History of The Washington Redskins - Schottenheimer Year (2001)

Schottenheimer Year (2001)

On January 3, 2001, the Redskins hired former Browns and Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer as the 24th Redskins head coach. The 2001 season began with a loss to the San Diego Chargers, 30–3. Though this was not the way they wanted to began the season, two days later it seemed like a minute detail. On September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners. The hijackers intentionally crashed two airliners into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, and a third airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. Passengers and members of the flight crew on the fourth aircraft attempted to retake control of their plane from the hijackers; that plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The total number of victims is said to be 2,998, the majority of whom were civilians. On September 13, 2001, the Redskins announced the establishment of the Redskins Relief Fund to help families of the victims of the attack at the Pentagon. During the course of the season, the Redskins raised more than $700,000.

In light of the attacks, the NFL re-scheduled the game from the weekend of September 16–17 to the weekend of January 6–7. The rest of the Redskins' season was filled with highs and lows. They started 0–5, but then went on to win five consecutive games, to bring their record to 5–5. Despite the turnaround, they finished the season with an 8–8 record. However on January 6, 2002, Stephen Davis became the first Redskin in team history to rush for 1,000-plus yards for three consecutive seasons. He finished the 2001 campaign with 1,432 yards (1,309 m) on 356 carries, which were both franchise single-season records.