Origin of the Name
(By Raúl Cancio) George P. Marshall acquired an NFL franchise based in Boston called the Braves in 1932, named after the city's baseball team. The first season was disastrous in every way, so the following year he hired Native American Lone Star Dietz as head coach, as well as several players of the same ethnicity. They suggested renaming the team to Boston Redskins, which would later become the Washington Redskins after their relocation to D.C in 1937.
Owner: Dan Snyder *
In 1999, Snyder bought the Redskins for $800 million, a record at the time for team sales. Since then, he has barely enjoyed a winning season, interfered in sports decisions, hired eight coaches, clashed with the city's press, and turned one of the most popular franchises in the world into perpetual losers. Oh, and he has belittled those who consider the club's name racist. Brilliant.
General Manager: Scott McCloughan *****
Scot McCloughan is one of the most enigmatic figures in the NFL. As a general manager, he helped build the rosters of the San Francisco 49ers, first, and the Seattle Seahawks, later, who have dominated the NFC in the last five years. However, he is a victim of a disease as dangerous as alcoholism, which caused him to resign in Seattle. Now he returns to the top of his profession with the Redskins. All talent, but also instability.
Head Coach: Jay Gruden **
Jay Gruden's biggest challenge as coach of the Redskins is, of course, to determine whether Robert Griffin III is the franchise's future QB. Last year, as a newcomer, he felt strong enough to question everything, and that has worked out for him; he can impose his system, very focused on the run and a physical line, without restrictions in favor of his QB since RG3 has become a figure questioned by all levels of the franchise and not just his coach. Expect a more stable Redskins team than in past seasons, focused and with a game that is not prone to fancy moves. That's Gruden's bet.
STADIUM: FedEx Field, maximizing income **
(By José Villelabeitia) The Redskins left the legendary RFK Stadium in favor of FedEx Field located in the outskirts of the city, Landover. At the time, it was considered one of the best NFL stadiums, but the owner's obsession with maximizing income has led to constantly modifying the stadium's capacity, reducing the number of seats to increase luxury areas and premium seats, concepts that are paid in addition to the subscription. The stadium is not even twenty years old, but Dan Snyder intends to build a new stadium with much greater capacity and modernity to host Super Bowls.
FANBASE: An expensive subscription **
(By José Villelabeitia) The waiting list for a Washington Redskins subscription exceeds 160,000 people. Being a subscriber to the team is a matter of social prestige among the thousands of politicians, lawyers, and businessmen who live in the federal capital. It is not exactly a cheap subscription, but one of the most expensive in the league. The stadium has very poor access, and reaching the field by public transport has become a real odyssey, allowing the owner to charge exorbitant prices for a parking space. It is certainly not an ideal situation for fans.
CHEERLEADERS: The First Ladies of Football ****
(By José Villelabeitia) Originally known as the Redskinettes, they changed their name to the current "First Ladies of Football" in clear reference to the First Lady, the wife of the President of the United States of America. George Preston Marshall, the team's founder, was the creator of the Halftime Show, although his cheerleaders were not the first; that privilege belongs to the now-defunct cheerleaders of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have been a fixture since 1962, making them the oldest cheerleaders in the NFL.