What history tells us about Washington Football Team’s chances of reaching .500

1936 – 7-5, up from 2-8-1 in 1935

The franchise currently known as WFT was playing in Boston in 1935, when a seven game losing streak caused a coaching change (one of many in the early days under team owner George Preston Marshall.)

The new coach in 1936, Ray Flaherty, proved to be a smart choice. He retooled the roster, keeping 11 rookies on a squad of 25, and took advantage of the brand spanking new NFL Draft to add studs Riley Smith and Wayne Millner to a roster that already had offensive stars Cliff Battles and Turk Edwards.

Flaherty’s young team was struggling along at 4-5 with just three games to go. But then something kicked in. They won their last three games by a combined score of 74-6 and played Green Bay in the Championship game.

That title game, a 21-6 loss, is most memorable for where it was played. Though the game featured teams from Boston and Green Bay, Marshall convinced the league to hold the game in the Polo Grounds in New York.

Consider that for a moment. It was Marshall’s call – he could have had the game in his home stadium – Fenway Park in Boston. But he was so fed up with poor fan support in Beantown that he took the championship game somewhere else.

And following the season, he would take the team somewhere else too. Beginning in 1937, this franchise would call Washington D.C. it’s home.