Washington Commanders 2024 Schedule and Tickets
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The Washington Commanders are ready to take the NFL by storm in the 2023 season. After a historic ownership change, a revamped coaching staff, and some exciting additions to the roster, the Commanders have high hopes of making a deep playoff run and bringing glory back to the nation’s capital.
The biggest news of the offseason was the sale of the franchise from Daniel Snyder, who had owned the team since 1999, to an investment group led by Josh Harris, owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils. Harris and his partners paid a whopping $6.05 billion for the team and Commanders Field, the highest price ever paid for a sports team. The deal was unanimously approved by the NFL on July 20, 2023.
Harris is known as a visionary and a winner in the sports world. He has transformed the 76ers into one of the best teams in the NBA, and he has brought stability and success to the Devils in the NHL.
Harris has vowed to bring a new culture and a new identity to the Commanders, who have been mired in controversy and mediocrity under Snyder’s tenure. He has retained Jason Wright as the team president, as well as Martin Mayhew as the general manager, and Marty Hurney as the executive vice president of football/player personnel, giving them full autonomy to make football decisions.
Harris has also pledged to invest in improving the fan experience at Commanders Field, which has been ranked as one of the worst stadiums in the league. He has announced plans to renovate the stadium, add more amenities, and enhance security and safety measures. He has also promised to engage with the local community and support various social causes.
The team also has a new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, who was the mastermind behind the Kansas City Chiefs’ explosive offense. Bieniemy will work with head coach Ron Rivera, who is entering his fourth year with the team, and general manager Martin Mayhew, who is in his third year.
The Commanders have bolstered their roster with some significant additions. They have brought back quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who threw for 2,608 yards and 12 touchdowns with an 88.9 passer rating in 2022. They have also secured the services of guard/center Nick Gates and linebacker Cody Barton. Furthermore, they have snatched tackle Andrew Wylie from the Kansas City Chiefs, who signed a $24 million contract with the Commanders.
They did also experience some key departures from the 2022 season, including quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Tyler Heinicke, linebacker Cole Holcomb,, wide receiver Cam Sims, and guard/center Wes Schweitzer.
The team hopes to improve their 8–8–1 record from last year and make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and they have improved their roster in order to do so. An entire city is hopeful of what can be done under new management.
The Washington Commanders had a mixed performance in the 2022 NFL season. They finished with a non-losing record of 8-8-1, but missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year. They also finished last in their division, the NFC East, just behind the New York Giants, who had a 9-7-1 record. This was the first season the team played under their current branding and logos, after playing as the Washington Football Team for two seasons in 2020 and 2021.
In an effort to bolster their offense, they orchestrated a trade for quarterback Carson Wentz, acquired from the Indianapolis Colts. The team also celebrated five Pro Bowl selections, including wide receiver Terry McLaurin, defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, punter Tress Way, and special teamer Jeremy Reaves, with Reaves earning a place on the All-Pro first team. Their victories over formidable opponents like the Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, and Dallas Cowboys added to their season's highlights.
However, the season was not without its challenges. Injuries and inconsistency plagued the quarterback position, with Wentz's early struggles leading to his replacement by Taylor Heinicke following a finger injury. Heinicke demonstrated promise but also faced difficulties in some games. The quarterback situation remained unsettled, with Wentz returning in Week 17 only to be benched again in favor of rookie Sam Howell in Week 18. The Commanders also experienced setbacks in close losses to teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, and Minnesota Vikings.
Their hopes for a playoff berth were dashed with a pivotal loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 17, and they made history by becoming the first team to conclude a 17-game season with a .500 record. In sum, the Washington Commanders' 2022 season exhibited both promise and disappointment, highlighting areas for improvement and the need for strategic changes to contend for a playoff spot in 2023.
Washington Commanders Key Matchups in 2023Their attempt to improve on their 8-8-1 record won’t be easy, as their three divisional rivals had playoff appearances last season, including one of them going to the Super Bowl. Here are the Commanders’ most pivotal games:
Founded in 1932, the Washington Commanders originally started as the Boston Braves, under the ownership of George Preston Marshall and three other businessmen. In that same year, they became part of the NFL, stepping in to fill the void left by the defunct Newark Tornadoes franchise. In 1933, the team underwent a name change, adopting the moniker "Redskins," and in 1937, they relocated to Washington, D.C. The franchise carried the name Washington Redskins until 2019 when, under mounting pressure from sponsors and activists, it retired its name. Following this, for a span of two seasons, the team played under the temporary name "Washington Football Team" before unveiling their new identity as the "Commanders" in 2022.
The current owner of the franchise is a 21-member group, headed by Josh Harris, who bought the team from Daniel Snyder in 2023 for $6.05 billion. Harris is also the co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, an NBA team, and the New Jersey Devils, an NHL team. Snyder had owned the team since 1999. Before Snyder, the team went through several owners, like George Preston Marshall, Edward Bennett Williams and Jack Kent Cooke.
Their head coach is Ron Rivera, who enters his fourth season as the team’s head coach in 2023. He was hired on January 1, 2020, after being fired by the Carolina Panthers in 2019. Rivera is a former NFL linebacker who played for the Chicago Bears from 1984 to 1992 and won Super Bowl XX with them. He has also been a linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chicago Bears, and the San Diego Chargers. He became the head coach of the Panthers in 2011 and led them to four playoff appearances, three NFC South titles, and one Super Bowl appearance. He was named AP NFL Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2015. He is also the first Hispanic head coach in NFL history. Rivera is known for his defensive-minded and aggressive coaching style, which earned him the nickname “Riverboat Ron” for his willingness to take risks on fourth downs and trick plays. He is also respected for his leadership and character, especially after he battled cancer during the 2020 season and still coached the team to a division title.
The team has won a total of five championships in their history: two NFL championships (pre-1970 AFL–NFL merger) in 1937 and 1942, and three Super Bowl championships in 1982 (Super Bowl XVII), 1987 (Super Bowl XXII), and 1991 (Super Bowl XXVI).
The team has won 15 divisional championships in their history: they have won the NFL Eastern division six times (1936, 1937, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1945) and the NFC East division nine times (1972, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1991, 1999, 2012, 2020).
The team’s best overall season record was in 1991, when they finished with a 14-2-0 record and won the Super Bowl XXVI against the Buffalo Bills. That year, they had the highest scoring offense in the league with 485 points and the second-best defense with 224 points allowed. Their head coach was Joe Gibbs, who won his third Super Bowl with the team. Their top players were Mark Rypien, Earnest Byner, and Gary Clark.
The team has an overall franchise record of 625 wins, 630 losses, and 29 ties in the regular season, and 23 wins and 20 losses in the postseason. This gives them a winning percentage of 0.498 in the regular season and 0.535 in the postseason.
The team’s most famous players are:
Yes, they have retired four jersey numbers in their history:
Since 1997, the team has called FedExField, situated about 5 miles east of Washington, D.C. in Landover, Maryland, its home. This stadium, boasting a capacity of 58,000, is owned by Josh Harris and operated by the Commanders. However, prior to their tenure at FedExField, the Commanders had a history of playing at various venues. Their journey began in 1932 as the Boston Braves, playing their games at Braves Field, the home of the Boston Braves baseball team. Following a name change to the Boston Redskins in 1933, they relocated to Fenway Park, sharing the field with the Boston Red Sox until 1936. In 1937, the franchise made its way to the nation's capital, transforming into the Washington Redskins. For over two decades, they called Griffith Stadium their home, securing their first two NFL championships in 1937 and 1942. In 1961, they moved to D.C. Stadium, later known as Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium or RFK Stadium, and played there until 1996. At RFK Stadium, they celebrated three Super Bowl victories in four appearances in 1982, 1987, and 1991.
Their biggest rivals are the New York Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Dallas Cowboys. These rivalries are based on geography, divisional structure, and historical matchups.
Their mascot is called Major Tuddy, who made his debut in 2022 as a tribute to the Hogs offensive line that played a crucial role in the team's three Super Bowl victories in the 1980s and 1990s. Major Tuddy is a hog standing at an impressive 6 feet 5 inches tall and features a snout, a sizable belly, and hooves, and he proudly sports a Commanders jersey bearing the number 21, paying homage to the late Sean Taylor, a cherished figure in the team's history. Major Tuddy is beloved for his affectionate and lively character, along with his deep commitment to serving the team. He enjoys activities such as weightlifting, frolicking in the mud, and enthusiastically cheering for the Burgundy & Gold family.
The team wears burgundy and gold as their team colors. These iconic colors have been a part of the team's identity since they relocated to Washington, D.C. in 1937. Even after the rebranding as the Commanders in 2022, the team chose to stick with these familiar colors. They hold deep symbolism, representing the team's rich history, tradition, and the pride associated with the nation's capital. Burgundy signifies the sacrifices of the military and players, while gold stands for the glory of winning championships and serving the community. Additionally, these colors draw inspiration from the D.C. flag, which features three red stars and two red bars on a white background. Elements of this flag are incorporated into the team's logo, crest, and uniforms. It's worth noting that the Washington Capitals, the city's NHL team, also utilizes red and white with some blue accents, establishing a connection between the two teams' color schemes.
A new era is beginning in Washington, so don’t miss it and get your tickets here at Event Tickets Center!