Washington Commanders Football Club, commonly referred to as Washington Commanders or simply Commanders, is one of the most iconic and successful football clubs in the National Football League. Founded in 1932 as Boston Braves, it changed its name to Washington Commanders in 2022. The club is based in Landover, Maryland, and plays its home matches at the famous FEDEX Field, which has a seating capacity of over 82,000.
Washington Commanders has a rich history, boasting 5 NFL Championship appearances, with 3 Super Bowl victories, and numerous other domestic and conference titles. The club enjoyed its most successful era under legendary coach Joe Gibbs, who led Commanders to 3 Super Bowl titles between 1981 and 1992.
Known for its strategic and defensive style of play, the club has nurtured some of football’s greatest talents, including Sammy Baugh, Joe Theismann, Darrell Green, and John Riggins. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances post-Gibbs, Washington Commanders remains one of the world’s most valuable football clubs, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence American and world football.
Washington Commanders is one of the most popular football teams in the NFL, with one of the highest average home attendances in the United States. The team states that its worldwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the Washington Commanders Fan Club (WCFC), in at least 24 countries. The team takes advantage of this support through its worldwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that Washington Commanders has 75 million fans worldwide. The team has the third highest social media following in the world among sports teams (after Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots), with over 82 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Washington Commanders had the loudest fans in the NFL.
Washington Commanders was formed in 1932 as Boston Braves before moving to Washington D.C. in 1937. The team initially played games against other teams in the league, but on November 20, 1932, they competed in their first recorded match; wearing the colors of the team—burgundy and gold—they were defeated 14–0 by New York Giants.
In January 1981, the appointment of head coach Joe Gibbs marked a turning point in the team's history. He demanded an unprecedented level of control over team selection, player transfers, and training sessions. Gibbs led the team to Super Bowl victories in 1982, 1987, and 1991. In the 1991 season, the team had one of the most dominant performances in NFL history, finishing with a 14-2 record.
On March 5, 1993, Gibbs announced that he was to retire as head coach at the end of the season, but would remain with the team as a special advisor. He retired as one of the most successful coaches in NFL history. The team announced the next day that former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan would replace him from July 1, having signed a five-year contract. Doug Williams, a former player, took over as team president in 2014 when Shanahan was let go after a poor season in which the team failed to make the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.
Originally funded by the Washington Railway Company, the team became a limited company in 1892 and sold shares to local supporters for $1 via an application form. In 1902, majority ownership passed to four local businessmen who invested $500 to save the team from bankruptcy, including future team president John Henry Davis. After his death in 1927, the team faced bankruptcy yet again but was saved in December 1931 by James W. Gibson, who assumed control of the team after an investment of $2,000. Gibson promoted his son, Alan, to the board in 1948, but died three years later; the Gibson family retained ownership of the team through James's wife, Lillian, but the position of chairman passed to former player Harold Hardman.
Promoted to the board a few days after the Washington air disaster, Louis Edwards, a friend of Matt Busby, began acquiring shares in the team; for an investment of approximately $40,000, he accumulated a 54 per cent shareholding and took control in January 1964. When Lillian Gibson died in January 1971, her shares passed to Alan Gibson, who sold a percentage of his shares to Louis Edwards's son, Martin, in 1978; Martin Edwards went on to become chairman upon his father's death in 1980. Media tycoon Robert Maxwell attempted to buy the team in 1984, but did not meet Edwards's asking price. In 1989, chairman Martin Edwards attempted to sell the team to Michael Knighton for $20 million, but the sale fell through and Knighton joined the board of directors instead.
The Washington Commanders is one of the most successful clubs in the National Football League (NFL) in terms of trophies won. The club's first trophy was the NFL Championship, which they won as the Boston Braves in 1937. In 1942, the club won their second league title. Since then, they have gone on to win a total of 5 NFC Championship games—including 3 Super Bowl Championships—and their total of 14 Division Championships is remarkable. Those titles have meant the club has appeared a record number of times in the NFL playoffs; of those appearances, Washington Commanders have won numerous times, including several times when the match was drawn and the trophy shared by the two clubs.
Domestic
Continental
Worldwide
Washington Commanders History: A comprehensive history of the Washington Commanders football team, detailing their origins, key players, victories, and current status. https://www.washingtoncommanders.com/team/history
Washington Commanders Fan Base: An in-depth analysis of the Washington Commanders' fan base, showcasing its size, global reach, and impact on the team's success. https://www.nfl.com/teams/washington-commanders/
Becoming a leading global provider of digital solutions and services for the sports industry, enabling our clients to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.
We aspire to be a trusted partner and advisor to our clients, leveraging our expertise and passion for sports to help them succeed in a rapidly changing market.
