1970 Washington Redskins season
| 1970 Washington Redskins season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach |
Bill Austin (interim) Vince Lombardi (until death) |
| Home field | RFK Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 6–8 |
| Division place | 4th NFC East |
| Playoff finish | did not qualify |
The 1970 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 7–5–2 record from 1969. Second-year head coach Vince Lombardi was diagnosed with terminal cancer in late June and died on September 3; offensive line coach Bill Austin stepped in as interim head coach in mid-July.
Austin had been an NFL head coach for three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1966–68) and was starting his eighth year as an assistant coach under Lombardi (1959–64, 1969–70). Also, Austin's final four seasons as a player on the offensive line with the New York Giants (1954–57) were with Lombardi as offensive coordinator.
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, and he was succeeded by George Allen in January 1971. Austin returned to Redskins in 1973 as the offensive line coach under Allen for five seasons.
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
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