The 1981 Washington Redskins season was the franchise's 50th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 44th in Washington, D.C. The team improved on their 6âÂÂ10 record from 1980, finishing 8âÂÂ8, but would miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. This was Joe Gibbs' first season as head coach. The team slumped early, losing its first 5 games before defeating the Chicago Bears 24âÂÂ7 at Soldier Field; they would then lose to the Miami Dolphins to sit at 1âÂÂ6.
Washington would do better in the second half, winning their next 4 games to reach 5âÂÂ6 and looking like they were going to make the playoffs. However, losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills eliminated them from postseason contention. The team would win its final 3 games to end the season at 8âÂÂ8, including a close victory at RFK Stadium against the defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles.