Dick Lane

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The Commanders play their home games at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, and have a headquarters and training facility in Ashburn, Virginia. The Commanders have played more than 1,300 games and have won more than 600. Washington was among the first NFL franchises with an original fight song, 'Hail to the Redskins', which has been played by their marching band after home game touchdowns since the 1930s. The franchise won NFL championships in 1937 and 1942 and Super Bowls XVII (1982), XXII (1987), and XXXI (1991). The Commanders have finished a season as league runner-up six times, losing the 1936, 1940, 1943, and 1945 title games and Super Bowls VII (1972) and XVIII (1983). Washington has 14 NFC East division titles and 26 total playoff appearances. All of Washington's championships were attained during two 10-year spans. From 1936 to 1945, the team went to the NFL Championship six times, winning two of them under general manager Jack Espey and head coach Ray Flaherty. Washington appeared in four Super Bowls and won three under owner Jack Kent Cooke, general managers Bobby Beathard and Charley Casserly, and head coach Joe Gibbs from 1982 to 1991. From 1946 to 1970, Washington posted just four winning seasons and never reached the playoffs. They went without a single winning season from 1956 to 1968 and achieved their worst regular season record in 1961. Since their last Super Bowl victory in 1991, the team has won just five playoff games and four division titles.

In Their Own Story

The late afternoon sun glinted off the red turf at Griffith Stadium, casting long shadows across the gridiron. As the opposing quarterback dropped back to pass, Dick Lane read the play before the snap even occurred. With a burst of speed that seemed to defy physics, he closed the gap, his helmet gleaming under the lights. He didn't just break up the pass; he intercepted it with surgical precision, turning a potential drive into an instant turnover. The crowd roared as he sprinted downfield, embodying the fierce spirit of Washington football.

Reader's Guide

The franchise was founded by George Preston Marshall on July 9, 1932, in Boston, Massachusetts, as the Boston Braves. The team was renamed the Boston Redskins in 1933 and moved to Washington, D.C., in 1937. The Redskins appeared in the 1936 NFL Championship Game, losing to the Green Bay Packers. In 1937, they won their first NFL championship by defeating the Chicago Bears. The Redskins won their second championship in 1942, again defeating the Bears. In 1961, the team moved into D.C. Stadium (later renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium). In 1962, Washington became the final professional American football franchise to integrate, selecting running back Ernie Davis with the first overall pick in the 1962 NFL draft. The first African American team captain in franchise history was Bobby Mitchell. The team retired the Redskins name in 2020, played as the Washington Football Team for two seasons, and rebranded as the Commanders in 2022.

Did You Know?

• The franchise was originally named the Boston Braves in 1932, sharing Braves Field with the baseball team.
• The team's fight song 'Hail to the Redskins' has been played by their marching band after home game touchdowns since the 1930s.
• Washington won NFL championships in 1937 and 1942 and Super Bowls in 1982, 1987, and 1991.
• The first African American team captain in franchise history was Bobby Mitchell, not Dick Lane.

Franchise Origins and Relocation

The franchise traces its roots to July 1932 when businessman George Preston Marshall established a team in Boston, initially named the Braves. After struggling to find an audience in New England, where professional football was viewed as inferior to collegiate athletics, the organization underwent significant changes. The name shifted to the Redskins in 1933, and they began playing at Fenway Park. Marshall eventually concluded that Boston lacked sufficient interest, prompting a historic move to Washington, D.C., in 1937. Upon arrival, the team shared Griffith Stadium with the Senators and immediately found success, defeating the New York Giants in their inaugural home game. This momentum carried them to their first division title and an NFL championship victory against the Chicago Bears that same year.

Early Championships and Historic Defeats

The team's early years were defined by dramatic highs and lows within the NFL Championship landscape. While they secured titles in 1937 and 1942 under coach Ray Flaherty, their history also includes the most lopsided defeat in league history. In a 1940 rematch against the Chicago Bears, Washington suffered a staggering 73–0 loss. The era was further highlighted by quarterback Sammy Baugh's incredible versatility; in 1943, he led the league in passing, punting, and interceptions despite another championship loss. A particularly controversial moment occurred during the 1945 title game against the Cleveland Rams. A pass hitting the goalpost resulted in a safety under rules of that time, contributing to a one-point defeat. This specific incident galvanized Marshall to lobby for a rule change, eventually creating the 'Baugh/Marshall Rule' which deemed such plays incomplete.

The Decades of Struggle

Following their initial championship contention in the late 1940s, the franchise entered a prolonged period of mediocrity that lasted nearly three decades. Between 1946 and 1970, Washington managed only four winning seasons and failed to reach the playoffs entirely for long stretches. The situation deteriorated significantly between 1956 and 1968, during which the team recorded not a single winning season. This era of instability was punctuated by frequent coaching changes, including tenures by Turk Edwards, Dick Todd, and Earl 'Curly' Lambeau, who was dismissed after just two seasons. The nadir of this dark period arrived in 1961 when the squad posted an abysmal 1–12–1 record.

The Gibbs Dynasty and Modern Context

After decades of futility, the franchise experienced a resurgence under owner Jack Kent Cooke and head coach Joe Gibbs between 1982 and 1991. This golden decade saw Washington dominate the league, securing three Super Bowl victories (XVII, XXII, and XXVI) and appearing in four title games total. Supported by general managers Bobby Beathard and Charley Casserly, this era stands as one of only two ten-year spans where the team won all its championships. However, post-1991 success has been limited, with just five playoff wins and four division titles achieved since then. Beyond the field, the franchise's identity has evolved significantly; after decades of controversy regarding their name and logo, the organization retired the 'Redskins' moniker in 2020. Following a brief interim as the Washington Football Team, they officially rebranded as the Commanders in 2022.