# List of Washington Commanders seasons

The Washington Commanders are a professional American football franchise based in the Washington metropolitan area. They are members of the East division in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football League (NFL). The Commanders were founded in 1932 as the Boston Braves, named after the local baseball franchise. The franchise changed its name the following year to the Redskins and moved to Washington, D.C. in 1937. In 2020, the team retired the controversial Redskins name and briefly played as the Washington Football Team before rebranding as the Commanders in 2022.
Over 93 seasons, the Commanders have a regular season record of 641–648–29 (.497) and a playoff record of 25–21 (.543). They have won three Super Bowls (XVII, XXII, and XXVI), two NFC championships, and 15 NFC East divisional titles. Before the AFL and NFL merged in 1970, Washington won two NFL Championships (1937 and 1942). They also played in and lost the 1936, 1940, 1943, and 1945 Championship games. Only five teams have appeared in more Super Bowls than Washington: the New England Patriots (11), Dallas Cowboys (eight), Pittsburgh Steelers (eight), Denver Broncos (eight), and San Francisco 49ers (seven); Washington's five appearances are tied with the Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, and New York Giants.
All of the franchise's championships were attained during two 10-year spans. The first period of success was from 1936 to 1945, when they went to the NFL Championship six times, winning two of them. The second period of success was from 1982 and 1991, when they appeared in the postseason seven times, captured four Conference titles, and won three Super Bowls. This period included the 1983 and 1991 seasons, when the team won 14 games, the most the team have won in a single season. Washington has also experienced periods of extended failure in its history. The most notable period of continued failure was from 1946 to 1970, when they posted only four winning seasons and did not have a single postseason appearance. During this period, they went without a single winning season between 1956 to 1968 and posted their worst regular-season record in franchise history, going 1–12–1 in 1961. Since their last Super Bowl win in 1991, Washington has only four playoff wins and only three seasons with 10 or more wins.

## Seasons

Key :
| NFL champions (1920–1969) § | Super Bowl champions (1970–present) * | Conference champions $^#$ | Division champions † | Wild card berth ^ |
List of Boston Braves / Boston Redskins / Washington Redskins / Washington Football Team / Washington Commanders seasons :
| Season | Conference | Division | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoff results | Head coach | Awards | Refs. |
| Season | Conference | Division | Finish | W | L | T | Playoff results | Head coach | Awards | Refs. |
| 1932 | — | — | 4th | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | Lud Wray | — | |
| 1933 | — | East | 3rd | 5 | 5 | 2 | — | Lone Star Dietz | — | |
| 1934 | — | East | 2nd | 6 | 6 | 0 | — | Lone Star Dietz | — | |
| 1935 | — | East | 4th | 2 | 8 | 1 | — | Eddie Casey | — | |
| 1936 | — | East | 1st† | 7 | 5 | 0 | Lost NFL Championship (Packers) 21–6 | Ray Flaherty | — | |
| 1937 | — | East | 1st† | 8 | 3 | 0 | Won NFL Championship (1) (at Bears) 28–21 | Ray Flaherty | — | |
| 1938 | — | East | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | Ray Flaherty | — | |
| 1939 | — | East | 2nd | 8 | 2 | 1 | — | Ray Flaherty | — | |
| 1940 | — | East | 1st† | 9 | 2 | 0 | Lost NFL Championship (Bears) 73–0 | Ray Flaherty | — | |
| 1941 | — | East | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | Ray Flaherty | — | |
| 1942 | — | East | 1st† | 10 | 1 | 0 | Won NFL Championship (2) (Bears) 14–6 | Ray Flaherty | — | |
| 1943 | — | East | 1st† | 6 | 3 | 1 | Won Divisional playoff (at Giants) 28–0 Lost NFL Championship (at Bears) 41–21 | Dutch Bergman | — | |
| 1944 | — | East | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | Dudley DeGroot | — | |
| 1945 | — | East | 1st† | 8 | 2 | 0 | Lost NFL Championship (at Rams) 15–14 | Dudley DeGroot | — | |
| 1946 | — | East | T-3rd | 5 | 5 | 1 | — | Turk Edwards | — | |
| 1947 | — | East | 4th | 4 | 8 | 0 | — | Turk Edwards | — | |
| 1948 | — | East | 2nd | 7 | 5 | 0 | — | Turk Edwards | — | |
| 1949 | — | East | 4th | 4 | 7 | 1 | — | John Whelchel (3–3–1) Herman Ball (1–4) | — | |
| 1950 | American | — | 6th | 3 | 9 | 0 | — | Herman Ball | — | |
| 1951 | American | — | 3rd | 5 | 7 | 0 | — | Herman Ball (0–3) Dick Todd (5–4) | — | |
| 1952 | American | — | T-5th | 4 | 8 | 0 | — | Curly Lambeau | — | |
| 1953 | Eastern | — | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | Curly Lambeau | — | |
| 1954 | Eastern | — | 5th | 3 | 9 | 0 | — | Joe Kuharich | — | |
| 1955 | Eastern | — | 2nd | 8 | 4 | 0 | — | Joe Kuharich | Joe Kuharich (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award) | |
| 1956 | Eastern | — | 3rd | 6 | 6 | 0 | — | Joe Kuharich | — | |
| 1957 | Eastern | — | 4th | 5 | 6 | 1 | — | Joe Kuharich | — | |
| 1958 | Eastern | — | 4th | 4 | 7 | 1 | — | Joe Kuharich | — | |
| 1959 | Eastern | — | 5th | 3 | 9 | 0 | — | Mike Nixon | — | |
| 1960 | Eastern | — | 6th | 1 | 9 | 2 | — | Mike Nixon | — | |
| 1961 | Eastern | — | 7th | 1 | 12 | 1 | — | Bill McPeak | — | |
| 1962 | Eastern | — | 4th | 5 | 7 | 2 | — | Bill McPeak | — | |
| 1963 | Eastern | — | 6th | 3 | 11 | 0 | — | Bill McPeak | — | |
| 1964 | Eastern | — | T-3rd | 6 | 8 | 0 | — | Bill McPeak | Charley Taylor (ROY) | |
| 1965 | Eastern | — | 4th | 6 | 8 | 0 | — | Bill McPeak | — | |
| 1966 | Eastern | — | 5th | 7 | 7 | 0 | — | Otto Graham | — | |
| 1967 | Eastern | Capitol | 3rd | 5 | 6 | 3 | — | Otto Graham | — | |
| 1968 | Eastern | Capitol | 3rd | 5 | 9 | 0 | — | Otto Graham | — | |
| 1969 | Eastern | Capitol | 2nd | 7 | 5 | 2 | — | Vince Lombardi | — | |
| 1970 | NFC | East | 4th | 6 | 8 | 0 | — | Bill Austin | — | |
| 1971 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 9 | 4 | 1 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 24–20 | George Allen | George Allen (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award) | |
| 1972 | NFC$^#$ | East | 1st† | 11 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Packers) 16–3 Won NFC Championship (Cowboys) 26–3 Lost Super Bowl VII (vs. Dolphins) 14–7 | George Allen | Larry Brown (MVPTooltip National Football League Most Valuable Player Award & OPOYTooltip National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award) | |
| 1973 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 10 | 4 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Vikings) 27–20 | George Allen | — | |
| 1974 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 10 | 4 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Rams) 19–10 | George Allen | — | |
| 1975 | NFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 6 | 0 | — | George Allen | Mike Thomas (OROYTooltip National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) | |
| 1976 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 10 | 4 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Vikings) 35–20 | George Allen | — | |
| 1977 | NFC | East | 2nd | 9 | 5 | 0 | — | George Allen | — | |
| 1978 | NFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | Jack Pardee | John Riggins (CBPOYTooltip National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award) | |
| 1979 | NFC | East | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | — | Jack Pardee | Jack Pardee (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award) | |
| 1980 | NFC | East | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | — | Jack Pardee | — | |
| 1981 | NFC | East | 4th | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | Joe Gibbs | Ken Houston (Byron "Whizzer" White Award) | |
| 1982 | NFC$^#$ | | 1st$^#$ | 8 | 1 | 0 | Won First Round Playoffs (Lions) 31–7 Won Second Round Playoffs (Vikings) 21–7 Won NFC Championship (Cowboys) 31–17 Won Super Bowl XVII (3) (vs. Dolphins) 27–17 | Joe Gibbs | Joe Gibbs (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award) Mark Moseley (MVPTooltip National Football League Most Valuable Player Award) John Riggins (SBMVPTooltip Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award) Joe Theismann (WPMOYTooltip Walter Payton Man of the Year Award) Bobby Beathard (EOYTooltip Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year Award) | |
| 1983 | NFC$^#$ | East | 1st† | 14 | 2 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Rams) 51–7 Won NFC Championship (49ers) 24–21 Lost Super Bowl XVIII (vs. Raiders) 38–9 | Joe Gibbs | Joe Gibbs (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award) Joe Theismann (MVPTooltip National Football League Most Valuable Player Award & OPOYTooltip National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award) Bobby Beathard (EOYTooltip Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year Award) | |
| 1984 | NFC | East | 1st† | 11 | 5 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Bears) 23–19 | Joe Gibbs | — | |
| 1985 | NFC | East | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | — | Joe Gibbs | — | |
| 1986 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 12 | 4 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Rams) 19–7 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Bears) 27–13 Lost NFC Championship (at Giants) 17–0 | Joe Gibbs | — | |
| 1987 | NFC$^#$ | East | 1st† | 11 | 4 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (at Bears) 21–17 Won NFC Championship (Vikings) 17–10 Won Super Bowl XXII (4) (vs. Broncos) 42–10 | Joe Gibbs | Doug Williams (SBMVPTooltip Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award) | |
| 1988 | NFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | — | Joe Gibbs | — | |
| 1989 | NFC | East | 3rd | 10 | 6 | 0 | — | Joe Gibbs | — | |
| 1990 | NFC | East | 3rd^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Eagles) 20–6 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 28–10 | Joe Gibbs | — | |
| 1991 | NFC$^#$ | East | 1st† | 14 | 2 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Falcons) 24–7 Won NFC Championship (Lions) 41–10 Won Super Bowl XXVI (5) (vs. Bills) 37–24 | Joe Gibbs | Joe Gibbs (COYTooltip National Football League Coach of the Year Award) Mark Rypien (SBMVPTooltip Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award & OPOYTooltip National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award) | |
| 1992 | NFC | East | 3rd^ | 9 | 7 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Vikings) 24–7 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 20–13 | Joe Gibbs | — | |
| 1993 | NFC | East | 5th | 4 | 12 | 0 | — | Richie Petitbon | — | |
| 1994 | NFC | East | 5th | 3 | 13 | 0 | — | Norv Turner | — | |
| 1995 | NFC | East | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | — | Norv Turner | — | |
| 1996 | NFC | East | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | — | Norv Turner | Darrell Green (WPMOYTooltip Walter Payton Man of the Year Award & Bart Starr Award) | |
| 1997 | NFC | East | 2nd | 8 | 7 | 1 | — | Norv Turner | — | |
| 1998 | NFC | East | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | — | Norv Turner | — | |
| 1999 | NFC | East | 1st† | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Lions) 27–13 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Buccaneers) 14–13 | Norv Turner | — | |
| 2000 | NFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | Norv Turner (7–6) Terry Robiskie (1–2) | — | |
| 2001 | NFC | East | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | Marty Schottenheimer | — | |
| 2002 | NFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | — | Steve Spurrier | — | |
| 2003 | NFC | East | 3rd | 5 | 11 | 0 | — | Steve Spurrier | — | |
| 2004 | NFC | East | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | — | Joe Gibbs | — | |
| 2005 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 10 | 6 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Buccaneers) 17–10 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Seahawks) 20–10 | Joe Gibbs | — | |
| 2006 | NFC | East | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | — | Joe Gibbs | — | |
| 2007 | NFC | East | 3rd^ | 9 | 7 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Seahawks) 35–14 | Joe Gibbs | — | |
| 2008 | NFC | East | 4th | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | Jim Zorn | — | |
| 2009 | NFC | East | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | — | Jim Zorn | — | |
| 2010 | NFC | East | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | — | Mike Shanahan | — | |
| 2011 | NFC | East | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | — | Mike Shanahan | London Fletcher (Bart Starr Award) | |
| 2012 | NFC | East | 1st† | 10 | 6 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Seahawks) 24–14 | Mike Shanahan | Robert Griffin III (OROYTooltip National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) | |
| 2013 | NFC | East | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | — | Mike Shanahan | — | |
| 2014 | NFC | East | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | — | Jay Gruden | — | |
| 2015 | NFC | East | 1st† | 9 | 7 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Packers) 35–18 | Jay Gruden | — | |
| 2016 | NFC | East | 3rd | 8 | 7 | 1 | — | Jay Gruden | — | |
| 2017 | NFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | — | Jay Gruden | — | |
| 2018 | NFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | — | Jay Gruden | — | |
| 2019 | NFC | East | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | — | Jay Gruden (0–5) Bill Callahan (3–8) | — | |
| 2020 | NFC | East | 1st† | 7 | 9 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Buccaneers) 31–23 | Ron Rivera | Chase Young (DROYTooltip National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award) Alex Smith (CBPOYTooltip National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award) | |
| 2021 | NFC | East | 3rd | 7 | 10 | 0 | — | Ron Rivera | Ron Rivera (George Halas Award) | |
| 2022 | NFC | East | 4th | 8 | 8 | 1 | — | Ron Rivera | — | |
| 2023 | NFC | East | 4th | 4 | 13 | 0 | — | Ron Rivera | — | |
| 2024 | NFC | East | 2nd^ | 12 | 5 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Buccaneers) 23–20 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Lions) 45–31 Lost NFC Championship (at Eagles) 55–23 | Dan Quinn | Jayden Daniels (OROYTooltip National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) | |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 641 | 648 | 29 | All-time regular season record | All-time regular season record | All-time regular season record | All-time regular season record |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 25 | 21 | — | All-time playoff record | All-time playoff record | All-time playoff record | All-time playoff record |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 666 | 669 | 29 | Combined record | Combined record | Combined record | Combined record |

## Footnotes

* ↑ In 1935, the NFL set the number of regular season games to 12. Prior to that, the NFL did not have a set number of games. The team only played 11 games however, as a road game against the Philadelphia Eagles was canceled due to bad weather.
* ↑ In 1937, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games from 12 to 11.
* ↑ In 1943, the NFL lowered the number of regular season games from 11 to 10.
* ↑ In 1946, the NFL expanded the number of regular season games from 10 to 11.
* ↑ In 1947, the NFL expanded the number of regular season games from 11 to 12.
* ↑ In 1961, the NFL expanded the number of regular season games from 12 to 14.
* ↑ In 1967, the NFL formed two conferences that were subdivided into two divisions. Prior to the realignment, the NFL was either divided into two divisions, two conferences, or neither.
* ↑ In 1970, the NFL merged with the American Football League (AFL) and saw the creation of the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC), with Washington being placed in the NFC East division.
* ↑ In 1978, the NFL expanded the number of regular season games from 14 to 16.
* ↑ In 1982, the regular season was shortened from 16 games to 9 due to the 1982 NFL strike.
* ↑ In 1987, the regular season was shortened from 16 games to 15 due to the 1987 NFL strike.
* ↑ In 2021, the NFL expanded the number of regular season games from 16 to 17.