The professional football franchise based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area holds one of the most complex, decorated, and controversial legacies in American sports. Founded in 1932 as the Boston Braves before becoming the Boston Redskins a year later and moving to the nation's capital in 1937, the team captured five NFL championships—including three Super Bowl titles under head coach Joe Gibbs—while bearing a moniker that grew into a focal point of intense cultural debate. Following decades of protests, legal battles over trademarks, and shifting corporate sponsorships, the franchise retired the name in 2020, playing two seasons as the Washington Football Team before rebranding as the Washington Commanders in 2022.
Understanding this evolution requires looking beyond standard team records. Digital archives, historical documents, and legal files preserve the dual narrative of a storied gridiron powerhouse and the systemic controversies that fundamentally reshaped its identity.
Origins and Early Boston Era
The franchise originated in 1932 when owner George Preston Marshall established a National Football League franchise in Boston, initially named the Boston Braves and sharing Braves Field with the city's baseball team. The following year, Marshall moved the team to Fenway Park and changed the name to the Boston Redskins.
While Marshall publicly claimed the name honored head coach William "Lone Star" Dietz—who claimed Sioux heritage—historical consensus and contemporary reports indicate the change was primarily implemented to avoid confusion with the baseball team. Fan support in Boston remained lukewarm, prompting Marshall to relocate the operation south to Washington, D.C., in 1937. For another perspective on this event, see the latest update from Reuters.
Relocation to D.C. and Early Championships
Upon arriving in Washington, the team quickly established local roots. In 1937, rookie quarterback Sammy Baugh led the Redskins to an NFL Championship victory against the Chicago Bears. Baugh revolutionized the quarterback position, excelling as a passer, punter, and defensive back.
Marshall managed the franchise with an eye for entertainment, creating one of the league's first dedicated marching bands and commissioning the team fight song, "Hail to the Redskins". However, Marshall's tenure also included a deeply troubled legacy regarding civil rights. The Redskins remained the last NFL team to integrate, holding out until 1962 under heavy pressure from the federal government and the Kennedy administration, which threatened to revoke their lease at D.C. Stadium (later renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium).
The Glory Years: Gibbs and the Super Bowl Era
After decades of mixed results and a lengthy playoff drought through the 1950s and 1960s, the franchise experienced its most successful era under head coach Joe Gibbs, who took over in 1981.
- Super Bowl XVII (January 1983): Defeated the Miami Dolphins 27–17, anchored by running back John Riggins and his iconic 43-yard touchdown run on fourth down.
- Super Bowl XXII (January 1988): Routed the Denver Broncos 42–10, featuring a historic 35-point second quarter led by backup quarterback Doug Williams, who became the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
- Super Bowl XXVI (January 1992): Overwhelmed the Buffalo Bills 37–24 to cap a dominant 14-2 regular season, widely regarded as one of the most complete teams in NFL history.
During this period, the team's offensive line—affectionately known as The Hogs—became a defining symbol of toughness and cohesion, setting a standard matched by few units in league history.
The Name Controversy and Evolution
As early as 1972, Native American leaders, including representatives from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), met with team executives to request a name and logo change, arguing that the term was a historical racial slur. For decades, team ownership—including Marshall and later Jack Kent Cooke—refused to alter the identity.
When billionaire Daniel Snyder purchased the team in 1999, he famously asserted that the team would never change its name. This stance triggered years of heightened legal activism, including trademark cancellation petitions and widespread editorial boycotts by major publications.
The 2020 Rebranding Catalyst
Resistance to the name reached a tipping point in the summer of 2020 amid nationwide social justice movements. Major corporate sponsors, led by FedEx (which held naming rights to the stadium), Nike, and PepsiCo, faced public pressure and threatened to pull financial support unless the franchise dropped the moniker.
On July 13, 2020, the organization officially retired the Redskins name and logo. The team played the 2020 and 2021 seasons as the Washington Football Team before unveiling the Washington Commanders identity in February 2022. Under new ownership group led by Josh Harris starting in 2023, the franchise continues to distance itself from the controversies of the Snyder era while planning a future return to the historic RFK stadium site.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the franchise change its name from Redskins?
The team officially retired the name on July 13, 2020. It competed as the Washington Football Team for two seasons before adopting the Commanders name in February 2022.
How many Super Bowls did the franchise win under the old name?
The franchise won three Super Bowls under the Redskins name: Super Bowl XVII (1982 season), Super Bowl XXII (1987 season), and Super Bowl XXVI (1991 season). They also appeared in two others (Super Bowls VII and XVIII).
Why was the original name considered controversial?
Critics and Native American advocacy groups argued that the term functioned historically as a racial slur linked to bounty hunting and colonial violence, making its use as a sports mascot derogatory and psychologically damaging.
Who owned the team during the name change?
Daniel Snyder owned the franchise when the name was retired in 2020. He later sold the team in July 2023 to a partnership led by Josh Harris.
