1983 NFC East Title Run

Lore & Background

The team secured the NFC East title with a dominant 14-2 regular season, then advanced through the playoffs by defeating the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers. Although the season ended in heartbreak with a Super Bowl XVIII loss to the Los Angeles Raiders, the 1983 campaign laid the essential groundwork for the three Super Bowl victories that would follow within six years. It was the moment Washington transitioned from a struggling franchise into a perennial powerhouse.

In Their Own Story

The cold wind whipped through RFK Stadium as Joe Theismann took the snap, his eyes scanning the field with the calm of a veteran who had seen it all before. He spotted John Riggins breaking free in the gap, the crowd roaring as the running back lowered his shoulder and drove forward, untouched. It was 1983, and for the first time in over a decade, the red and gold felt unstoppable.

Reader's Guide

The 1983 season marked the beginning of the Joe Gibbs era, a period that would see Washington transform into a dynasty. Gibbs replaced long-time coach Jack Pardee, bringing a new offensive philosophy centered on balance and power running. Key turning points included the trade for John Riggins, who immediately became the focal point of the offense, and the emergence of Joe Theismann as a franchise quarterback. Their chemistry revitalized the team's morale and performance on the gridiron. Culturally, this era shifted Washington from a mid-tier club to a divisional force. While they fell short in the playoffs against Dallas, the foundation built in 1983 directly led to NFC championships in 1986, 1987, and Super Bowl victories in 1982, 1987, and 1991.

Did You Know?

• Joe Theismann won the NFL MVP award in 1983, beating out John Riggins.
• This was Joe Gibbs' third year as head coach of Washington, having started in 1981.
• The Redskins finished with a 14-2 record in 1983, winning the division outright.