Redskins Fire Bruce Allen After Years Of Futility

ASHBURN, VA — The Washington Redskins have fired longtime executive Bruce Allen from his role as the team's president, ending a painful period in which he oversaw the loss of a significant portion of the team's fan base and put together teams that ranged from mediocre to extremely bad. Washington's record since Allen was hired late in the 2009 season is 62-100-1.

Allen, son of legendary former Redskins head coach George Allen and brother of former Virginia governor and senator George Allen, will have no further role with the team, according to a statement issued Monday by team owner Daniel Snyder. Some had speculated that Allen would stay with the Redskins in an advisory role as the team searched for a new executive to lead the team.

"As this season concludes, Bruce Allen has been relieved of his duties as president of the Washington Redskins and is no longer with the organization," Synder said in the statement. "Like our passionate fan base, I recognize we have not lived up to the high standards set by great Redskins teams, coaches and players who have come before us."

Snyder said he and his advisers will evaluate the team's culture and leadership to determine the best ways to return to its glory years of the 1980s and early 1990s.

For decades, the Redskins had a long waiting list for fans to purchase season tickets. The Redskins finally conceded in 2018 that the waiting list no longer existed, but many observers believe there hasn't been a waiting list to buy season tickets for this entire decade.

The team finished the 2019 season with a record of 3-13, tying the franchise's lowest win total since 1961. While Allen has been a target of complaints from fans for years, many blame Snyder for the dysfunctional state of the franchise and its poor performance on the field since he took over as owner in 1999 after the death of previous team owner Jack Kent Cooke.

The team appeared in four Super Bowls and won three of them during Cooke's tenure as owner. Since Synder became owner, the team has failed to go beyond the divisional round in the playoffs.

When asked about Allen's dismissal, longtime Redskins player Ryan Kerrigan told reporters Monday morning that he never likes to see someone fired. "You hate to see see anyone lose their jobs. He was one of the guys who brought me here. It's always a weird day," Kerrigan said.

Synder could gain a reprieve from criticism if, as reports are saying, he hires Ron Rivera as the team's new head coach. Rivera is a well-respected former head coach of the Carolina Panthers.

Many Redskins fans took to Twitter to comment on Allen's dismissal from the team. One fan said he's "cautiously optimistic that Allen's departure signals a move in the right direction for the franchise."

Another fan expressed relief that Snyder fired Allen. "Bruce Allen is in the rear view mirror. Some people want Dan Snyder to sell the team. I say let's see what he does moving forward," the fan said.

One fan, looking at the bigger picture, contended that "unless Dan Snyder is no longer the owner the chances of success are limited regardless of who the coach is." Another fan agreed. "If Snyder isn’t selling, nothing will change," she wrote.