If you’re walking around D.C. today and ask a young fan if the team is any good, you might get a shrug or a joke about "rebuilding." It's been a long road. But when you ask, have the commanders ever won a superbowl, the answer is a resounding yes—even if the name on the trophies doesn't match the one on the jerseys right now.
The franchise has actually hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy three different times.
Honestly, the history is a bit of a trip. The team we now call the Commanders was once a dominant juggernaut that defined NFL excellence in the 1980s and early 90s. While they haven't won a title under the "Commanders" brand (which only launched in 2022), the lineage is direct. They aren't an expansion team; they are a storied franchise with three Super Bowl rings and two pre-merger NFL championships from the 1930s and 40s.
The Golden Era: Three Rings in Ten Years
You can't talk about Washington’s success without mentioning Joe Gibbs. He’s basically a local deity in the DMV area. Why? Because he is the only head coach in NFL history to win three Super Bowls with three different starting quarterbacks. That’s unheard of. Most teams pray for one Hall of Fame QB to carry them for a decade. Gibbs just plugged in whoever was ready and built a system that crushed people.
Super Bowl XVII (1983): The Diesel Power
The first one is the one everyone remembers because of "The Riggo Drill." On January 30, 1983, Washington faced the Miami Dolphins. The game was tight until the fourth quarter. Then, on a 4th-and-1 that will live forever in NFL films, running back John Riggins—affectionately known as "The Diesel"—broke a tackle and thundered 43 yards for a touchdown.
Washington won 27-17. Riggins finished with 166 rushing yards. It was the franchise's first NFL title in 40 years.
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Super Bowl XXII (1988): A Quarter for the Ages
If the first win was about grit, the second was about an explosion. Facing John Elway and the Denver Broncos, Washington fell behind 10-0 early. It looked like a blowout was coming. Then the second quarter happened.
Quarterback Doug Williams orchestrated a 35-point barrage in a single quarter.
35 points.
In 15 minutes.
Williams became the first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, throwing for four touchdowns in that period alone. The final score was 42-10. It remains one of the most lopsided and impressive displays of offensive football ever caught on tape.
Super Bowl XXVI (1992): The 1991 Juggernaut
Many football historians argue that the 1991 Washington team is the greatest single-season team in NFL history. They went 14-2 in the regular season and basically bullied everyone in their path. When they met the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI, the outcome never really felt in doubt.
Mark Rypien was the surgeon that day, throwing for 292 yards and two scores. The defense, led by Charles Mann and Darrell Green, absolutely suffocated Jim Kelly’s "K-Gun" offense. They won 37-24, but it felt much wider than that.
The Stats and the Struggles
It hasn't all been champagne and parades. Since that 1992 victory, the well has been pretty dry.
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| Super Bowl | Year | Opponent | Result | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VII | 1973 | Miami Dolphins | Loss (14-7) | N/A |
| XVII | 1983 | Miami Dolphins | Win (27-17) | John Riggins |
| XVIII | 1984 | L.A. Raiders | Loss (38-9) | N/A |
| XXII | 1988 | Denver Broncos | Win (42-10) | Doug Williams |
| XXVI | 1992 | Buffalo Bills | Win (37-24) | Mark Rypien |
You've probably noticed a pattern. From 1982 to 1991, they went to four Super Bowls and won three. Since then? They haven't even made it back to the NFC Championship game. It’s been a thirty-plus-year drought that has tested the patience of even the most die-hard fans.
Why the "Commanders" Name Matters for SEO and History
Some people get tripped up by the name changes. First, they were the Redskins. Then, the Washington Football Team. Now, the Commanders.
When you search have the commanders ever won a superbowl, Google is smart enough to know you mean the franchise, not just the current branding. But it's worth noting that all the hardware in the trophy case currently has the old branding on it. This creates a weird disconnect for younger fans who only know the "W" logo.
Under the ownership of Dan Snyder, the team struggled with identity and performance for decades. However, with the 2023 sale to the Josh Harris group and the arrival of players like Jayden Daniels, there’s a feeling that the "Commanders" era might finally start adding its own history to those dusty trophies from the 80s.
The Misconceptions About Their Record
A lot of folks forget they actually lost two Super Bowls as well.
They were the "1" in the Miami Dolphins' perfect 17-0 season back in Super Bowl VII. Washington only managed 7 points that day. Then there was the 1984 disaster against the Raiders, where they got smoked 38-9.
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People also tend to ignore the pre-Super Bowl era. If you want to be a real "well, actually" person at the bar, you can remind people they won the NFL Championship in 1937 and 1942. Technically, that makes them five-time world champions, even if only three of those came in the Super Bowl era.
What to Watch for Next
If you’re looking for the Commanders to return to glory, the path is finally being paved. The new leadership has cleared out the old culture, and they’re building around a mobile, modern offense.
Practical Steps for Fans and Researchers:
- Check the Hall of Fame: If you want to see the DNA of these winning teams, look up Joe Gibbs, Art Monk, and Darrell Green. Their stats explain why Washington was so hard to beat.
- Watch the 1991 Season Highlights: If you want to see what a "perfect" team looks like, find the 1991 highlights. Their offensive line, "The Hogs," changed how the game was played.
- Track the Rebuild: Keep an eye on the 2024 and 2025 draft classes. The current front office is trying to replicate the depth-first building style that Bobby Beathard used to win those first three rings.
The Commanders have a legacy that most NFL teams would kill for. While the name is new, the three Lombardi trophies are very real. They aren't just a team with a past; they are a team trying to find their way back to a standard they set decades ago.
To truly understand the depth of this franchise, your next step should be looking into the "The Hogs" and how an offensive line became the most famous position group in NFL history during their Super Bowl runs.