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Hail to the Redskins: Gibbs, the Diesel, the Hogs, and the Glory Days of D.C.'s Football Dynasty
At last, the definitive account of the Washington Football Team's championship decade. A must-read for any fan, Hail to the Redskins is full of interviews with key inside sources to vividly re-create the plays, the players, the fans, and the opponents that shaped this unforgettable football dynasty.
Based on more than ninety original interviews, here is the rollicking chronicle of the famed Washington Football Teams of the Joe Gibbs years—one of the most remarkable and unique runs in NFL history. From 1981 to 1992, Gibbs coached the franchise to three Super Bowl victories, making the team the toast of the nation’s capital, from the political elite to the inner city, and helping to define one of the sport’s legendary eras.
Veteran sportswriter Adam Lazarus masterfully charts the Washington Football Team's rise from mediocrity (the franchise had never won a Super Bowl and Gibbs’s first year as head coach started with a five-game losing streak that almost cost him his job) to its stretch of four championship games in ten years. What makes their sustained success all the more remarkable, in retrospect, is that unlike the storied championship wins of Joe Montana’s 49ers and Tom Brady’s Patriots, the Washington Football Team's Super Bowl victories each featured a different starting quarterback: Joe Theismann in 1983, the franchise’s surprising first championship run; Doug Williams in 1988, a win full of meaning for a majority African American city during a tumultuous era; and Mark Rypien in 1992, capping one of the greatest seasons of all time, one that stands as Gibbs’s masterpiece.
Hail to the Redskins features an epic roster of saints and sinners: hard-drinking fullback John Riggins; the dominant, blue-collar offensive linemen known as “the Hogs,” who became a cultural phenomenon; quarterbacks Williams, the first African American QB to win a Super Bowl, and Theisman, a model-handsome pitchman whose leg was brutally broken by Lawrence Taylor on Monday Night Football; gregarious defensive end Dexter Manley, who would be banned from the league for cocaine abuse; and others including the legendary speedster Darrell Green, record-breaking receiver Art Monk, rags-to-riches QB Rypien, expert general managers and talent evaluators Bobby Beathard and Charley Casserly, aristocratic owner Jack Kent Cooke, and, of course, Gibbs himself, a devout Christian who was also a ruthless competitor and one of the sport’s most adaptable and creative coaching minds.
Based on more than ninety original interviews, here is the rollicking chronicle of the famed Washington Football Teams of the Joe Gibbs years—one of the most remarkable and unique runs in NFL history. From 1981 to 1992, Gibbs coached the franchise to three Super Bowl victories, making the team the toast of the nation’s capital, from the political elite to the inner city, and helping to define one of the sport’s legendary eras.
Veteran sportswriter Adam Lazarus masterfully charts the Washington Football Team's rise from mediocrity (the franchise had never won a Super Bowl and Gibbs’s first year as head coach started with a five-game losing streak that almost cost him his job) to its stretch of four championship games in ten years. What makes their sustained success all the more remarkable, in retrospect, is that unlike the storied championship wins of Joe Montana’s 49ers and Tom Brady’s Patriots, the Washington Football Team's Super Bowl victories each featured a different starting quarterback: Joe Theismann in 1983, the franchise’s surprising first championship run; Doug Williams in 1988, a win full of meaning for a majority African American city during a tumultuous era; and Mark Rypien in 1992, capping one of the greatest seasons of all time, one that stands as Gibbs’s masterpiece.
Hail to the Redskins features an epic roster of saints and sinners: hard-drinking fullback John Riggins; the dominant, blue-collar offensive linemen known as “the Hogs,” who became a cultural phenomenon; quarterbacks Williams, the first African American QB to win a Super Bowl, and Theisman, a model-handsome pitchman whose leg was brutally broken by Lawrence Taylor on Monday Night Football; gregarious defensive end Dexter Manley, who would be banned from the league for cocaine abuse; and others including the legendary speedster Darrell Green, record-breaking receiver Art Monk, rags-to-riches QB Rypien, expert general managers and talent evaluators Bobby Beathard and Charley Casserly, aristocratic owner Jack Kent Cooke, and, of course, Gibbs himself, a devout Christian who was also a ruthless competitor and one of the sport’s most adaptable and creative coaching minds.
- GenresSportsNonfictionFootball
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 17, 2016
When I am asked why I'm a Redskins fan, I jokingly tell them that I was brainwashed by my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Lakin. She taught me and my friends the joy of rooting for the hometown team as we marched through our elementary school hallways every Friday loudly and proudly singing the fight song and cheering the Redskins on to a Super Bowl victory the year I was in her class. The exuberance I felt that year has stuck with me all these years later, even during the lean years. This book focuses on the Joe Gibbs-era (1981 to 1992), which for anyone who grew up in the DC-MD-VA area during those years was the golden age of Redskins football (the Hogs, the Smurfs, the Fun Bunch, the Posse -- to name but a few reasons to love this era :)). The loyalty and camaraderie of the teams that played under Coach Gibbs came alive as the chapters unfolded and reminded me of why I became a fan in the first place.
I loved the organization and brisk pacing of the book. The author struck an excellent balance of highlighting key events in Redskins' history, and sharing insider insights and interviews to tell the Gibbs-era D.C. football dynasty story. The evolution of the team and changes in the NFL in general during this timeframe made for an interesting read in learning about the team's history and the NFL. This is a must-read for any Redskins fan, but it would also be a great read for any football fan in general. The accomplishments of Joe Gibbs alone should appeal to any fan of the game. His strength of character, drive, and positivity had a tremendous impact on the Redskins organization and the DC-MD-VA area in general, and set the gold standard for what a coach can and should be.
I loved the organization and brisk pacing of the book. The author struck an excellent balance of highlighting key events in Redskins' history, and sharing insider insights and interviews to tell the Gibbs-era D.C. football dynasty story. The evolution of the team and changes in the NFL in general during this timeframe made for an interesting read in learning about the team's history and the NFL. This is a must-read for any Redskins fan, but it would also be a great read for any football fan in general. The accomplishments of Joe Gibbs alone should appeal to any fan of the game. His strength of character, drive, and positivity had a tremendous impact on the Redskins organization and the DC-MD-VA area in general, and set the gold standard for what a coach can and should be.
December 10, 2018
Hail To The Redskins.....
“HAIL TO THE REDSKINS: GIBBS, THE DIESEL, THE HOGS, AND THE GLORY DAYS OF D.C’S FOOTBALL DYNASTY” by Adam Lazarus
Hail To The Redskins
A fact-filled and highly entertaining account of the Washington Redskins’ glory days under Joe Gibbs in the 1980s and early 199s, back when the ‘Skins used to actually score points, play defense, and win games. Reading this book will make my fellow Redskins fans pine harder than ever for the good ol’ days.
HTTR
RANDOM STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS (and noteworthy passages):
—p. xi: “A smart, rational debate over this topic could fill up every single page of this book. But I think these pages are better used for celebrating and remembering the glory days of the franchise. Doing so without use of the word ‘Redskins,’ however, would be historically inaccurate, clumsy, and ultimately absurd. During the years in which this true story takes place, roughly 1981 through 2007, the professional football team in Washington was known as the Redskins, so I refer to that team and those players as “‘Redskins.’ To do otherwise would be locking a piece of history in the basement or brushing it with a new coat of paint.” A-freaking-men! Too bad the PC Thought Police and snowflakes and SJWs can’t apply that same rational thought to Confederate statues!!
—p. 9: “On January 22, 1969, Gibbs agreed to leave Tallahassee for Los Angeles, where he would become John McKay’s offensive line coach at the University of Southern California (USC). Despite a slight pay cut, the job offered several fringe benefits: not only would the growing Gibbs family (Pat was pregnant) be closer to both Joe and Pat’s roots, but USC featured the best running offense in all of college football and they routinely attracted top-tier recruits. In the four years prior to Gibbs’s arrival, the McKay offense churned out two Heisman Trophy–winning ball carriers, Mike Garrett in 1965 and O. J. Simpson in 1968. Both would be playing on Sundays by the time Gibbs arrived on campus, but the Trojans’ ground attack remained college football’s gold standard. With Clarence Davis, Sam Cunningham, and quarterback Jimmy Jones—dubbed the All-Black Backfield—USC pounded opposing Pac-8 defenses, averaging nearly 250 rushing yards per game. Teaching USC’s offensive linemen the specifics and nuances of McKay’s offense came naturally to Gibbs, and not just because he had been a guard and center for nearby San Diego State. Don Coryell invented the I-formation, and upon taking a job as an assistant at USC in 1960, he taught John McKay the entire scheme.” FIGHT ON, TROJANS, and R.I.P. and God bless, John McKay!!! ✌️✌️✌️
—p. 26: Mike Rae, Fight On!!
—p. 41: “Following the crowd-pleasing effort against Minnesota, ‘The Diesel’ characteristically ignored all interview requests, donned his customary camouflage pants and shirt, and then walked into the parking lot. There he autographed a female fan’s shoe, tossed back a shot of tequila, washed it down with half a can of beer that an old friend handed him, and drove home.” Haha, classic. Oh, the stuff people could get away with back in the day....
—p. 46: “Before an eager audience at Tuesday’s press event he [Riggins, that is]regaled dozens of reporters with his insights into the D.C. limelight, explaining, ‘If you’re a public figure in Washington, you’re just a piece of toilet paper: you know you’re going to get smeared, the trick is not to get flushed down.’” LMAO, Riggo, effing priceless!!
—pp. 131-132: “The only other school he considered signing with was the University of Southern California. As a fourteen-year-old in 1969, Williams became a fan of the Trojans when head coach John McKay started a sophomore African American quarterback named Jimmy Jones. “There were only two schools I wanted to play for out of high school, either Grambling or USC, mainly because of Jimmy Jones,” Williams said. “Besides Jimmy Raye at Michigan State, there weren’t many black quarterbacks playing at the major universities. So I was a fan of SC, mainly because of that.” But McKay and the Trojans—who won twenty-two games and a Rose Bowl with Jones—didn’t recruit Williams to Southern California in 1973.” Oh, what might’ve been. Still though, one more reason to love the Redskins; HTTR and Fight On, Trojans!!
—pp. 135-136: “Nearing the draft, Tampa Bay’s head coach John McKay—the same man who entrusted his high-powered offense to Jimmy Jones nine years earlier—sent a member of his staff to evaluate the prospect. At Carroll High School in Monroe, where the education major was volunteering as a student-teacher, Doug Williams met Joe Gibbs, the Bucs’ new, first-time offensive coordinator. In between classes and lunch with Williams and his girlfriend, Janice, at McDonald’s, Gibbs administered a handful of pop quizzes to test the quarterback’s football knowledge.” What goes around, comes around, all’s well that ends well, etc....
“HAIL TO THE REDSKINS: GIBBS, THE DIESEL, THE HOGS, AND THE GLORY DAYS OF D.C’S FOOTBALL DYNASTY” by Adam Lazarus
Hail To The Redskins
A fact-filled and highly entertaining account of the Washington Redskins’ glory days under Joe Gibbs in the 1980s and early 199s, back when the ‘Skins used to actually score points, play defense, and win games. Reading this book will make my fellow Redskins fans pine harder than ever for the good ol’ days.
HTTR
RANDOM STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS (and noteworthy passages):
—p. xi: “A smart, rational debate over this topic could fill up every single page of this book. But I think these pages are better used for celebrating and remembering the glory days of the franchise. Doing so without use of the word ‘Redskins,’ however, would be historically inaccurate, clumsy, and ultimately absurd. During the years in which this true story takes place, roughly 1981 through 2007, the professional football team in Washington was known as the Redskins, so I refer to that team and those players as “‘Redskins.’ To do otherwise would be locking a piece of history in the basement or brushing it with a new coat of paint.” A-freaking-men! Too bad the PC Thought Police and snowflakes and SJWs can’t apply that same rational thought to Confederate statues!!
—p. 9: “On January 22, 1969, Gibbs agreed to leave Tallahassee for Los Angeles, where he would become John McKay’s offensive line coach at the University of Southern California (USC). Despite a slight pay cut, the job offered several fringe benefits: not only would the growing Gibbs family (Pat was pregnant) be closer to both Joe and Pat’s roots, but USC featured the best running offense in all of college football and they routinely attracted top-tier recruits. In the four years prior to Gibbs’s arrival, the McKay offense churned out two Heisman Trophy–winning ball carriers, Mike Garrett in 1965 and O. J. Simpson in 1968. Both would be playing on Sundays by the time Gibbs arrived on campus, but the Trojans’ ground attack remained college football’s gold standard. With Clarence Davis, Sam Cunningham, and quarterback Jimmy Jones—dubbed the All-Black Backfield—USC pounded opposing Pac-8 defenses, averaging nearly 250 rushing yards per game. Teaching USC’s offensive linemen the specifics and nuances of McKay’s offense came naturally to Gibbs, and not just because he had been a guard and center for nearby San Diego State. Don Coryell invented the I-formation, and upon taking a job as an assistant at USC in 1960, he taught John McKay the entire scheme.” FIGHT ON, TROJANS, and R.I.P. and God bless, John McKay!!! ✌️✌️✌️
—p. 26: Mike Rae, Fight On!!
—p. 41: “Following the crowd-pleasing effort against Minnesota, ‘The Diesel’ characteristically ignored all interview requests, donned his customary camouflage pants and shirt, and then walked into the parking lot. There he autographed a female fan’s shoe, tossed back a shot of tequila, washed it down with half a can of beer that an old friend handed him, and drove home.” Haha, classic. Oh, the stuff people could get away with back in the day....
—p. 46: “Before an eager audience at Tuesday’s press event he [Riggins, that is]regaled dozens of reporters with his insights into the D.C. limelight, explaining, ‘If you’re a public figure in Washington, you’re just a piece of toilet paper: you know you’re going to get smeared, the trick is not to get flushed down.’” LMAO, Riggo, effing priceless!!
—pp. 131-132: “The only other school he considered signing with was the University of Southern California. As a fourteen-year-old in 1969, Williams became a fan of the Trojans when head coach John McKay started a sophomore African American quarterback named Jimmy Jones. “There were only two schools I wanted to play for out of high school, either Grambling or USC, mainly because of Jimmy Jones,” Williams said. “Besides Jimmy Raye at Michigan State, there weren’t many black quarterbacks playing at the major universities. So I was a fan of SC, mainly because of that.” But McKay and the Trojans—who won twenty-two games and a Rose Bowl with Jones—didn’t recruit Williams to Southern California in 1973.” Oh, what might’ve been. Still though, one more reason to love the Redskins; HTTR and Fight On, Trojans!!
—pp. 135-136: “Nearing the draft, Tampa Bay’s head coach John McKay—the same man who entrusted his high-powered offense to Jimmy Jones nine years earlier—sent a member of his staff to evaluate the prospect. At Carroll High School in Monroe, where the education major was volunteering as a student-teacher, Doug Williams met Joe Gibbs, the Bucs’ new, first-time offensive coordinator. In between classes and lunch with Williams and his girlfriend, Janice, at McDonald’s, Gibbs administered a handful of pop quizzes to test the quarterback’s football knowledge.” What goes around, comes around, all’s well that ends well, etc....
March 1, 2021
There were two dynasties going in the 1980s NFL. One was in San Francisco and the other was in Washington D.C. Guess which dynasty was more publicized and more flashy? San Francisco's.
But at the end of the day, Washington's dynasty or success in the 1980s was much appreciated too. Because that team appeared in three Super Bowls in the Me Decade (1982, 1983, and 1987) and won two of them (1982 and 1987).
One of the millions of people who appreciated the Redskins' accomplishments in the 1980s was author Adam Lazarus. In this book, Lazarus gave you a thick account on behind the scenes and headline-grabbing stories on what was a once in a lifetime decade for the Redskins franchise.
I also appreciated Lazarus' account of the Redskins last Super Bowl winning season, the 1991 season. He could have just stopped after the 1987 Super Bowl season, but he kept on going to and after the 1991 season.
I doubt the Redskins will ever have a period like they had from 1982 to 1991 in my lifetime and I'm only in my early 30s. That was a different time in the NFL when free agency, money, and roster turnover wasn't that big of a deal or problem like it is today.
This is another book that will educate you on NFL history.
But at the end of the day, Washington's dynasty or success in the 1980s was much appreciated too. Because that team appeared in three Super Bowls in the Me Decade (1982, 1983, and 1987) and won two of them (1982 and 1987).
One of the millions of people who appreciated the Redskins' accomplishments in the 1980s was author Adam Lazarus. In this book, Lazarus gave you a thick account on behind the scenes and headline-grabbing stories on what was a once in a lifetime decade for the Redskins franchise.
I also appreciated Lazarus' account of the Redskins last Super Bowl winning season, the 1991 season. He could have just stopped after the 1987 Super Bowl season, but he kept on going to and after the 1991 season.
I doubt the Redskins will ever have a period like they had from 1982 to 1991 in my lifetime and I'm only in my early 30s. That was a different time in the NFL when free agency, money, and roster turnover wasn't that big of a deal or problem like it is today.
This is another book that will educate you on NFL history.
October 17, 2022
As a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan, I was not thrilled when I was given this book (my son thought I'd like the book because I enjoy football). I'm ecstatic after having read the book! If you followed the NFL and especially the NFC East, this book would be a great read. Brought back great memories of this period in my life and the NFL. Mr. Lazarus does a great job of writing. Definitely good stuff, Maynard.
November 8, 2017
Entertaining book
Great retell8ng of the personalities, moments and accomplishments of the 1980s and 1990z Washington Redskins. Great for any football if you like Washington or not
Great retell8ng of the personalities, moments and accomplishments of the 1980s and 1990z Washington Redskins. Great for any football if you like Washington or not
September 26, 2025
Totally fine. Nothing special. Didn’t hate it though. There were some fun interesting tidbits.
September 26, 2015
As a DC native who was between ages 8-18 during the glory years, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Don't read it if you're expecting a game by game look of the years 1982-1993. Much more behind the scenes stuff. There are a few things I would have liked to read that were missing:
- More on the epic 1983 NFC title game. The stadium rocking, Manley's hit on white, the Grant int to ice it. There was some on it but there should've been more.
- Maybe some on the 1981 draft which netted two hog mainstays - Grimm and May, as well as a 5th round steal in Dexter Manley.
- 1983 season did not include anything on the late season beat down of Dallas. This was a huge win, sealing the division and home field essentially.
- 1984 comeback game vs. Dallas in Dallas.
- Art Monk's 106 catches…at the time this was a huge huge record.
- The Skins struggle vs. the Giants from 1986, 1988-90…Parcells owned Gibbs those years. Frustrating.
I just really would like to have seen more stuff that as a DC native I could relate to. There was very little on local media coverage of the team during the era - some articles by Tom Friend, Ken Denlinger, Boswell are mentioned. But little to nothing on Wilbon or Kornheiser (the bandwagon of the 1991 season comes to mind). Nor was there anything on local news coverage from NBC (George Michael), ABC (Frank Herzog), or CBS (Glenn Brenner/Ken Meese). Steve Buckantz and Fox 5 gets a mention but I think that was more related to the Dexter story. Local sportscasters were big in terms of their coverage of the team. There's no mention of Sonny Jurgensen or Sam Huff. I don't know if the author wanted to get extracurricular activities in the book..but take a look at the walls of the Dancing Crab/Malt Shop and it sure looks like a lot of Redskins and ex-Redskins hung out there and had a good time. More on shenanigans would've been nice.
There's cool background on the QBs - Schroeder, Williams (a lot on Doug), Rypien. Good stuff on Gibbs' religiosity and the way the Skins had a lot of bible thumpers. Good stuff on the 1984 Superbowl and how the week and the day of the game were all bad for the Skins. The way Casserly and Beathard put the '87 replacement team together. Dexter's hidden positive drug test leading up to the 1988 SB. There was a shit ton on Doug Williams. I enjoyed it and it was a nice brisk read. Makes me miss the old days for sure.
- More on the epic 1983 NFC title game. The stadium rocking, Manley's hit on white, the Grant int to ice it. There was some on it but there should've been more.
- Maybe some on the 1981 draft which netted two hog mainstays - Grimm and May, as well as a 5th round steal in Dexter Manley.
- 1983 season did not include anything on the late season beat down of Dallas. This was a huge win, sealing the division and home field essentially.
- 1984 comeback game vs. Dallas in Dallas.
- Art Monk's 106 catches…at the time this was a huge huge record.
- The Skins struggle vs. the Giants from 1986, 1988-90…Parcells owned Gibbs those years. Frustrating.
I just really would like to have seen more stuff that as a DC native I could relate to. There was very little on local media coverage of the team during the era - some articles by Tom Friend, Ken Denlinger, Boswell are mentioned. But little to nothing on Wilbon or Kornheiser (the bandwagon of the 1991 season comes to mind). Nor was there anything on local news coverage from NBC (George Michael), ABC (Frank Herzog), or CBS (Glenn Brenner/Ken Meese). Steve Buckantz and Fox 5 gets a mention but I think that was more related to the Dexter story. Local sportscasters were big in terms of their coverage of the team. There's no mention of Sonny Jurgensen or Sam Huff. I don't know if the author wanted to get extracurricular activities in the book..but take a look at the walls of the Dancing Crab/Malt Shop and it sure looks like a lot of Redskins and ex-Redskins hung out there and had a good time. More on shenanigans would've been nice.
There's cool background on the QBs - Schroeder, Williams (a lot on Doug), Rypien. Good stuff on Gibbs' religiosity and the way the Skins had a lot of bible thumpers. Good stuff on the 1984 Superbowl and how the week and the day of the game were all bad for the Skins. The way Casserly and Beathard put the '87 replacement team together. Dexter's hidden positive drug test leading up to the 1988 SB. There was a shit ton on Doug Williams. I enjoyed it and it was a nice brisk read. Makes me miss the old days for sure.
December 1, 2016
A good trip down memory lane for the 1980's and early 1990's for football and this team from Washington that won three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks, Joe Theisman, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien. The man that was there for it all, Joe Gibbs is basically the main character in this book, but there are other players and coaches discussed a lot such as Darryl Green, Dexter Manley, Timmie Smith, the Hogs (offensive line), Art Monk, Ricky Sanders, Earnest Byner, John Riggins, Joe Bugel and many many more. Lazarus, the author, has proven to know a lot about football in this decade as he has also written good books on the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants and Buffalo Bills. Good stuff.
September 22, 2015
One of the great dynasty teams in the NFL during the 80’s was the Washington Redskins led by Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs. Adam Lazarus has written a must read book for any football fan of that era and for those that weren’t around then that captures the colorful history of a unique era in NFL lore. It is filled with stories about hard-living running back John Riggins, the “Hogs” and quarterback Doug Williams who had the greatest quarter of anyone in Super Bowl history. Highly recommended.
I spoke with Adam Lazarus about his book and that conversation can be heard here: http://dougmilesmedia.com/?p=1861
I spoke with Adam Lazarus about his book and that conversation can be heard here: http://dougmilesmedia.com/?p=1861
August 1, 2019
Not a big sports guy, but I did love this Redskin team from 1981-92. Sports writers can really write and Adam Lazarus does a great job helping us relive this wonderful team. These guys were maybe the best ever and I ate up every page of this tribute.
September 8, 2025
Great overview of the glory years!
This highly detailed account of the Redskins dynasty in the 80s and early 90s was both informative and entertaining. Full of first hand accounts, it will be enjoyed by any Redskins fan or student of the game.
This highly detailed account of the Redskins dynasty in the 80s and early 90s was both informative and entertaining. Full of first hand accounts, it will be enjoyed by any Redskins fan or student of the game.
January 8, 2016
Any book about the Redskins' Super Bowl years under Joe Gibbs gets five stars. HTTR.
March 15, 2016
I'm not a Redskins fan. I think the book reflects the Head Coach, Joe Gibbs...a bit bland and little drama.
January 13, 2017
Good
Good read. A must for NFL fans who remember football in the 1980's when the game was changing into the modern game
Good read. A must for NFL fans who remember football in the 1980's when the game was changing into the modern game
March 31, 2017
Typical sports book, not bad but not great.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews