View source for Washington Commandos

{{short description|Arena football team}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Washington Commanders]], the current [[National Football League]] team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Washington Commandos
| logo =Washington Commandos Logo.png
| founded = 1987
| folded = 1990
| city = [[Patriot Center]]<br> in [[Fairfax, Virginia]]
| colors = Red, blue, white<br>{{Color box|red}} {{Color box|blue}} {{Color box|white}}
| coach = [[Mike Hohensee]]
| league = 
[[Arena Football League]] ({{AFL Year|1987}}, {{AFL Year|1989}}–{{AFL Year|1990}})
| team_history =
* Washington Commandos (1987, 1990)
* Maryland Commandos (1989)
| no_conf_champs = 
| no_league_champs = 
| league_champs =
| playoff_appearances =
| no_playoff_appearances = 
| arena_years =
* [[Capital Centre (Landover, Maryland)|Capital Centre]] (1987 & 1989)
* [[Patriot Center]] (1990)
}}

The '''Washington Commandos''' were an [[arena football]] team based in [[Fairfax, Virginia]]. The Commandos were founded in 1987 and were an inaugural member of the [[Arena Football League]] (AFL), and were based in [[Landover, Maryland]]. After not playing during the [[1988 Arena Football League season|1988 season]], the team returned for the [[1989 Arena Football League season|1989 season]] as the '''Maryland Commandos'''. Following the 1989 season, the Commandos moved to [[Fairfax, Virginia]], where they once again became known as the Washington Commandos. The team never achieved much success at either of its locations, winning four games in three seasons, including a winless 1989 season.

==History==

===Inaugural season (1987)===
{{main|1987 Washington Commandos season}}
The Commandos had the honor of playing in the first AFL regular season game on June 19, 1987, losing to the Pittsburgh Gladiators 48–46 at the [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/21/sports/sports-people-arena-football-debuts.html |title=Arena Football Debuts |date=June 21, 1987 |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19870620&id=V-lRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ym4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5045,7032170 |title=Gladiators smashing in 48-46 win |author=Gary Tuma |date=June 20, 1987 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> The Commandos picked up their first win in franchise history the following week, when they defeated the [[Denver Dynamite (arena football)|Denver Dynamite]], by a score of 36–20 in their home opener.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19870629&id=p-JNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YIsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4551,5213762 |title=Commandos win home-opener |date=June 29, 1987 |newspaper=The Free Lance-Star |access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> The Commandos finished the season with a 2–4 record,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/7be57b88a59229cb760cfe221e0c89f4 |title=Commandos 52, Gladiators 31 |date=July 24, 1987 |agency=Associated Press |work=www.apnewsarchive.com |access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> a disappointment, but the team was in every game except one, losing three games by a total of six points.

===Move to Maryland (1989)===
{{main|1989 Maryland Commandos season}}
After a one-year hiatus, the Commandos returned to play in [[1989 Arena Football League season|1989]] and operated as the "Maryland Commandos", playing their only home game that year at the same venue as in 1987, Landover's [[Capital Centre (Landover, Maryland)|Capital Centre]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazette.net/article/20130903/NEWS/130909762/1033/arena-football-league-considering-putting-team-at-proposed-shady&template=gazette |title=Arena Football League considering putting team at proposed Shady Grove venue |author=Kevin James Shay |date=September 3, 2013 |publisher=Post-Newsweek Media, Inc./Gazette.Net |work=www.gazette.net |access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> The team went 0–4 in the abbreviated 'travelin' season of 1989. The Commandos coaching staff consisted of [[Ray Willsey]], [[Mike Hohensee]], [[Mike Dailey]], and [[Jerry Kurz]]. Hohensee, Dailey, and Kurz would all become members of the [[Arena Football Hall of Fame]].

===Return to Virginia (1990)===
{{main|1990 Washington Commandos season}}
The team returned to the Washington name for their final season in [[1990 Arena Football League season|1990]]. They were coached by Hohensee, who had been promoted from his assistant position.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=19900609&id=EHMhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tIgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3494,2390897 |title=Firebirds Host Commandos In Arena Football Opener |author=Tom Boggie |date=June 9, 1990 |newspaper=The Daily Gazette |access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> The Commandos started the season 0–3.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19900623&id=0fFRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yG4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3807,6482735 |title=Barretta leads Glads over Commandos |author=David Fink |date=June 23, 1990 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post=Gazette |access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref>

In 1987 and 1989, the team played its home games at the [[Capital Centre (Landover, Maryland)|Capital Centre]] (later known as USAir Arena) in [[Landover, Maryland]].  For the 1990 season, the team was based at the [[Patriot Center]] on the campus of [[George Mason University]] in [[Fairfax, Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafan.com/teams/Washington_Commandos-3/history/1990/ |title=ArenaFan Online : Washington Commandos - Team History - 1990 |publisher=ArenaFan |work=www.arenafan.com}}</ref>

==Return of the AFL in Washington==
In 1999, [[Washington Redskins]] owner [[Daniel Snyder]] announced that he would bring an expansion team to DC to be called the Washington Warriors.<ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/the_sportspages/2002/05/are_you_ready_for_the_washington_warriors.html Are You Ready for the Washington Warriors?], Bryan Curtis, Slate.com, May 6, 2002</ref> (At the time, there was speculation in the media that Snyder actually wanted to change the name of the Redskins to the Warriors, due to the [[Washington Redskins name controversy|controversy]] over the NFL's team monicker.) But after a ten-year wait and the AFL's canceling its season in 2009, that never materialized.<ref>[http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2009/08/05/cheap-seats-daily-washington-warriors-wont-ever-play-in-the-afl/ Cheap Seats Daily: Washington Warriors Won't Ever Play in the AFL?], Dave McKenna, ''Washington City Paper'', August 5, 2009</ref>

In 2016, it was announced that [[Ted Leonsis]] of Monumental Sports, owner of the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]'s [[Washington Wizards]], [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]]'s [[Washington Mystics]] and the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]'s [[Washington Capitals]] was launching an [[Washington Arena Football League Team|expansion franchise]] that would play at the [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]] in Washington, DC in 2017.<ref>[http://wtop.com/sports/2016/02/leonsis-close-to-securing-arena-football-league-team-for-d-c/ Leonsis close to securing Arena Football League team for D.C.], WTOP Radio website, February 10, 2016</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160517012036/http://www.arenafootball.com:80/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/031016aaa.html AFL Lands New Team in Nation's Capital]}}, ArenaFootball.com, March 10, 2016</ref> The [[Washington Valor]] played from 2017 until 2019, when the league was suspended.

==Notable players==
{{seealso|Category:Washington Commandos players}}

===Arena Football League Hall of Famers===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
| colspan="5" style= "background: red; color: white" align="center"| '''Washington Commandos Hall of Famers'''
|-
!width=60px style="background: blue; color: white" |No.
!style="background: blue; color: white" |Name
!style="background: blue; color: white" |Year Inducted
!style="background: blue; color: white" |Position(s)
!style="background: blue; color: white" |Years w/ Commandos
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| -- || [[Mike Dailey]] || style="text-align:center;"| 2012 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Assistant Coach]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1989–1990
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| -- || [[Dwayne Dixon]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1998 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Defensive back|DB]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1987
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| -- || [[Mike Hohensee]] || style="text-align:center;"| 2012 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Assistant Coach|Asst.]]/[[Head Coach]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1989–1990
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 67 || [[Jon Roehlk]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1999 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Offensive lineman|OL]]/[[Defensive lineman|DL]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1987
|}

===All-Arena players===
The following Commandos players were named to [[All-Arena]] Teams:
*'''QB''' [[Rich Ingold]] (1) 
*'''WR/DB''' [[Dwayne Dixon]] (1), [[Lenny Taylor]] (1), [[Chris Armstrong (Canadian football)|Chris Armstrong]] (1)
*'''OL/DL''' [[Jon Roehlk]] (1), [[Michael Witteck]] (1), [[Chuck Harris (American football)|Chuck Harris]] (2)
*'''K''' [[Dale Castro]] (1)

==Head coaches==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:140px;"|Name
! rowspan="2" | Term
! colspan="4" | Regular season
! colspan="2" | Playoffs
! rowspan="2" | Awards
|-
! W
! L
! T
! Win%
! W
! L
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Bob Harrison (American football coach)|Bob Harrison]]
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1987}}
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|4
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|2|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Ray Willsey]]
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1989}}
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|4
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|0|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Mike Hohensee]]
| style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Year|1990}}
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|6
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|{{winperc|2|6}}
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|0
| style="text-align:center;"|
|}

==Season-by-season results==
{| class="wikitable"  style="margin:center; font-size:75%;"
|  style="text-align:center; background:#fcc;"|'''ArenaBowl Champions'''
|  style="text-align:center; background:#d0e7ff;"|'''Division Champions'''
|  style="text-align:center; background:#96cdcd;"|'''Wild Card Berth'''
|  style="text-align:center; background:#c8a2c8;"|'''League Leader'''
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
!rowspan="2"   | [[Season (sports)|Season]]
!rowspan="2"   |Team
!rowspan="2"   | [[List of leagues of American football|League]]
!rowspan="2"   | [[Division (sport)|Division]]
!colspan="4"    | [[Regular season]]
!rowspan="2"   | [[Postseason]] results
|-
!Finish
!Wins
!Losses
!Ties
|-
|align="center" Colspan="15" style="background: red"|<span style="color:white">'''Washington Commandos'''</span>
|-background:#fcc;"
! style="text-align:center;"| {{AFL Year|1987}}
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1987 Washington Commandos season|1987]]
| style="text-align:center;"| [[Arena Football League|AFL]]
| style="text-align:center;"| --
| style="text-align:center;"| 3rd
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center; background:#c8a2c8;"| 4
| style="text-align:center;"| 0
|
|-
|align="center" Colspan="15" style="background: red"|<span style="color:white">'''Maryland Commandos'''</span>
|-background:#fcc;"
! style="text-align:center;"| {{AFL Year|1989}}
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1989 Maryland Commandos season|1989]]
| style="text-align:center;"| AFL
| style="text-align:center;"| --
| style="text-align:center;"| 5th
| style="text-align:center;"| 0
| style="text-align:center; background:#c8a2c8;"| 4
| style="text-align:center;"| 0
|
|-
|align="center" Colspan="15" style="background: red"|<span style="color:white">'''Washington Commandos'''</span>
|-background:#fcc;"
! style="text-align:center;"| {{AFL Year|1990}}
| style="text-align:center;"| [[1990 Washington Commandos season|1990]]
| style="text-align:center;"| AFL
| style="text-align:center;"| 
| style="text-align:center;"| 6th
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center; background:#c8a2c8;"| 6
| style="text-align:center;"| 0
|
|-
! style="text-align:center;" rowspan="5" colspan="5"|Totals
! style="text-align:center;"|'''4'''
! style="text-align:center;"|'''14'''
! style="text-align:center;"|'''0'''
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|'''All-time regular season record (1987–1990)'''
|- style="text-align:center;" 
||'''0'''
||'''0'''
||-
| colspan="3"|'''All-time postseason record (1987–1990)'''
|-
! style="text-align:center;"|'''4'''
! style="text-align:center;"|'''14'''
! style="text-align:center;"|'''0'''
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"|'''All-time regular season and postseason record (1987–1990)'''
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=history&team=3 Washington Commandos at ArenaFan.com]
* [http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=history&team=1&year=1989 Maryland Commandos at ArenaFan.com]

{{Washington Commandos}}
{{Defunct Arena Football League franchises}}

[[Category:Washington Commandos| ]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:1987 disestablishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:1990 disestablishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:American football teams established in 1987]]
[[Category:American football teams disestablished in 1987]]
[[Category:American football teams established in 1990]]
[[Category:American football teams disestablished in 1990]]