You probably remember the feeling if you were around for it. The mid-2000s in D.C. were a rollercoaster, but 2005? That year hit different. It was the season where Joe Gibbs finally seemed to have his "second act" figured out. After a rocky 6-10 start to his return in 2004, the 2005 Washington Redskins roster felt like a group that actually bought into the old-school, high-character culture he was trying to rebuild. They weren't just a collection of expensive free agents; they were a team.
Basically, it was the year of "The Streak."
After sitting at 5-6 and looking like they were headed for another early vacation, this squad rattled off five straight wins to finish 10-6. They didn't just stumble into the playoffs. They kicked the door down. And honestly, looking back at the names on that depth chart, it’s easy to see why. You had prime Clinton Portis, a breakout Santana Moss, and a defense led by Sean Taylor that hit people like a freight train.
The Offensive Engines: Portis and Moss
When you talk about the 2005 Washington Redskins roster, you have to start with the trade. Trading Laveranues Coles for Santana Moss was arguably one of the best moves the franchise made in that era. Moss was electric. He didn't just play receiver; he haunted secondaries. He finished that year with a staggering 1,483 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. Remember the "Monday Night Miracle" in Dallas? Two deep bombs to Moss in the final minutes to stun the Cowboys. That’s the 2005 season in a nutshell.
Then there was Clinton Portis.
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People forget how much of a workhorse he was for Joe Bugel’s "Dirtbags" on the offensive line. Portis carried the ball 352 times that year. That is an insane workload by today’s standards. He racked up 1,516 yards and 11 scores on the ground. He was the heartbeat of the offense, often doing the dirty work in pass protection too.
The guy under center, Mark Brunell, was 35 years old and definitely on the back nine of his career. But he was smart. After Joe Gibbs benched Patrick Ramsey early in the season opener against Chicago, Brunell took the reins and threw for over 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns. He wasn't the mobile threat he was in Jacksonville, but he knew how to manage a game and let his playmakers do the heavy lifting.
The Grunts and the "H-Back"
The offensive line was a wall. You had Chris Samuels at left tackle—a literal legend—and Jon Jansen on the right. Casey Rabach was the new addition at center, providing a veteran stability they’d been missing.
- LT: Chris Samuels (Pro Bowler)
- LG: Derrick Dockery
- C: Casey Rabach
- RG: Randy Thomas
- RT: Jon Jansen
And we can’t talk about the offense without mentioning Chris Cooley. The "Captain Chaos" era was in full swing. He was the perfect H-back for Gibbs' system, catching 71 passes for 774 yards. He was the ultimate safety valve for Brunell.
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That 2005 Defense: Gregg Williams Unleashed
If the offense was about ball control and big plays to Moss, the defense was about pure, unadulterated violence. Gregg Williams was the defensive coordinator, and his philosophy was simple: blitz until the other team forgets their own names.
The 2005 Washington Redskins roster featured a defensive backfield that was scary. Sean Taylor, in only his second season, was becoming the best safety in football. He wasn't just a big hitter; he was a ball hawk who finished with two interceptions and a legendary fumble return for a touchdown in the Wild Card game against Tampa Bay.
Beside him was Ryan Clark, a guy who never got enough credit at the time but was the perfect disciplined foil to Taylor’s roaming style. At corner, you had Shawn Springs and Walt Harris. Springs was a technician, while Harris was a veteran who just knew how to be in the right spot.
The Front Seven
The linebacker corps was a fascinating mix of personalities.
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- Marcus Washington: The high-energy leader who seemed to be involved in every tackle.
- Lemar Marshall: The guy who replaced Antonio Pierce and somehow finished with four interceptions.
- LaVar Arrington: This was a weird year for him. He was in Joe Gibbs' doghouse for a while, dealing with injuries and coaching friction, but he still made huge plays when he finally got on the field.
Up front, Phillip Daniels was the unsung hero. He had 8 sacks that year, including a massive performance against the Cowboys late in the season. Cornelius Griffin and Joe Salave'a ate up blocks in the middle, allowing the linebackers to fly around.
The Playoff Run and What Really Happened
A lot of people think the 2005 season ended "too soon," and they're probably right. After beating Tampa Bay 17-10 in a game where the offense only gained 120 total yards—yes, you read that right, 120 yards—they headed to Seattle for the Divisional Round.
The defense held tough, but the offense finally ran out of gas. They lost 20-10. Mark Brunell was banged up, the receivers were smothered, and the Seahawks were just the better team that day.
But that doesn't take away from the accomplishment. This roster proved that the "Redskins Way" could still work in the modern NFL. It was the first time since 1999 that the team had won a playoff game. For a few months, it felt like the 80s glory days were coming back.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you’re looking to dive deeper into this specific era or understand why fans still talk about this roster with such reverence, consider these points:
- Study the "H-Back" Role: Look at how Joe Gibbs used Chris Cooley. It’s a lost art in the modern NFL, where tight ends are either blockers or large receivers. Cooley did both simultaneously.
- The Sean Taylor Impact: Watch the 2005 film specifically for #21. It was arguably the year he transitioned from a "talented kid" to a "dominant force."
- Salary Cap Strategy: This was the peak of the Vinny Cerrato/Dan Snyder "big splash" era. While it eventually led to issues, the 2005 season was the one year where the expensive veteran additions (Brunell, Moss, Rabach) actually clicked perfectly.
- Defensive Schemes: Gregg Williams' 2005 defense is a masterclass in "positionless" pressure. Pay attention to how often safeties and linebackers swapped roles at the snap.
The 2005 Washington Redskins roster wasn't the most talented in franchise history, but it might have been the most resilient. They played for each other, they played for Gibbs, and for a short window, they made D.C. a football town again.