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1981 Washington Redskins 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}}"
September 6	[Dallas Cowboys](1981-dallas-cowboys-season)	L 10–26	0–1	RFK Stadium	55,045	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109060was.htm)
September 13	[New York Giants](1981-new-york-giants-season)	L 7–17	0–2	RFK Stadium	53,343	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109130was.htm)
September 20	at [St. Louis Cardinals](1981-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season)	L 30–40	0–3	Busch Memorial Stadium	47,592	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109200crd.htm)
September 27	at [Philadelphia Eagles](1981-philadelphia-eagles-season)	L 13–36	0–4	Veterans Stadium	70,664	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198109270phi.htm)
October 4	[San Francisco 49ers](1981-san-francisco-49ers-season)	L 17–30	0–5	RFK Stadium	51,843	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110040was.htm)
October 11	at [Chicago Bears](1981-chicago-bears-season)	W 24–7	1–5	Soldier Field	57,683	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110110chi.htm)
October 18	at [Miami Dolphins](1981-miami-dolphins-season)	L 10–13	1–6	Miami Orange Bowl	47,367	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110180mia.htm)
October 25	[New England Patriots](1981-new-england-patriots-season)	W 24–22	2–6	RFK Stadium	50,394	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198110250was.htm)
November 1	[St. Louis Cardinals](1981-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season)	W 42–21	3–6	RFK Stadium	50,643	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111010was.htm)
November 8	[Detroit Lions](1981-detroit-lions-season)	W 33–31	4–6	RFK Stadium	52,096	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111080was.htm)
November 15	at [New York Giants](1981-new-york-giants-season)	W 30–27 (OT)	5–6	Giants Stadium	63,133	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111150nyg.htm)
November 22	at [Dallas Cowboys](1981-dallas-cowboys-season)	L 10–24	5–7	Texas Stadium	64,587	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111220dal.htm)
November 29	at [Buffalo Bills](1981-buffalo-bills-season)	L 14–21	5–8	Rich Stadium	59,624	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198111290buf.htm)
December 6	[Philadelphia Eagles](1981-philadelphia-eagles-season)	W 15–13	6–8	RFK Stadium	52,206	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112060was.htm)
December 13	[Baltimore Colts](1981-baltimore-colts-season)	W 38–14	7–8	RFK Stadium	46,706	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112130was.htm)
December 20	at [Los Angeles Rams](1981-los-angeles-rams-season)	W 30–7	8–8	Anaheim Stadium	52,224	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198112200ram.htm)
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

References

"1981 Washington Redskins draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
"Washington Redskins 1981 Press Guide".
"1981 Washington Redskins starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com.

Info: Wikipedia Source

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