The 1954Washington Redskinsseason was the franchise's 23rd season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 17th in Washington, D.C. The team failed to improve on their 6–5–1 record from 1953. The Redskins sent defensive back Don Paul to the Cleveland Browns. The Redskins acquired Paul from the Chicago Cardinals. Upon his arrival in Washington, he fell in displeasure with George Preston Marshall of the Redskins.[1] The Redskins had a point differential of -225, the worst in franchise history. They allowed on average 18.75 more points per game than they scored, which is the 4th-worst mark in NFL history. [2]
Although the NFL formally desegregated in 1946, many teams were slow to allow black athletes to compete even after the formal barrier had fallen. None were less willing to desegregate than the Washington Redskins, who sought to be the "home team" for a vast Southern market. The Redskins would remain the last bastion of racial segregation in the NFL, refusing to include a single black player on their roster until 1962.[3]
