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1981 Washington Redskins season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Washington Redskins |
| year | 1981 |
| record | 8–8 |
| division_place | 4th NFC East |
| coach | Joe Gibbs |
| general manager | Bobby Beathard |
| owner | Jack Kent Cooke |
| president | Edward Bennett Williams |
| off_coach | Joe Bugel |
| def_coach | Richie Petitbon |
| stadium | RFK Stadium |
| playoffs | Did not qualify |
| shortnavlink | Redskins seasons |
The 1981 Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 50th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 44th in Washington, D.C. The team improved on their 6–10 record from 1980, finishing 8–8, but would miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. This was Joe Gibbs' first season as head coach. The team slumped early, losing its first 5 games before defeating the Chicago Bears 24–7 at Soldier Field; they would then lose to the Miami Dolphins to sit at 1–6.
Washington would do better in the second half, winning their next 4 games to reach 5–6 and looking like they were going to make the playoffs. However, losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills eliminated them from postseason contention. The team would win its final 3 games to end the season at 8–8, including a close victory at RFK Stadium against the defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Offseason
NFL draft
Main article: 1981 NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
-
Chairman of the Board/Chief Executive Officer – Jack Kent Cooke
-
President – Edward Bennett Williams
-
General manager – Bobby Beathard
-
Assistant general manager – Bobby Mitchell
-
Assistant general manager – Joel Margolis
-
Assistant general manager – Dick Meyers
-
Director of player personnel – Mike Allman
-
Director of Pro Scouting – Kirk Mee
-
Director of College Scouting – Dick Daniels
-
Personnel Scouts – Charley Casserly, Charley Taylor
-
Head coach – Joe Gibbs
-
Assistant head coach – Dan Henning
-
Offensive Coordinator – Joe Bugel
-
Offensive Backfield – Don Breaux
-
Tight Ends/Offensive Scouting Reports – Rennie Simmons
-
Defensive Coordinator – Richie Petitbon
-
Defensive Line – LaVern Torgeson
-
Linebackers – Larry Peccatiello
-
Admin. Asst./Defensive Scouting Reports – Bill Hickman
-
Special Teams – Wayne Sevier
Roster
- Rick Walker
Regular season
Schedule
| Washington Redskins | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Week | Washington Redskins | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Date | Washington Redskins | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Washington Redskins | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Result | Washington Redskins | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Record | Washington Redskins | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Venue | Washington Redskins | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Washington Redskins | year=1981 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 6 | Dallas Cowboys | L 10–26 | 0–1 | RFK Stadium | 55,045 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 13 | New York Giants | L 7–17 | 0–2 | RFK Stadium | 53,343 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 20 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 30–40 | 0–3 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 47,592 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 27 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 13–36 | 0–4 | Veterans Stadium | 70,664 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 4 | San Francisco 49ers | L 17–30 | 0–5 | RFK Stadium | 51,843 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 11 | at Chicago Bears | W 24–7 | 1–5 | Soldier Field | 57,683 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 18 | at Miami Dolphins | L 10–13 | 1–6 | Miami Orange Bowl | 47,367 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 25 | New England Patriots | W 24–22 | 2–6 | RFK Stadium | 50,394 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 1 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 42–21 | 3–6 | RFK Stadium | 50,643 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 8 | Detroit Lions | W 33–31 | 4–6 | RFK Stadium | 52,096 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 15 | at New York Giants | W 30–27 (OT) | 5–6 | Giants Stadium | 63,133 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 22 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 10–24 | 5–7 | Texas Stadium | 64,587 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 29 | at Buffalo Bills | L 14–21 | 5–8 | Rich Stadium | 59,624 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 6 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 15–13 | 6–8 | RFK Stadium | 52,206 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 13 | Baltimore Colts | W 38–14 | 7–8 | RFK Stadium | 46,706 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 20 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 30–7 | 8–8 | Anaheim Stadium | 52,224 | Recap | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Standings
References
References
- "1981 Washington Redskins draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- "Washington Redskins 1981 Press Guide".
- "1981 Washington Redskins starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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