The 2010 season was the Washington Redskins' 79th in the National Football League (NFL) and their first under new head coach Mike Shanahan, who also began his term as the team's Vice President of Football Operations. The Redskins obtained the 4th pick in the 2010 NFL draft as a result of their 4–12 record from their previous season, which they used to draft Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams. Finishing the season 6–10, the Redskins improved on their 4–12 record from the 2009 season, but were officially eliminated from postseason contention in Week 14. Of the 16 games of the season, only four (all losses) were decided by more than a single possession.
With new starting quarterback Donovan McNabb, who replaced Jason Campbell (traded to Oakland), Washington aimed to improve upon their previous failing seasons. However, upon Week 15 and a rating of 77.1 (25th overall in the league), Shanahan would bench McNabb in favor of their second-string Rex Grossman (who was the quarterback for the 2006 Chicago Bears that went to play in the Super Bowl).
Players
Movement The Redskins released RBs Rock Cartwright and Ladell Betts, WR Antwaan Randle El, OG Randy Thomas, DT Cornelius Griffin and CB Fred Smoot on March 4, 2010, one day before the start of free agency.
On April 4, the Redskins traded a 2010 2nd round pick and either a 3rd or 4th round pick in 2011 for veteran Eagles QB Donovan McNabb. The conditional 3rd/4th round pick is reflective on McNabb's performance during the season.
On April 24, the Redskins traded QB Jason Campbell to the Oakland Raiders for a 2012 4th round pick. The Jason Campbell trade had been anticipated ever since the Donovan McNabb trade a few weeks before.
On June 19, the Redskins addressed their need for a strong offensive line by trading a third or fourth in 2011 (reflective on the Donovan McNabb trade) to the New Orleans Saints for Pro Bowl OT Jammal Brown.
Free agents in 2010 RFA: Restricted free-agent, UFA: Unrestricted free-agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent Position Player Free agencytag Date signed 2010 team LS Ethan Albright UFA September 28 San Diego Chargers DT Lorenzo Alexander RFA March 5 Washington Redskins RB Ladell Betts Released September 22 New Orleans Saints QB Jason Campbell RFA April 24 Oakland Raiders RB Rock Cartwright Released April 27 Oakland Raiders QB Todd Collins Released August 23 Chicago Bears DE Phillip Daniels UFA March 5 Washington Redskins FS Reed Doughty RFA May 26 Washington Redskins RB Quinton Ganther ERFA Seattle Seahawks DT Kedric Golston RFA DT Cornelius Griffin Released OT Stephon Heyer RFA April 14 Washington Redskins OT Levi Jones UFA LB Rocky McIntosh RFA June 14 Washington Redskins DT Anthony Montgomery RFA April 14 Washington Redskins C Will Montgomery RFA March 13 Washington Redskins C Casey Rabach UFA March 5 Washington Redskins WR Antwaan Randle El Released March 8 Pittsburgh Steelers CB Carlos Rogers RFA July 29 Washington Redskins CB Fred Smoot Released P Hunter Smith UFA October 7 Washington Redskins G Randy Thomas Released Miami Dolphins OL Mike Williams UFA March 5 Washington Redskins LB Chris Wilson RFA March 25 Washington Redskins DE Renaldo Wynn UFA TE Todd Yoder UFA
2010 NFL draft
The Redskins finished the 2009 season with a record of 4–12 and will be picking 4th overall.
Transactions involving 2010 draft picks The Redskins traded their second round pick and a third or fourth round pick in 2011 to the Eagles for quarterback Donovan McNabb. The Redskins forfeited their third round pick for selecting defensive end Jeremy Jarmon in the 2009 Supplemental Draft. The Redskins traded their sixth round pick along with a second round pick in 2009 to the Dolphins for defensive end Jason Taylor
Staff Washington Redskins 2010 staff Front office Owner – Daniel Snyder General manager – Bruce Allen Executive vice president – Mike Shanahan Vice president of football administration – Eric Schaffer Director of player personnel – Scott Campbell Director of pro personnel – Morocco Brown
Head coaches Head coach – Mike Shanahan Assistant head coach/running backs – Bobby Turner
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Kyle Shanahan Quarterbacks – Matt LaFleur Wide receivers – Keenan McCardell Tight ends – Jon Embree Offensive line – Chris Foerster Offensive assistant – Sean McVay Offensive coaching assistant - Matt Applebaum Offensive coaching assistant – Richmond Flowers III Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Jim Haslett Defensive line – Jacob Burney Linebackers – Lou Spanos Defensive backs – Bob Slowik Safeties – Steve Jackson Defensive assistant – Kirk Olivadotti
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Danny Smith Assistant special teams – Richard Hightower
Strength and conditioning Head strength and conditioning – Ray Wright Assistant strength and conditioning – Chad Englehart Strength and conditioning – Malcolm Blacken
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason The Redskins preseason schedule was announced on March 31, 2010. Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results Game site TV NFL.comrecap Final score Team record 1 August 13 7:30 p.m. EDT Buffalo Bills W 42–17 1–0 FedExField Recap 2 August 21 7:00 pm. EDT Baltimore Ravens L 3–23 1–1 FedExField Recap 3 August 27 7:00 pm. EDT at New York Jets W 16–11 2–1 New Meadowlands Stadium Recap 4 September 2 10:00 pm. EDT at Arizona Cardinals L 10–20 2–2 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
Regular season
Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results Game site TV NFL.comrecap Final score Team record 1 September 12 8:20 p.m. EDT Dallas Cowboys W 13–7 1–0 FedExField NBC Recap 2 September 19 4:15 pm. EDT Houston Texans L 27–30 (OT) 1–1 FedExField CBS Recap 3 September 26 4:05 pm. EDT at St. Louis Rams L 16–30 1–2 Edward Jones Dome Fox Recap 4 October 3 4:15 pm. EDT at Philadelphia Eagles W 17–12 2–2 Lincoln Financial Field Fox Recap 5 October 10 1:00 pm. EDT Green Bay Packers W 16–13 (OT) 3–2 FedExField Fox Recap 6 October 17 8:20 pm. EDT Indianapolis Colts L 24–27 3–3 FedExField NBC Recap 7 October 24 1:00 pm. EDT at Chicago Bears W 17–14 4–3 Soldier Field Fox Recap 8 October 31 1:00 pm. EDT at Detroit Lions L 25–37 4–4 Ford Field Fox Recap 9 Bye 10 November 15 8:30 pm. EST Philadelphia Eagles L 28–59 4–5 FedExField ESPN Recap 11 November 21 1:00 pm. EST at Tennessee Titans W 19–16 (OT) 5–5 LP Field Fox Recap 12 November 28 1:00 pm. EST Minnesota Vikings L 13–17 5–6 FedExField Fox Recap 13 December 5 1:00 pm. EST at New York Giants L 7–31 5–7 New Meadowlands Stadium Fox Recap 14 December 12 1:00 pm. EST Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 16–17 5–8 FedExField Fox Recap 15 December 19 1:00 pm. EST at Dallas Cowboys L 30–33 5–9 Cowboys Stadium Fox Recap 16 December 26 1:00 pm. EST at Jacksonville Jaguars W 20–17 (OT) 6–9 EverBank Field Fox Recap 17 January 2 4:15 pm. EST New York Giants L 14–17 6–10 FedExField Fox Recap
Standings
Preseason results Preseason Week 1 – vs Buffalo Bills
Preseason Week 2 – vs Baltimore Ravens
Preseason Week 3 – vs New York Jets
Preseason Week 4 – vs Arizona Cardinals
Regular season results
Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Redskins began their season at home on Sunday night against their NFC East rival, the Dallas Cowboys. In the first quarter, Washington delivered the opening punch as kicker Graham Gano got a 29-yard field goal. The Redskins would then close out the second quarter with cornerback DeAngelo Hall returning a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown.
The Cowboys would get on the board in the third quarter as quarterback Tony Romo found wide receiver Miles Austin on a 4-yard touchdown pass. Washington would respond in the fourth quarter as Gano nailed a 49-yard field goal. Afterwards, Dallas appeared to have won the game as Romo completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roy Williams, but a holding call on offensive tackle Alex Barron preserved the Redskins victory.
With the win, Washington began its season at 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Houston Texans
Coming off their win over the Cowboys the Redskins played on home ground for an interconference duel with the Texans. In the 1st quarter the Redskins scored first as kicker Graham Gano got a 41 and a 27-yard field goal. In the second quarter the Redskins fell behind with QB Matt Schaub completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR Jacoby Jones, but got the lead back when RB Clinton Portis got two 1-yard TD runs to put the Redskins up 20–7. The Texans tried to cut the lead in the third quarter as kicker Neil Rackers nailed a 47-yard field goal, but the Redskins increased their lead with QB Donovan McNabb completing a 22-yard TD pass to TE Chris Cooley. The Texans went on a scoring rally to tie the game when QB Matt Schaub made a 6-yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter, followed in the 4th quarter by Rackers making a 43-yard field goal. Then Schaub threw a 34-yard TD pass to WR Andre Johnson. The decision was made when Rackers booted a 35-yard field goal in overtime to give the Redskins a loss.
With the loss, the Redskins fell to 1–1.
Week 3: at St. Louis Rams
Coming off their heartbreaking overtime loss at home against the Texans, the Redskins traveled to Edward Jones Dome to take on the St. Louis Rams. In the first quarter, the Rams scored first with a 42-yard TD run from Steven Jackson for a 7–0 lead. following their next possession the Rams scored again with Sam Bradford connecting with Daniel Fells for a 3-yard TD Pass to go up 14–0. In the second quarter the Redskins were able to get on the board with Graham Gano kicking a 29-yard field goal, followed by them scoring a TD with Donovan McNabb connecting with Santana Moss for a 21-yard TD pass. While Gano was able to kick a 24-yard field goal to make it 14–13 at the half, in the third quarter the Redskins were only able to score with Gano kicking a 21-yard FG while Kenneth Darby responded with a 12-yard TD run. In the 4th quarter Josh Brown kicked a 37, 29 & 41-yard field goals, sealing a Redskins loss.
With the loss, Washington fell to 1–2.
Week 4: at Philadelphia Eagles
Trying to snap a two-game losing streak, the Redskins flew to Lincoln Financial Field for a Week 4 NFC East duel with the Philadelphia Eagles, as quarterback Donovan McNabb made his highly anticipated return to Philadelphia.
Washington came out strong in the first quarter as running back Ryan Torain got a 12-yard touchdown run, followed by McNabb's 31-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chris Cooley. The Eagles answered in the second quarter as kicker David Akers made a 49-yard field goal, yet the Redskins came right back with kicker Graham Gano getting a 26-yard field goal. Afterwards, Philadelphia closed out the half with Akers' 23-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, the Eagles tried to rally in the fourth quarter as quarterback Kevin Kolb completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brent Celek (with a failed two-point conversion), but Washington's defense would prevent any further progress.
With the win, the Redskins improved to 2–2.
Week 5: vs. Green Bay Packers
Coming off their win over the Eagles the Redskins played on home ground for an NFC duel with the Packers. In the first quarter the Redskins trailed early as QB Aaron Rodgers completed a 5-yard TD pass to TE Donald Lee. This was followed in the 2nd quarter by kicker Mason Crosby hitting a 52-yard field goal. The Redskins replied with kicker Graham Gano getting a 26-yard field goal. Then in the third quarter Crosby made a 36-yard field goal to put the Packers up 13–3. The Redskins rallied with QB Donovan McNabb completing a 48-yard TD pass to WR Anthony Armstrong, followed by Gano making a 45-yard-field goal. At overtime, the decision was made when Gano successfully put away a 33-yard field goal to win the game for the Redskins.
With the win, Washington improved to 3–2.
Week 6: vs. Indianapolis Colts