Washington Redskins

Drafts

Between 1969 and 1990, the Redskins drafted Art Monk (WR, Syracuse), Mark May (T, Pittsburgh), and Darrell Green (DB, Texas A&I) in the first round. Not bad considering two of the three will likely be in the Hall of Fame and May was a solid starter for years in a truly great offensive line (the "hogs"). What's more remarkable is that those were the only first round picks the Redskins had during that 20+ year period!

Legendary coach George Allen is the only coach in NFL history to coach at least 10 seasons and never have a losing season. He was also famous for trading away his draft picks for proven veterans. This was no coincidence. Not that he didn't have an eye for college talent - he did draft Dick Butkis, Mike Ditka, and Gale Sayers while in Chicago, but he always wanted to win now rather than a few years later. Here's a quote from Allen:

"A gambler is a coach who uses a number-one draft choice on an untested, inexperienced lineman or receiver from Illinois Normal. A conservative is a man who trades his number-one choices for established veterans. In my opinion, the odds are against gamblers, innovators, and pacesetters in football. Call me a conservative."

A good friend of Richard Nixon, who he famously allowed to draw up a play for a playoff game against the 49ers (it lost 13 yards), Allen was a conservative.* But he was also an innovator and pacesetter too. He is credited with inventing the nickel defense and was among the first head coaches to emphasize the importance of special teams.

Allen coached the Redskins from 1971 to 1977 and traded pick and pick away. Between 1971 and 1979, the Redskins traded away all first, second or third round picks! In fact, Allen made 81 trades in his seven seasons including a pair in 1976 that netted the 'Skins Joe Theismann and John Riggins. One of his successors, GM Bobby Bethard, continued the tradition throughout most of the Awesome80s.

	WASHINGTON REDSKINS Year W L T T 2003 5 11 0 3rd 2002 7 9 0 3rd 2001 8 8 0 2nd 2000 8 8 0 3rd 1999 10 6 0 1st 1998 6 10 0 4th 1997 8 7 1 2nd 1996 9 7 0 3rd 1995 6 10 0 3rd 1994 3 13 0 5th 1993 4 12 0 5th 1992 9 7 0 3rd 1991 14 2 0 1st 1990 10 6 0 3rd 1989 10 6 0 3rd 1988 7 9 0 3rd 1987 11 4 0 1st 1986 12 4 0 2nd 1985 10 6 0 3rd 1984 11 5 0 1st 1983 14 2 0 1st 1982 8 1 0 1st 1981 8 8 0 4th 1980 6 10 0 3rd 1979 10 6 0 3rd 1978 8 8 0 3rd 1977 9 5 0 2nd 1976 10 4 0 2nd 1975 8 6 0 3rd 1974 10 4 0 2nd 1973 10 4 0 2nd 1972 11 3 0 1st 1971 9 4 1 2nd 1970 6 8 0 4th 1969 7 5 2 2nd 1968 5 9 0 3rd 1967 5 6 3 3rd 1966 7 7 0 5th 1965 6 8 0 4th 1964 6 8 0 4th 1963 3 11 0 6th 1962 5 7 2 4th 1961 1 12 1 7th 1960 1 9 2 6th 1959 3 9 0 5th 1958 4 7 1 4th 1957 5 6 1 4th 1956 6 6 0 3rd 1955 8 4 0 2nd 1954 3 9 0 5th 1953 6 5 1 3rd 1952 4 8 0 6th 1951 5 7 0 3rd 1950 3 9 0 6th 1949 4 7 1 4th 1948 7 5 0 2nd 1947 4 8 0 4th 1946 5 5 1 3rd 1945 8 2 0 1st 1944 6 3 1 3rd 1943 6 3 1 1st 1942 10 1 0 1st 1941 6 5 0 3rd 1940 9 2 0 1st 1939 8 2 1 2nd 1938 6 3 2 2nd 1937 8 3 0 1st 1936 7 5 0 1st 1935 2 8 1 4th 1934 6 6 0 2nd 1933 5 5 2 3rd 1932 4 4 2 4th RESULTS

* One of his sons, George Allen Jr., is now a Republican senator from the state of Virginia.