Not since 1991, when the team was still known as the Washington Redskins*, has the professional football team now called the Commanders had a 12-win season. That team went on to win Super Bowl XXVI.
Washington’s Football Team Logos, past-to-present
Not since Jack Kent Cooke (under who the team won three Super Bowls) sold the team to Daniel Snyder has the energy in Washington, D. C. toward its team been this high. Snyder’s legacy will likely have him listed among the worst owners in NFL franchise history due to his management mistakes and choices. Forced by other team owners to sell the team, Snyder eventually sold the team to a group headed by Josh Harris in 2023. Members of that group include Basketball great Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
The Harris era has begun. The last season under the Snyder-led organization yielded a pitiful 4-13 record allowing the most points and having the worst point differential in the league. The upside is that such a dismal record allowed the team to pick second in the 2024 NFL Draft. With that pick, they chose 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, LSU’s quarterback, Jayden Daniels (the first pick, going to the Chicago Bears was the 2022 Heisman winner, Caleb Williams).
The Redskins/Commanders are now headed into the playoffs. Their 12-5 record equals that of AFC North leaders the Baltimore Ravens, and surpasses those of the Houston Texans (10-7, AFC South division leaders), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7, NFC South leaders) and the Los Angeles Rams (10-7, NFC West leaders). Yet, they are only a wildcard team because division leading Philadelphia Eagles own a better record (14-3).
But no one in Washington could have dreamed the first year under the Harris regime would produce the results it has. It’s unrealistic to think that the team — whatever you want to call them — could reach, much less win the Super Bowl (only two teams have done so under first-year coaches). And ultimately, it doesn’t matter. From having dreadful teams for three decades, just having a twelve-win season is satisfying enough for this fan!
∗ The team name change and the commensurate whitewashing of history came about due to Dan Synder’s bowing to the “woke” trend that permeated the times around the COVID pandemic, despite his statement he would never do so. The name Redskins has been an issue for a number of years, even before then. It’s been said Josh Harris considered bringing back the name, but then he publicly closed the door on the possibility. Sigh.
Still, I can’t for the life of me see using “Hail to the Redskins” as the team fight song, even with lyric changes.