Advertise on podcast: Hail Tales: Stories from Washington Football History

1959. It’s a crisp November Sunday in Washington, D.C. Fans are filing into Griffith Stadium to watch a game that, on paper, looks like a major mismatch. The reigning NFL champions, one of the most dominant teams in league history, rolling into a city of underdogs. These visitors, though, don’t quite realize what they are up against. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time is winding down in Super Bowl XVII, and Washington has been trailing the entire game. Hope for the franchise’s first ever Super Bowl title is not lost, but with each second off the clock, it’s dimming. It’s Washington’s ball. Just over ten minutes left. Fourth-and-inches on Miami’s 43-yard line. The anticipation is thick in the Southern California air. The noise of over 103,000 fans surges. In this scenario, with the stakes this high, there was only one man the ball was going to. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 27,000 had poured into Griffith Stadium for what seemed to be a typical football Sunday. As the game between Philadelphia and Washington kicked off, one of the most significant events in American history unfolds 5,000 miles away. What happened – and what didn't happen – at the Burgundy & Gold’s game that day went onto become an infamous part of Washington D.C. lore. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On December 12, 1937, Washington bested the Bears at Wrigley Field to lift its first league title. That championship gave rise to a group of legends and laid the first brick of a legacy!   Get Your Commanders Tickets Here: https://bit.ly/3SpwKU3 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A linebacker with a grudge, a QB who loved to air it out and an innovative kicker helped lift Washington to the kind of win the league may never see again!   Get Your Commanders Tickets Here: https://bit.ly/3SpwKU3 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of Week 10 during the 1990 season, Philadelphia head coach Buddy Ryan said his team would deliver Washington a beating so bad that “they’ll have to be carted off in body bags.” What happened in that matchup left a mark on the Burgundy & Gold in more ways than one! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pioneer in pro sports entertainment, Washington’s marching band made its debut during the Burgundy & Gold’s first season in D.C. nearly 90 years ago. Since then, it has established fan favorite traditions and become a cherished gameday presence!   Get Your Commanders Tickets Here: https://bit.ly/3SpwKU3 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1969, Vince Lombardi made the surprising move to join Washington as its new head coach and general manager. With his unique brand of leadership, the legendary Lombardi planted seeds that would set in motion a turnaround for the Burgundy & Gold!   Get Your Commanders Tickets Here: https://bit.ly/3SpwKU3 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 19, 2005, Washington traveled west to Texas Stadium to face bitter rival Dallas on Monday Night Football. What unfolded in the last minutes of the game was one of the most thrilling and memorable spectacles in the last 25 years of Washington football!   Get Your Commanders Tickets Here: https://bit.ly/3SpwKU3 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On December 22, 1996, Washington beat Dallas 37-10 in front of a sellout crowd. The postgame scenes were a sight to behold: fans tore up seats on their way to storming the field, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ played, a fire was set inside a helmet. The outpouring of emotion was about more than just a win over the Cowboys; it was about closing a chapter and saying goodbye to hallowed grounds that meant so much to so many.   Get Your Commanders Tickets Here: https://bit.ly/3SpwKU3   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 1 of Hail Tales wraps up with a compilation of fun stories from the old days of training camp in Carlisle, PA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 34 years, Washington held training camp at Dickinson College, a small DIII school two and a half hours outside of D.C. The two-a-days were grueling. The isolation and slower pace could be uncomfortable. Not to mention those college dorm rooms. Yet, a whole lot of fun was had. The time here made a big impact on the team and the Carlisle, PA community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the 1987 season, a labor strike turned the league on its head. Players refused to take the field. Tensions flared. The NFL said the show must go on. Every team faced the same challenges, but no one rose to the occasion like Washington. What the Burgundy & Gold did during the strike period was nothing short of spectacular.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The only NFL coach to win three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks. Hall of Fame inductee. The maestro behind so many of the happiest Burgundy & Gold memories. We know the magic Joe Gibbs helped create in Washington, but what took place to get him here in the first place? Spotify: bit.ly/HailTalesSpotify Apple Podcast: bit.ly/HailTalesAppleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, special teams was an over-looked part of football. Then, George Allen came along. His focus on this group left a lasting impact both in Washington and the NFL at large. Players, journalists and former front office staff talk about the late great coach. bit.ly/HailTalesSpotify bit.ly/HailTalesAppleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.