The Washington Commanders are one of the National Football League’s oldest and most historically significant franchises. The organization began in Boston in 1932 as the Boston Braves, moved to Washington in 1937, and has gone through several names and eras before becoming the Washington Commanders in 2022. Over more than nine decades, the franchise has won two NFL championships before the Super Bowl era and three Super Bowl championships, produced numerous Pro Football Hall of Famers, and become associated with legendary figures such as Sammy Baugh, Bobby Mitchell, Darrell Green, John Riggins, Art Monk, Joe Gibbs and many others. The Franchise History is Officially Recognized As 1932: Boston Braves 1933–1936: Boston Redskins 1937–2019: Washington Redskins 2020–2021: Washington Football Team 2022–present: Washington Commanders Washington has won NFL championships in 1937 and 1942, followed by Super Bowl championships in 1982, 1987 and 1991. The Beginning: Boston Braves The franchise was established in 1932 when George Preston Marshall headed a group that purchased an NFL franchise in Boston. The original team was called the Boston Braves, and the club played its first season at Braves Field, the home of baseball’s Boston Braves. After the 1932 season, the organization changed its nickname to the Redskins. The team played at Fenway Park from 1933 through 1936. In 1937, the franchise moved from Boston to Washington, D.C. The move immediately produced one of the greatest beginnings in NFL history. Washington won the NFL championship in its first season in the nation’s capital. All Home Stadiums of the Franchise The Washington franchise has called seven principal stadium configurations home during its history. 1. Braves Field — Boston, Massachusetts 1932 Braves Field was the original home of the franchise when it entered the NFL as the Boston Braves in 1932. It was primarily a baseball stadium and was home to the Boston Braves of Major League Baseball. 2. Fenway Park — Boston, Massachusetts 1933–1936 After the franchise changed its name to the Boston Redskins, the team moved to Fenway Park. The football team shared the famous Boston stadium with the Boston Red Sox. 3. Griffith Stadium — Washington, D.C. 1937–1960 The franchise moved to Washington in 1937 and played at Griffith Stadium. This was the site of the team’s first Washington championship season. The 1937 Redskins won the NFL championship, defeating the Chicago Bears. Washington returned to the NFL championship game in 1942 and defeated the Bears again. Griffith Stadium therefore witnessed the beginning of Washington’s championship tradition. 4. D.C. Stadium / RFK Stadium — Washington, D.C. 1961–1996 Washington moved into the new D.C. Stadium in 1961. The facility was renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, commonly known as RFK Stadium, in 1969. RFK became one of the most recognizable home fields in franchise history. The stadium was home for 36 seasons and hosted Washington through the George Allen era, the early Joe Gibbs era and the first two Super Bowl championships of the modern era. The Commanders’ own history describes RFK as the team’s home for 35 seasons from 1961 through 1996. 5. Jack Kent Cooke Stadium — Landover, Maryland 1997–1999 Washington moved across the Potomac into suburban Maryland in 1997. The new stadium was named Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in honor of the longtime owner who had died earlier that year. It opened shortly after Cooke’s death. 6. FedExField — Landover, Maryland 1999–2023 The stadium was renamed FedExField in 1999 after Washington sold the naming rights. It remained Washington’s home for 25 seasons. The stadium hosted the team throughout the majority of the Daniel Snyder ownership era and through the franchise’s transition from Redskins to Washington Football Team and then Commanders. 7. Northwest Stadium — Landover, Maryland 2024–present The stadium became known as Northwest Stadium in 2024. It remains the Commanders’ current home. The franchise is also planning a future return to Washington, D.C., with a new stadium project at the former RFK Stadium site targeted for the future. The Owners of the Washington Franchise Ownership has changed several times during the franchise’s long history. George Preston Marshall 1932–1969 George Preston Marshall was the founder of the franchise. He helped establish the Boston Braves in 1932, renamed the club the Redskins in 1933 and moved the organization to Washington in 1937. Marshall was also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor. Under Marshall, Washington won NFL championships in 1937 and 1942. Edward Bennett Williams 1960s–1970s — President and Partial Owner Edward Bennett Williams became one of the most important figures in the franchise during the transition from Marshall to Jack Kent Cooke. Williams served as team president and held an ownership interest. He was instrumental in the organization during the late Marshall and early Cooke years. Jack Kent Cooke 1960–1997; Majority Owner from 1974 Cooke first purchased a minority interest in Washington in 1960. He became the franchise’s majority owner in 1974 and eventually became the sole owner. Cooke became one of the most influential owners in Washington sports history. His ownership produced the greatest sustained championship period in franchise history. Under Cooke, Washington won: Super Bowl XVII — 1982 season Super Bowl XXII — 1987 season Super Bowl XXVI — 1991 season Cooke also oversaw the construction of the stadium that originally carried his name. He died in 1997. The Cooke Estate and John Cooke 1997–1999 After Jack Kent Cooke’s death, ownership passed through his estate while the franchise was being prepared for sale. His son, John… Continue reading Washington Commanders: A Complete History
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Buffalo Bills: A Complete History of Buffalo’s NFL Franchise
The Buffalo Bills are one of professional football’s most distinctive franchises. Born in the American Football League in 1959, the Bills became one of the AFL’s early powers, survived difficult decades, produced one of the greatest teams of the 1990s, and eventually became the first team in NFL history to reach four consecutive Super Bowls. The franchise has had only two ownership groups, but a long succession of coaches, several different home venues, Hall of Fame players, memorable draft successes and some painful draft misses. As of the 2026 season, the Bills have also entered a new era with the opening of a new Highmark Stadium and the hiring of Joe Brady as head coach. The Birth of the Buffalo Bills The modern Buffalo Bills franchise began on October 28, 1959, when Detroit businessman Ralph C. Wilson Jr. was awarded the seventh franchise in the new American Football League. Wilson was one of the original AFL owners—the group sometimes called the AFL’s “Foolish Club” because they were challenging the established NFL. He selected Buffalo as the home of his new team. The team was officially named the Buffalo Bills in November 1959 and began playing in 1960. The Bills became one of the AFL’s strongest clubs during the middle of the 1960s, winning consecutive AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965. Every Bills Owner One of the remarkable things about Buffalo’s history is the small number of ownership groups. 1. Ralph C. Wilson Jr. — 1959–2014 Wilson was the founder and original owner. He owned the Bills for 54 seasons, making him one of the longest-serving owners in NFL history. During his ownership, Buffalo won two AFL championships and appeared in four consecutive Super Bowls. Wilson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. Wilson also became an important figure in the AFL-NFL merger and was widely respected among NFL owners. 2. Terry and Kim Pegula — 2014–present Terry and Kim Pegula purchased the Bills in 2014 after Wilson’s death. NFL owners unanimously approved the sale on October 8, 2014. The Pegulas became only the second ownership group in Bills history. Terry Pegula is the team’s owner/CEO/president, while Kim Pegula is an owner and has also held prominent leadership positions with the Bills and Buffalo Sabres. Every Bills Home Stadium The Bills have had two primary physical homes; although their second hone went through numerous names. War Memorial Stadium — 1960–1972 The Bills began playing at War Memorial Stadium, commonly called the Rockpile, in Buffalo. The stadium originally opened in 1937 and was expanded during the Bills’ tenure. Buffalo played there for its entire AFL existence through the 1972 season. Rich Stadium — 1973–1997 The Bills moved to their new suburban stadium in Orchard Park in 1973. The stadium was originally named Rich Stadium. Ralph Wilson Stadium — 1998–2015 The stadium was renamed Ralph Wilson Stadium in honor of the franchise’s founder. New Era Field — 2016–2019 Naming rights changed again, producing the name New Era Field. Bills Stadium — 2020–2021 The stadium temporarily carried the straightforward name Bills Stadium. Highmark Stadium — 2021–2025 Highmark obtained naming rights in 2021, giving the Orchard Park stadium the name Highmark Stadium. New Highmark Stadium — 2026–present The Bills opened a new Highmark Stadium in 2026, replacing the previous stadium across the street. The new facility has a capacity of approximately 60,108, features a natural-grass field and was designed specifically around football. The first regular-season game in the new stadium was scheduled for September 17, 2026, against the Detroit Lions. Every Bills Head Coach Buffalo has had a long list of head coaches. Including interim coaches, the franchise has had 21 head-coaching tenures/named head coaches through the 2025 season, with Joe Brady beginning in 2026. Years Head Coach 1960–1961 Buster Ramsey 1962–1965 Lou Saban 1966–1968 Joe Collier 1968 Harvey Johnson 1969–1970 John Rauch 1971 Harvey Johnson 1972–1976 Lou Saban 1976–1977 Jim Ringo 1978–1982 Chuck Knox 1983–1985 Kay Stephenson 1985–1986 Hank Bullough 1986–1997 Marv Levy 1998–2000 Wade Phillips 2001–2003 Gregg Williams 2004–2005 Mike Mularkey 2006–2009 Dick Jauron 2009 Perry Fewell, interim 2010–2012 Chan Gailey 2013–2014 Doug Marrone 2015–2016 Rex Ryan 2016 Anthony Lynn, interim 2017–2025 Sean McDermott 2026–present Joe Brady The NFL’s official records document the historical coaching succession and records. Lou Saban and the First Bills Dynasty Lou Saban was the first great coach in Bills history. He coached Buffalo from 1962 through 1965 and returned from 1972 through 1976. His first Bills team won the AFL Championship in 1964. Buffalo repeated as champions in 1965. The 1964 team was led by stars including Jack Kemp, Cookie Gilchrist, Billy Shaw, Tom Sestak and Mike Stratton. The Bills came extremely close to reaching the first Super Bowl. They lost the 1966 AFL Championship Game to Kansas City, meaning the Chiefs—not Buffalo—advanced to Super Bowl I. The O.J. Simpson Era The 1970s produced one of the most famous players in franchise history: O.J. Simpson. Simpson became the centerpiece of the Buffalo offense and in 1973 became the first NFL running back to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season, finishing with 2,003. That accomplishment remained one of the defining individual achievements in Bills history. Chuck Knox and the Return to the Playoffs Chuck Knox became head coach in 1978. Known for his emphasis on physical football, Knox led Buffalo to the AFC East championship in 1980. The Bills reached the playoffs again in 1981 before losing to Cincinnati. After Knox’s departure, Buffalo went through another difficult period before one of the greatest transformations in franchise history. Marv Levy and the Greatest Era in Bills History Everything changed in 1986. The Bills replaced Hank Bullough with Marv Levy, who would eventually become a Pro Football Hall of Fame coach. Levy remained Buffalo’s head coach through 1997. He became the winningest coach in franchise history and led Buffalo to four consecutive AFC championships. Levy’s teams were built around an extraordinary collection of talent: Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Bruce Smith, James… Continue reading Buffalo Bills: A Complete History of Buffalo’s NFL Franchise
