If you walk into a sports bar in Northern Virginia or the District today, the conversation usually circles around rebuilding, draft picks, and the future of the Commanders. But for anyone who grew up there in the 80s, the vibe was different. Total dominance. People ask how many Super Bowls did the Redskins win because the current state of the franchise feels so disconnected from that era of excellence. The short answer is three. They won three rings in a span of ten years, and honestly, they probably should have had a fourth if a certain game in January 1984 hadn't gone sideways.
It wasn't just that they won. It was how they did it.
The Joe Gibbs era was a masterclass in adapting to whatever the NFL threw at you. Most dynasties are defined by a single Hall of Fame quarterback—think Montana or Brady. Washington did it with three different guys under center. Joe Theismann, Doug Williams, and Mark Rypien. That’s basically unheard of in professional football. It speaks to a level of coaching and roster depth that we rarely see in the modern salary cap era.
The first breakthrough in 1982
The 1982 season was weird. A players' strike cut the schedule down to nine games. Critics like to put an asterisk next to it, but you can only play who's in front of you. Washington finished 8-1. They entered the playoffs as a juggernaut.
John Riggins was the heart of that team. "The Diesel." He wasn't some flashy, high-speed back; he was a 230-pound wrecking ball who got stronger as the game went on. In Super Bowl XVII against the Miami Dolphins, the world saw the most iconic play in franchise history. It was 4th and 1. Everyone in the stadium knew Riggins was getting the ball. He took the handoff, shook off a defender, and rumbled 43 yards for the touchdown.
They won 27-17. It was the first time the city really tasted that kind of success. Theismann was the leader, sure, but that win was built on the backs of "The Hogs"—the legendary offensive line that paved the way for Riggins to run for a then-record 166 yards. When you think about how many Super Bowls did the Redskins win, you have to start with that specific image of Riggins shedding a tackle and sprinting toward the end zone. It set the tone for the next decade.
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1987 and the historic night in San Diego
Fast forward five years. The 1987 season was another strike-impacted year, but this one ended with a performance that redefined NFL history. Doug Williams became the first Black quarterback to start—and win—a Super Bowl.
The matchup was Super Bowl XXII against John Elway and the Denver Broncos. Early on, it looked like a disaster. Denver went up 10-0. Williams twisted his knee. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. Then, the second quarter happened.
It was a literal blitzkrieg.
Washington scored 35 points in a single quarter. 35! Williams threw four touchdowns in those fifteen minutes. Ricky Sanders was catching everything. Timmy Smith, a rookie who had barely done anything all year, ended up rushing for 204 yards. Denver didn't know what hit them. By the time the dust settled, Washington had won 42-10. It remains one of the most explosive displays of offensive football ever recorded.
The 1991 masterpiece
If 1982 was about grit and 1987 was about an explosive burst, 1991 was about pure, unadulterated perfection. Many football historians, including those at Football Outsiders and various DVOA metrics, rank the 1991 Washington team as one of the greatest of all time. Not just of the decade. Ever.
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They started 11-0. They had the best offense in the league and a top-three defense. Mark Rypien was hitting deep balls to "The Posse"—Art Monk, Gary Clark, and Ricky Sanders. This wasn't a team that struggled or scraped by. They dismantled people.
Super Bowl XXVI against the Buffalo Bills was almost a formality. The Bills had a "K-Gun" no-huddle offense that was supposed to tire people out, but Washington’s defense, led by Charles Mann and Darrell Green, absolutely suffocated them. Rypien won the MVP. The final score was 37-24, but it wasn't even that close. Washington led 24-0 at one point.
Why the number three matters
So, when looking at how many Super Bowls did the Redskins win, the number is three (1982, 1987, 1991). But they also appeared in two others during that stretch. They lost to the Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII and to the Dolphins way back in the 1972 season (the famous undefeated Miami year).
Total Super Bowl Appearances:
- Super Bowl VII (Loss)
- Super Bowl XVII (Win)
- Super Bowl XVIII (Loss)
- Super Bowl XXII (Win)
- Super Bowl XXVI (Win)
The consistency is what people forget. Joe Gibbs is the only coach to win three Super Bowls with three different starting quarterbacks. That just doesn't happen. It’s a testament to the "Hogs" culture—the idea that if you win the line of scrimmage, it doesn't matter who is throwing the ball.
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It’s also worth noting the heartbreak of 1983. That team was arguably better than the '82 squad. They set a scoring record that stood for years. But they ran into a buzzsaw in Marcus Allen and the Los Angeles Raiders. If they win that game, we’re talking about a four-ring dynasty that rivals the 70s Steelers or the 80s 49ers.
Practical takeaways for the modern fan
Understanding this history isn't just about nostalgia. It explains the deep-seated passion—and the deep-seated frustration—of the DMV fan base. They've seen what peak performance looks like.
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific era, here is what you should do:
- Watch "A Football Life: Joe Gibbs." It’s the best documentary coverage of how he managed to keep a locker room together through three different iterations of a championship team.
- Study the 1991 DVOA stats. If you're a math nerd, look up the advanced metrics for that '91 team. They are frequently cited by analysts as the most "complete" team in the Super Bowl era.
- Visit the Commanders' Hall of Fame. While the name has changed, the trophies are still there. Seeing the actual hardware from '82, '87, and '91 gives you a sense of the physical history of the franchise.
The legacy of those three wins is why the "Burgundy and Gold" still carries weight. It wasn't just about the quantity of the rings, but the way they represented the city—hardworking, physical, and led by a coaching genius who knew how to find a way to win, no matter who was taking the snaps.