1970 Washington Redskins season

The 1970 Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 39th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 34th in Washington, D.C.. Second-year head coach Vince Lombardi was diagnosed with terminal cancer in late June and died on September 3;[1][2] offensive line coach Bill Austin stepped in as interim head coach in mid-July.[3]

1970 Washington Redskins season
OwnerEdward Bennett Williams
Head coachBill Austin (interim)
Vince Lombardi (until death)
Home fieldRFK Stadium
Results
Record6–8
Division place4th NFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Austin had been an NFL head coach for three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1966–68) and was starting his eighth year as an assistant coach under Lombardi (1959–64, 1969–70). Also, Austin's final four seasons as a player on the offensive line with the New York Giants (1954–57) were with Lombardi as offensive coordinator.

The Redskins finished at 6–8 in 1970, fourth in the NFC East, but with a five-game losing streak in the second half of the season. The last loss was a 34–0 shutout at rival Dallas on December 6, and Washington fell to a 4–8 record and four games behind the Cowboys.[4]

It was the 25th consecutive season that the Redskins did not advance to the playoffs. Austin's contract was not renewed, and he was succeeded by George Allen in January 1971.[5][6] Austin returned to Redskins in 1973 as the offensive line coach under Allen for five seasons.

Offseason

NFL Draft
Main article: 1970 NFL draft
Round Pick Player Position School/Club Team
243Bill BrundigeDefensive tackleColorado
4103Paul LaavegTackleIowa
5114Manny SistrunkDefensive tackleArkansas AM&N
5121Danny PierceRunning backMemphis State
7173Roland MerrittWide receiverMaryland
7178Jimmy HarrisCornerbackHoward Payne
8199Paul JohnsonDefensive backPenn State
9225Ralph SonntagTackleMaryland
11277Mack AlstonTight endMaryland State
12303James KatesLinebackerPenn State
13329Joe PattersonTackleLawrence
14355Tony MoroRunning backDayton
15381Vic LewandowskiCenterHoly Cross
16407Steve BushoreWide receiverEmporia State
17433Earl MaxfieldDefensive tackleBaylor

Roster
1970 Washington Redskins roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Game
recap
1 September 20 at San Francisco 49ers L 17–26 0–1 Kezar Stadium 34,984 Recap
2 September 27 at St. Louis Cardinals L 17–27 0–2 Busch Memorial Stadium 44,246 Recap
3 October 4 at Philadelphia Eagles W 33–21 1–2 Franklin Field 60,658 Recap
4 October 11 Detroit Lions W 31–10 2–2 RFK Stadium 50,414 Recap
5 October 19 at Oakland Raiders L 20–34 2-3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 54,471 Recap
6 October 25 Cincinnati Bengals W 20–0 3–3 RFK Stadium 50,414 Recap
7 November 1 at Denver Broncos W 19–3 4–3 Mile High Stadium 50,705 Recap
8 November 8 Minnesota Vikings L 10–19 4–4 RFK Stadium 50,415 Recap
9 November 15 at New York Giants L 33–35 4–5 Yankee Stadium 62,915 Recap
10 November 22 Dallas Cowboys L 21–45 4–6 RFK Stadium 50,415 Recap
11 November 29 New York Giants L 24–27 4–7 RFK Stadium 50,415 Recap
12 December 6 at Dallas Cowboys L 0–34 4–8 Cotton Bowl 57,936 Recap
13 December 13 Philadelphia Eagles W 24–6 5–8 RFK Stadium 50,415 Recap
14 December 20 St. Louis Cardinals W 28–27 6–8 RFK Stadium 50,415 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings
NFC East
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Dallas Cowboys 10 4 0 .714 5–3 7–4 299 221 W5
New York Giants 9 5 0 .643 6–2 6–5 301 270 L1
St. Louis Cardinals 8 5 1 .615 5–3 6–5 325 228 L3
Washington Redskins 6 8 0 .429 3–5 4–7 297 314 W2
Philadelphia Eagles 3 10 1 .231 1–7 1–9–1 241 332 W1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References
  1. "Lombardi dies of cancer". Milwaukee Journal. wire services. September 3, 1970. p. 1, part 1.
  2. "State to mourn Lombardi in rites". Milwaukee Sentinel. September 4, 1970. p. 1, part 1.
  3. "'Skins tab Bill Austin". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. July 17, 1970. p. 11.
  4. "Cowboys rip Skins, 34-0". Milwaukee Sentinel. UPI. December 7, 1970. p. 3, part 2.
  5. "Allen replaces Bill Austin; Cardinals dismiss Winner". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. W-P. January 7, 1971. p. 13.
  6. Lowitt, Bruce (January 7, 1971). "George Allen replaces Bill Austin as Redskin coach". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. p. 25.


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