The Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 39th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 34th in Washington, D.C. Vince Lombardi, who was hired the previous season, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in late June and died on September 3. In July, offensive line coach Bill Austin was named interim head coach.
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.
It was the 25th consecutive season that the Redskins did not advance to the playoffs. Austin's contract was not renewed after the season.
Offseason NFL draft
1970 Washington Redskins draft Round Selection Player Position College243Bill BrundigeDefensive tackleColorado4103Paul LaavegTackleIowa5114Manny SistrunkDefensive tackleArkansas AM&N5121Danny PierceRunning backMemphis State7173Roland MerrittWide receiverMaryland7178Jimmy HarrisCornerbackHoward Payne8199Paul JohnsonDefensive backPenn State9225Ralph SonntagTackleMaryland11277Mack AlstonTight endMaryland State12303James KatesLinebackerPenn State13329Joe PattersonTackleLawrence14355Tony MoroRunning backDayton15381Vic LewandowskiCenterHoly Cross16407Steve BushoreWide receiverEmporia State17433Earl MaxfieldDefensive tackleBaylor
Roster
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 20 at San Francisco 49ers L 17–26 0–1 Kezar Stadium 34,984 Recap 2 September 27 at St. Louis Cardinals L 17–27 0–2 Busch Memorial Stadium 44,246 Recap 3 October 4 at Philadelphia Eagles W 33–21 1–2 Franklin Field 60,658 Recap 4 October 11 Detroit Lions W 31–10 2–2 RFK Stadium 50,414 Recap 5 October 19 at Oakland Raiders L 20–34 2-3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 54,471 Recap 6 October 25 Cincinnati Bengals W 20–0 3–3 RFK Stadium 50,414 Recap 7 November 1 at Denver Broncos W 19–3 4–3 Mile High Stadium 50,705 Recap 8 November 8 Minnesota Vikings L 10–19 4–4 RFK Stadium 50,415 Recap 9 November 15 at New York Giants L 33–35 4–5 Yankee Stadium 62,915 Recap 10 November 22 Dallas Cowboys L 21–45 4–6 RFK Stadium 50,415 Recap 11 November 29 New York Giants L 24–27 4–7 RFK Stadium 50,415 Recap 12 December 6 at Dallas Cowboys L 0–34 4–8 Cotton Bowl 57,936 Recap 13 December 13 Philadelphia Eagles W 24–6 5–8 RFK Stadium 50,415 Recap 14 December 20 St. Louis Cardinals W 28–27 6–8 RFK Stadium 50,415 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
References