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

Round	Pick	Player	Position	School/Club Team
2	43	Bill Brundige	Defensive Tackle	Colorado
4	103	Paul Laaveg	Tackle	Iowa
5	114	Manny Sistrunk	Defensive Tackle	Arkansas AM&N
5	121	Danny Pierce	Running Back	Memphis State
7	173	Roland Merritt	Wide Receiver	Maryland
7	178	Jimmy Harris	Cornerback	Howard Payne
8	199	Paul Johnson	Defensive Back	Penn State
9	225	Ralph Sonntag	Tackle	Maryland
11	277	Mack Alston	Tight End	Maryland State
12	303	James Kates	Linebacker	Penn State
13	329	Joe Patterson	Tackle	Lawrence
14	355	Tony Moro	Running Back	Dayton
15	381	Vic Lewandowski	Center	Holy Cross
16	407	Steve Bushore	Wide Receiver	Emporia State
17	433	Earl Maxfield	Defensive Tackle	Baylor

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.