Joe Gibbs out as Washington Redskins coach

Gibbs is Gone:One of the all-time greats, Joe Gibbs has resigned as coach of the Washington Redskins. from reports at msn.com

WASHINGTON (AP) – Joe Gibbs resigned as coach and team president of the Washington Redskins this morning, three days after his team’s playoff loss concluded a season marked by the killing of safety Sean Taylor.

The Redskins said in a statement that Gibbs will remain part of the Redskins family and serve as a special adviser to owner Dan Snyder. Gibbs was to discuss his decision at a 3 p.m. news conference at Redskins Park.

The Redskins will begin a search for a new coach immediately. Among the certain candidates are two former head coaches on Gibbs’ staff, Gregg Williams and Al Saunders.

Gibbs went 31-36, including 1-2 in the playoffs, after emerging from NFL retirement and his NASCAR career to sign a five-year, $27.5 million contract in 2004. He had always maintained that he intended to fulfill the contract, but the 67-year-old coach wavered from that stance Monday when asked if he would return for the final year of his deal.

Gibbs’ resignation brings an apparent end to a Hall of Fame coaching career in which he twice raised the Redskins from mediocrity into a playoff team, although he failed in his goal of bringing the team back to the Super Bowl during his second stint in Washington. Gibbs won three NFL titles during his first tenure from 1981-92; the second time around he took the team to the postseason in two of his four seasons.

It also follows one of the best coaching performances of his career, his leadership helping the Redskins focus after Taylor’s death on Nov. 27. Washington won its final four regular season games after Taylor’s funeral, going from 5-7 to 9-7 to claim the final playoff berth in the NFC.

6 thoughts on “Joe Gibbs out as Washington Redskins coach

  1. The Redskins will never be successful with Dan Snyder as the owner. As long as he thinks the organization doesn’t need a GM and that he can do that job, they will continue to be mediocre.

  2. I agree that they will not be a consistent winner as long as Snider owns them.
    I think Gibbs went out on a really good note though.
    I’m not a Skins fan but, I’ll definitely miss Joe.

  3. I am hearing that Snyder may go after Bill Cowher.

    “The players are said to want assistant Gregg Williams to replace Joe Gibbs, but Redskins owner Daniel Snyder loves to make a splash. That’s why several people expect him to try to lure Bill Cowher out of retirement.”

    This is what several sports outlets are saying. Who do you think the Skins will end up with? I would be happy with Bill Cowher, he’s much tougher than Spurrier was and he knows the pro game. Steve Spurrier sure didn’t have a clue.

    I’ve got the feeling that there are still quite a few Redskins fans in the Triad, especially when they can make the playoffs and have a shot at the post-season again.

    I have all the respect in the world for Joe Gibbs and everything he has done on and off the field. We need more coaches and leaders like him.

  4. I feel bad for Joe Gibbs and the Washington Redskins. I hate to see it all end this way with him stepping down as head coach. I know it was a tough year for Coach Gibbs with Sean Taylor’s death, the Buffalo Bills game and all. I hope everything works out for Joe Gibbs and the Redskins. New coach. How about Greg Williams. The players like and respect him.

  5. Good for Gibbs, he certainly doesn’t need the money. He has a very successful racing team that he has can mess with. Well he did have a succesful one but going to Toyota may hinder that some.

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