1970 Washington Redskins season

1970 Washington Redskins season
Head coach Bill Austin (interim)
Vince Lombardi (until death)
Home field RFK Stadium
Results
Record 6–8
Division place 4th NFC East
Playoff finish did not qualify

The 1970 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 7–5–2 record from 1969. 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]

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

Regular season

Schedule

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

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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