The Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 38th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 33rd in Washington, D.C. In his only season with the franchise, the Redskins were led by head coach and general manager Vince Lombardi. The team improved on their 5–9 record from 1968 to finish at 7–5–2, their first winning season in 14 years. This was the final season to feature the lance logo on the helmet, and home games were played at RFK Stadium (formerly D.C. Stadium).
Offseason During the week preceding Super Bowl III in January, rumors had circulated that Vince Lombardi had job offers from the Philadelphia Eagles, Boston Patriots, and Washington Redskins.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p. 452, Simon & Schuster, 1999, The night before the Super Bowl, Lombardi met with Redskins president Edward Bennett Williams for dinner at Tony Sweet's restaurant.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p. 453, Simon & Schuster, 1999, He agreed to coach the Redskins after Williams offered him complete authority over all personnel and football operations, the position of "Executive Vice President", and a 5% ownership stake.When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p. 457, Simon & Schuster, 1999, Following the death of founding owner George Preston Marshall in August, Williams became the majority owner.
NFL draft
1969 Washington Redskins draft Round Selection Player Position College246Eugene EppsDefensive backTexas-El Paso362Ed CrossRunning backPine Bluff5114Bill KishmanDefensive backColorado State6139Harold McLintonLinebackerSouthern7166Jeff AndersonRunning backVirginia7173John DidionCenterOregon State8191Larry BrownRunning backKansas State11269Eric NorriDefensive tackleNotre Dame12295Bob ShannonDefensive backTennessee State13322Michael ShookDefensive backNorth Texas14347Rick BrandDefensive tackleVirginia15374Paul RogersTackleVirginia16399Mike WashingtonLinebackerSouthern17426Rich DobbertDefensive endSpringfield (Massachusetts)
Vince Lombardi After stepping down as head coach of the Packers following the 1967 NFL season, a restless Lombardi returned to coaching in 1969 with the Washington Redskins, where he broke a string of 14 losing seasons. The 'Skins would finish with a record of 7–5–2, significant for a number of reasons. Lombardi discovered that rookie running back Larry Brown was deaf in one ear, something that had escaped his parents, schoolteachers, and previous coaches. Lombardi had observed Brown's habit of tilting his head in one direction when listening to signals being called, and walked behind him during drills and said "Larry." When Brown did not answer, the coach asked him to take a hearing exam. Brown was fitted with a hearing aid, and with this correction he would enjoy a successful NFL career.
Lombardi was the first coach to get quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, one of the league's premier passers but notoriously lax on fitness, into the best condition he could. Sam Huff came out of retirement exclusively to play for Lombardi. He even changed the team's uniform design to reflect that of the Packers, with gold and white trim along the jersey biceps, and later a gold helmet. The foundation Lombardi laid was the groundwork for Washington's early 1970s success under former Los Angeles Rams Coach George Allen. Lombardi had brought a winning attitude to the Nation's Capital, in the same year that the nearby University of Maryland had hired "Lefty" Driesell to coach basketball and the hapless Washington Senators named Ted Williams as manager. It marked a renaissance in sports interest in the Nation's capitol.
Lombardi lasted only one season with the Redskins; he was diagnosed with terminal cancer after the 1969 season and died shortly before the 1970 regular season was to start.
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 Chicago Bears W 13–7 1–0 RFK Stadium 45,988 2 at Buffalo Bills L 17–21 1–1 War Memorial Stadium 37,012 3 at Atlanta Falcons W 24–7 2–1 Atlanta Stadium 56,990 4 vs. Detroit Lions L 20–21 2–2 Tampa Stadium 42,477 5 Cleveland Browns L 10–20 2–3 RFK Stadium 45,994 6 at Philadelphia Eagles L 17–26 2–4 Franklin Field 35,417
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 21 at New Orleans Saints W 26–20 1–0 Tulane Stadium 73,147 Recap 2 September 28 at Cleveland Browns L 23–27 1–1 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 82,581 Recap 3 October 5 at San Francisco 49ers T 17–17 1–1–1 Kezar Stadium 35,642 Recap 4 October 12 St. Louis Cardinals W 33–17 2–1–1 RFK Stadium 50,481 Recap 5 October 19 New York Giants W 20–14 3–1–1 RFK Stadium 50,352 Recap 6 October 26 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 14–7 4–1–1 Pitt Stadium 46,557 Recap 7 November 2 at Baltimore Colts L 17–41 4–2–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238 Recap 8 November 9 Philadelphia Eagles T 28–28 4–2–2 RFK Stadium 50,502 Recap 9 November 16 Dallas Cowboys L 28–41 4–3–2 RFK Stadium 50,474 Recap 10 November 23 Atlanta Falcons W 27–20 5–3–2 RFK Stadium 50,345 Recap 11 November 30 Los Angeles Rams L 13–24 5–4–2 RFK Stadium 50,352 Recap 12 December 7 at Philadelphia Eagles W 34–29 6–4–2 Franklin Field 60,658 Recap 13 December 14 New Orleans Saints W 17–14 7–4–2 RFK Stadium 50,354 Recap 14 December 21 at Dallas Cowboys L 10–20 7–5–2 Cotton Bowl 56,924 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Season summary
Week 9 vs Cowboys
President Richard Nixon was in attendance.
Week 12
Larry Brown 19 Rush, 138 Yds
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-Dec-17.
Standings
References
Redskins on Pro Football Reference