Wednesday, 06 May 2026

Ray Flaherty

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2026
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Sport(s): Football
Statistics & Accolades: 2 NFL Championships (1937 & 1942)
NFL/AAFC Record: 81-44-8
NFL/AAFC Playoff Record: 2-4
Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Number Retired by the New York Giants*

*As a player
Ray Flaherty was an exceptional player before becoming a Hall of Fame football coach, renowned for transforming the Washington Redskins (now the Commanders) into a dominant team. Appointed in 1936 when the team was still in Boston, he led them to four division titles and NFL Championships in 1937 and 1942. Flaherty is celebrated as a pioneering offensive strategist; he is credited with inventing the screen pass in 1937 and developing an early form of the two-platoon system, which employed separate units for passing or rushing based on the game situation.

After serving as a naval officer in World War II, Flaherty began coaching in 1946 with the New York Yankees of the newly established All-America Football Conference (AAFC). He quickly made the Yankees contenders, securing two division titles in his first two seasons, although they lost both league championship games to the Cleveland Browns. He wrapped up his coaching career with a short tenure leading the Chicago Hornets in 1949 and retired with a notable lifetime winning percentage of .676. Flaherty's coaching success was officially honored in 1976 when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

We are proud to nominate Ray Flaherty for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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