2008 Washington Redskins

Behind new head coach Jim Zorn, the Redskins are rested and ready for a more successful 2008 season. Pro Bowl star Clinton Portis anchors a solid offense that is making progress under second-year QB Jason Campbell (with a strong backup in Todd Collins.) The Skins have retooled at wide receiver, with big draft picks Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly emerging as future stars. Tight end Chris Cooley promises to build on last year’s Pro Bowl appearance with another gritty multipurpose contribution. And Santana Moss figures to have a big year if the Redskins are going to contend. On defense, the Redskins continue to rely on their feared secondary. The team will need to transcend the tragic loss of Sean Taylor and fight for some wins in a very, very tough NFC division.

Some Washington Redskins history: George Preston Marshall founded the Redskins franchise in 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts, as the Boston Braves, sharing Braves Field with the Boston Braves baseball team. A year later, Marshall moved his team to Fenway Park and changed the team's name to the Redskins. The Redskins were not profitable, and even an Eastern Division championship in 1936 failed to excite Boston fans, so in 1937 Marshall moved the club to Washington, D.C.

The team found success in its new home. From 1936 to 1942 head coach Ray Flaherty led the Redskins to seven consecutive winning records and three appearances in the NFL Championship Game. Washington faced the Chicago Bears in all three contests, posting narrow victories in 1937 and 1942 and suffering a 73-0 defeat in 1940. During the 1937 title match Flaherty introduced the screen pass.

The Redskins suffered a 25-season playoff drought from 1946 through 1970, posting just four winning records and changing head coaches 11 times during that span. Noteworthy individual achievements during this period included wide receiver Bobby Mitchell's yardage championships in 1962 and 1963 and league-leading performances in 1966 and 1967 by quarterback Sonny Jurgensen and wide receiver Charley Taylor.

In 1971 former Los Angeles Rams coach George Allen took over as head coach of the Redskins. He dramatically reshaped the team through a series of trades for seasoned veteran players. The retooled Redskins, known as the Over the Hill Gang, recorded nine victories, the most by a Washington team in 29 years. In his seven seasons with the club, Allen produced seven winning records, five playoff appearances, and one trip to the Super Bowl. Washington's Super Bowl appearance was in 1973, when the Miami Dolphins defeated them 14-7.

In 1981 former San Diego Chargers assistant coach Joe Gibbs was hired to improve the Redskins' passing game. In his 12 seasons as Washington's head coach, Gibbs delivered ten winning records, eight playoff appearances, and three Super Bowl championships. Washington defeated Miami 27-17 in Super Bowl XVII, led by John Riggins's Super Bowl-record 166 rushing yards. The following year they returned to the Super Bowl but lost to the Los Angeles Raiders 38-9. At Super Bowl XXII in 1988, the Redskins beat the Denver Broncos 42-10.

In 1991 Gibbs assembled one of the most explosive offensive units in NFL history. Quarterback Mark Rypien led the NFC in yardage, and running back Earnest Byner and wide receivers Gary Clark and Art Monk each topped the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Washington also fielded the second-toughest defensive unit in the league. After the season the Redskins routed the Buffalo Bills 37-24 in Super Bowl XXVI.