The Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 10th in Washington, D.C. The team failed to improve on their 5–5–1 record from 1946 and finished 4–8. The 1947 Washington Redskins' 416 passing attempts (34.7 per game) are the most by an NFL team in the 1940s.

Although the NFL formally desegregated in 1946, many teams were slow to allow black athletes to compete even after the formal barrier had fallen. None were less willing to desegregate than the Washington Redskins, who sought to be the "home team" for a vast Southern market. The Redskins would remain the last bastion of racial segregation in the NFL, refusing to include a single black player on their roster until 1962.Ryan Basen, "Fifty Years Ago, Last Outpost of Segregation in NFL Fell," New York Times, Oct. 6, 2012.

Before the season NFL draft

Preseason Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Source 0 East–West Intra-Squad W. 36, E. 35 — Santa Ana, California Associated Press, "Teedees Come Fast for 'Skins," [North Hollywood, CA] Valley Times, Aug. 30, 1947, p. 6. 1 at Los Angeles Rams L 7–20 0–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 80,889 Bob Meyers (AP), "80,889 See Rams Whip Redskins," Shreveport Journal, Sept. 6, 1947, p. 7. 2 vs. Detroit Lions W 23–14 1–1 University of Denver Stadium 17,000 "Sammy Baugh Leads Redskins to 23–14 Victory Over Lions," Grand Junction [CO] Daily Sentinel, Sept. 11, 1947, p. 8. 3 at Chicago Bears L 7–28 1–2 Soldier Field 54,723 Edward Prell, "Bears Trounce Redskins, 28 to 78; Baugh Idle: Sore Ribs Keep Passing Star on Sidelines," Chicago Tribune, Sept. 18, 1947, pp. 35, 37. 4 vs. Green Bay Packers L 21–31 1–3 Municipal Stadium 18,186Paid attendance, plus 2,000 "soldiers and crippled veterans." Associated Press, "Packers Dump Washington, 31–21; Meet Bears Here Sunday: Relax in Last Quarter After Holding 31–0 Lead," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Sept. 22, 1947, p. 15.

Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Source 1 September 28 at Philadelphia Eagles L 42–45 0–1 Shibe Park 35,406 Recap 2 October 5 Pittsburgh Steelers W 27–26 1–1 Forbes Field 36,585 Recap 3 October 12 New York Giants W 28–20 2–1 Griffith Stadium 36,533 Recap 4 October 19 at Green Bay Packers L 10–27 2–2 Wisconsin State Fair Park 28,572 Recap 5 October 26 Chicago Bears L 20–56 2–3 Griffith Park 36,591 Recap 6 November 2 Philadelphia Eagles L 14–38 2–4 Griffith Park 36,591 Recap 7 November 9 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–21 2–5 Forbes Field 36,257 Recap 8 November 16 at Detroit Lions L 21–38 2–6 Briggs Stadium 17,003 Recap 9 November 23 Chicago Cardinals W 45–21 3–6 Griffith Stadium 35,362 Recap 10 November 30 at Boston Yanks L 24–27 3–7 Fenway Park 24,800 Recap 11 December 7 at New York Giants L 10–35 3–8 Polo Grounds 25,594 Recap 12 December 14 Boston Yanks W 40–13 4–8 Griffith Stadium 33,226 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

Roster 1947 Washington Redskins final rosterQuarterbacks

S

Backs FB CB/RB CB CB/RB RB/CB S/K/P/RB FB RB/CB CB/RB RB Linemen/Linebackers T/MG OLB/C/G DT/T T/DT T/DT MG/C MLB/G DT/G OLB/FB G DT/T/E T/DT G/MG MLB/C T Ends/Receivers

Reserve C/LB (IR) FB/LB (Susp.)

rookies in italics

References