Redskins’ Championship Hungers: A Legacy Defined by Super Bowl Appearances

From their founding in 1937 to their relocation and rebranding, the Washington Commanders—formerly known as the Redskins—have carved a complex and compelling legacy in professional football, most notably through repeated, high-stakes appearances in the Super Bowl. Though home to no Super Bowl victories, the franchise has repeatedly reached the sport’s pinnacle, embodying both the promise and the challenges of America’s top league. Their on-field journey features six appearances—more than any other franchise without a championship—and remains etched in NFL history as a symbol of resilience and unfulfilled potential.

The team first reached postseason glory in 1967 as part of the NFL’s AFL-NFL merger celebration, appearing in Super Bowl II. Though they fell to the Green Bay Packers, led by Vince Lombardi, the appearance marked the Redskins’ emergence on the national stage. This early presence laid the foundation for decades of elite competition, even in years when victory eluded them.

Over the next 50 years, the franchise would return to the Big Game six more times, each run a testament to consistent excellence—and professional pressure.

Historic Firsts and Pivotal Milestones

-

Super Bowl II: The First Appearance (1967)
The Redskins’ first Super Bowl came in January 1967, just months after the NFL-AFL merger. Playing as an AFL team (despite being based in Washington, D.C.), they faced the Green Bay Packers in a star-studded matchup where Vince Lombardi ignited a defensive fire. Though defeated 35–13, the game signaled the franchise’s arrival among football’s elite.

Drafted player Charles Childs started, becoming one of the earliest icons of the modern Redskins dynasty.

-

1978 Finals: A Pie aboard the Victory Lane> After six close losses, the franchise finally tasted success in 1978, earning a Super Bowl berth with a late playoff win. Led by quarterback Sammy White and defensive standout Charley Tucker, the team was defeated by the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XII. The loss, though heartbreaking, underscored growth: the Redskins were proving they belonged in the upper echelon upon arrival.

-

1981 and 1982: Secure Setback inbial Competitive Peaks> The franchise reached the pinnacle again in 1981 and 1982, reaching Super Bowl XVII and XXII respectively. In 1981, they matched Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers in a fierce battle, losing 27–10. The following year, rising to the occasion, they faced Montana again—but this time fell 42–21.

These near-misses highlighted both the offensive firepower the Redskins had developed and the relentless quality of their opponents. -

1991 Triumph: The Storybook Ending> The franchise’s only Super Bowl victory arrived in January 1992 (post-relocation to Washington, D.C.), when the Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills 37–24 in Super Bowl XXVI. Quarterback Mark Rypien’s calm precision under pressure—completing 60% of his passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns—led to a commanding win.

Coach Joe Gibbs, whose leadership anchored a dominant squad, famously said, “We played with heart, we played with soul. That’s why we won.” This moment remains the emotional apex of the team’s long postseason journey.

The team would return to the Super Bowl only once more, in 2007 (Super Bowl XLII), where they clashed with the New York Giants.

Weathered defense and offensive struggles led to a 17–14 loss to Eli Manning and a late might prop. Since then, no further trips to the summit have occurred—though the Redskins’ historical record continues to define narrative tension in the blitz of modern NFL competition.

Summation: A Legacy of Near Greatness

From Super Bowl II’s close defeat to the triumphant coronation of 1992, the Redskins’ six Super Bowl appearances capture a paradox: a franchise defined not by championship gold, but by repeated resilience, innovation, and cultural impact. Each trip brought ladder-ready talent, strategic brilliance, and the unrelenting drive to answer Football Super Bowl questions.

Though victory remained just out of reach, their presence reshaped Washington’s sports identity and carved an indelible chapter in the NFL’s story. Even without a runway trophy, their legacy endures as a standard of excellence—proof that the game’s greatest moments are shaped equally by what’s won and what’s endured.