
1977 season, the Redskins and the
Bears finished the season with identical 9–5 records. Using the NFL's tie-breaking procedures, Chicago finished ahead of Washington based on better net points in conference games.[62]
^In 1978, the NFL expanded its regular season schedule, which had been 14 games since 1961, to 16 games.[10]
^At the end of the
1979 season, the Redskins and the
Bears finished the season with identical 10–6 records. Using the NFL's tie-breaking procedures, Chicago finished ahead of Washington based on better net points in all games.[62]
^The
1982 NFL season was shortened from 16 games per team to 9 games because of a
players' strike. The NFL adopted a special 16-team playoff tournament; eight teams from each conference were seeded 1–8, and division standings were ignored.[72][73]
^At the end of the
1985 season, the Redskins,
Cowboys, and the
Giants finished the season with identical 10–6 records. Using the NFL's tie-breaking procedures, Dallas finished ahead of New York and Washington in the
NFC East division race based on a better head-to-head record. New York then finished ahead of Washington and
San Francisco in the NFC Wild-Card race based on a better conference record.[80]
^The
1987 NFL season was shortened from 16 games per team to 15 games because of a
players' strike. Games scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, and games of weeks four through six were played with replacement players. Striking players returned for the seventh week of the season.[83]
^At the end of the
1992 season, the Redskins and the
Packers finished the season with identical 9–7 records. Using the NFL's tie-breaking procedures, Washington finished ahead of Green Bay based on a better conference record.[90]
^The franchise plays their final game at RFK Stadium. The Redskins beat the Cowboys 37-10 on December 16, 1996. They finished 173-102-3 at RFK, including 11-1 in the playoffs.[95]
^At the end of the
1996 season, the Redskins and the
Vikings finished the season with identical 9–7 records. Using the NFL's tie-breaking procedures, Minnesota finished ahead of Washington based on a better conference record.[96]