George Preston Marshall Ownership

Lore & Background

However, Marshall's legacy is deeply marred by his staunch segregationist policies. Despite claims of being an early integrator, he was not the first owner to sign an African-American player in 1946 (Kenny Washington signed with the Rams that year); Washington's first African-American player to actually play was John Nisby in 1962 (acquired earlier that year), not Bobby Mitchell (who was acquired via trade under league pressure and public outcry). This contradiction—building a championship dynasty while excluding talent based on race—remains a central, painful chapter in the club's history.

Reader's Guide

The franchise began in 1932 as the Boston Braves before moving to Washington D.C. in 1937 under Marshall's ownership. The late 1930s and early 1940s marked a golden era, with Sammy Baugh leading the team to four NFL Championships (1937, 1942, 1943, 1945). Marshall's tenure saw the transition from Griffith Stadium to D.C. Stadium in 1961. Coaching tenures during this period included Ray Flaherty, who built the foundation of success, and later Otto Graham and others who maintained competitiveness. The team faced significant cultural shifts in the late 1950s and early 1960s as pressure mounted to integrate. Marshall's resistance to signing Black players until 1962, when Bobby Mitchell was finally signed, highlighted the era's racial tensions. By the time of his death in 1969, Marshall had left an indelible mark: a championship-winning legacy intertwined with segregationist policies that would haunt the franchise for decades. His absence marked the end of an era where one man controlled every aspect of the team.

Did You Know?

• Marshall was a minority owner when the franchise was founded in 1932 as the Boston Braves; he became sole owner in 1933.
• Marshall died in 1969, after D.C. Stadium (later RFK Stadium) opened in 1961, so he did 'lock in' that stadium.