Gibbs Resigns As Redskins Coach

Schwartz Fan · 01-08-2008, 10:32 AM

Gibbs Resigns As Redskins Coach

By JOSEPH WHITE

AP Sports Writer

10:29 AM EST, January 8, 2008

WASHINGTON

After the toughest season of his Hall of Fame career, one that tested his leadership like never before, Joe Gibbs is stepping down.

He resigned as coach and team president of the Washington Redskins on Tuesday, three days after a playoff loss ended an inspirational late-season run that followed the death of safety Sean Taylor.

Gibbs will remain as a special adviser to owner Dan Snyder and was to discuss his resignation at an afternoon news conference at Redskins Park.

The Redskins will search for a new coach immediately. Among the certain candidates are two former head coaches on Gibbs' staff, Gregg Williams and Al Saunders. The new coach will be the sixth since Snyder bought the team in 1999.

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 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 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 stint from 1981-92; the second time he took the team to the postseason in two of his four seasons.

His decision to leave follows perhaps the best coaching performance of his career. After the death of the Taylor on Nov. 27, the Redskins lost a game to Buffalo in which Gibbs was flagged for a vital 15-yard penalty for trying to call back-to-back timeouts in the final moments. Gibbs said he wasn't aware of the rule, giving more fodder to the argument that his game management skills had waned.

But, following Taylor's funeral, Gibbs and his team rallied to win won the final four regular-season games, going from 5-7 to 9-7 to claim the final playoff berth in the NFC. The emotional run ended Saturday, when the Redskins lost 35-14 at Seattle in the wild-card playoffs.

"It was the toughest (season) for me," Gibbs said Monday. "When you go through a season like that, for a while it's kind of hard to regrasp reality."

Gibbs has also endured a personal crisis for a year. One of his grandsons, Taylor, was diagnosed with leukemia last January at age 2. Gibbs frequently talks lovingly about his "grandbabies," and he made an overnight trip to North Carolina on Sunday to be with his family, interrupting the postseason routine of meetings that usually follow the final game of the season.

Still, for much of the season, Gibbs seemed intent on returning to coach. Players and coaches said publicly and privately over the last week that they would be shocked if he didn't stay on to finish the job. Last month, he said he would be open to discussing a contract extension so that he would not return next season as a lame-duck coach.

At a news conference Monday, Gibbs spoke about plans for next season -- the team's approach to free agency, offseason workouts and the possibility of an open quarterback competition at training camp -- as if he were going to remain on the sidelines. However, he hedged when asked if he would definitely be back, saying it would hinge on his meeting Monday night with Snyder.

"Everybody's situation will be taken into context here -- including mine, and my future here and all that," Gibbs said Monday.

Gibbs went 124-60 during the regular season and 16-5 during the playoffs during his first term with the Redskins. He won Super Bowls following the 1981, 1987 and 1991 seasons with three different quarterbacks.

Having said repeatedly that he did not intend to coach again, Gibbs was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1996. Snyder lured him out of retirement four years ago to rescue a franchise that had floundered for more than a decade, having made only one playoff appearance since Gibbs' first retirement.

Gibbs' last four years were down-and-up, down-and-up. He had his two worst seasons as a coach -- 6-10 in 2004 and 5-11 in 2006 -- but he also led the Redskins to the playoffs with late runs in 2005 and 2007.

His final career totals: 171-101, including 17-7 in the playoffs, a career .629 winning percentage that ranks third all-time behind George Halas and Don Shula among coaches with more than 125 wins.

Gibbs Resigns As Redskins Coach -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

24girl · 01-08-2008, 10:59 AM

Sad to hear this.But he has soooo much to be proud of and now he wont have so much on his plate.and have more time to spend with his family,so its probly a good thing...

wopher · 01-08-2008, 11:03 AM

you are so right and after seeing his temper flare (in a bad way) a few times this year, maybe it is the right thing..........

Schwartz Fan · 01-08-2008, 09:20 PM

J.D. Gibbs: Nothing changes with dad's return to team
SCENEDAILY - 7:19PM ET TUESDAY JANUARY 8, 2008 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT

Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs said his role would not change even though his father and team owner Joe Gibbs resigned as coach of the NFL's Washington Redskins and will return to the race team.

J.D. Gibbs became president in 1997, seven years before Joe left the team to return as Redskins' coach.

"As far as my role with the team goes - nothing changes, just like nothing really changed when he went back to the Redskins in 2004," J.D. Gibbs said in a news release. "I guess it's a good thing I never moved into his office. We're all working really hard to win races and championships, just like we always have."

J.D. said it will be "be great to have him back" at the shop.

"It's a biased opinion because he's my dad, but there's so much that he brings to the table," J.D. Gibbs said. "He has such a gift for leading a team. He's been coaching for 40 years and a leader of this race team since we formed it in 1992.

"Having him back will be a huge encouragement to our 430 families and a benefit to all of our corporate partners. I know my dad loves the Redskins and thinks the world of [Redskins owner] Dan Snyder. As a huge Redskins fan myself, I'm thrilled he will remain in partnership with Dan as a consultant, helping the Redskins wherever he can in the years to come."

J.D. Gibbs: Nothing changes with dad's return to team

revvinjim · 01-09-2008, 02:27 AM

"As far as my role with the team goes - nothing changes, just like nothing really changed when he went back to the Redskins in 2004," J.D. Gibbs said in a news release. "I guess it's a good thing I never moved into his office. We're all working really hard to win races and championships, just like we always have."

It is good to see the Coach back with his racing team, though it is kind of heartbreaking that he didn't acheive his goals with the Redskins.
I really don't think JD had any intention of moving into Coach Joe's office.

01-08-2008, 10:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
Schwartz Fan Co-Administrator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The flatlands...Where dirt is for farming, clay is for racin' and asphalt is for gettin there!!! Posts: 7,451	Gibbs Resigns As Redskins Coach Gibbs Resigns As Redskins Coach By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer 10:29 AM EST, January 8, 2008 WASHINGTON After the toughest season of his Hall of Fame career, one that tested his leadership like never before, Joe Gibbs is stepping down. He resigned as coach and team president of the Washington Redskins on Tuesday, three days after a playoff loss ended an inspirational late-season run that followed the death of safety Sean Taylor. Gibbs will remain as a special adviser to owner Dan Snyder and was to discuss his resignation at an afternoon news conference at Redskins Park. The Redskins will search for a new coach immediately. Among the certain candidates are two former head coaches on Gibbs' staff, Gregg Williams and Al Saunders. The new coach will be the sixth since Snyder bought the team in 1999. 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 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 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 stint from 1981-92; the second time he took the team to the postseason in two of his four seasons. His decision to leave follows perhaps the best coaching performance of his career. After the death of the Taylor on Nov. 27, the Redskins lost a game to Buffalo in which Gibbs was flagged for a vital 15-yard penalty for trying to call back-to-back timeouts in the final moments. Gibbs said he wasn't aware of the rule, giving more fodder to the argument that his game management skills had waned. But, following Taylor's funeral, Gibbs and his team rallied to win won the final four regular-season games, going from 5-7 to 9-7 to claim the final playoff berth in the NFC. The emotional run ended Saturday, when the Redskins lost 35-14 at Seattle in the wild-card playoffs. "It was the toughest (season) for me," Gibbs said Monday. "When you go through a season like that, for a while it's kind of hard to regrasp reality." Gibbs has also endured a personal crisis for a year. One of his grandsons, Taylor, was diagnosed with leukemia last January at age 2. Gibbs frequently talks lovingly about his "grandbabies," and he made an overnight trip to North Carolina on Sunday to be with his family, interrupting the postseason routine of meetings that usually follow the final game of the season. Still, for much of the season, Gibbs seemed intent on returning to coach. Players and coaches said publicly and privately over the last week that they would be shocked if he didn't stay on to finish the job. Last month, he said he would be open to discussing a contract extension so that he would not return next season as a lame-duck coach. At a news conference Monday, Gibbs spoke about plans for next season -- the team's approach to free agency, offseason workouts and the possibility of an open quarterback competition at training camp -- as if he were going to remain on the sidelines. However, he hedged when asked if he would definitely be back, saying it would hinge on his meeting Monday night with Snyder. "Everybody's situation will be taken into context here -- including mine, and my future here and all that," Gibbs said Monday. Gibbs went 124-60 during the regular season and 16-5 during the playoffs during his first term with the Redskins. He won Super Bowls following the 1981, 1987 and 1991 seasons with three different quarterbacks. Having said repeatedly that he did not intend to coach again, Gibbs was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1996. Snyder lured him out of retirement four years ago to rescue a franchise that had floundered for more than a decade, having made only one playoff appearance since Gibbs' first retirement. Gibbs' last four years were down-and-up, down-and-up. He had his two worst seasons as a coach -- 6-10 in 2004 and 5-11 in 2006 -- but he also led the Redskins to the playoffs with late runs in 2005 and 2007. His final career totals: 171-101, including 17-7 in the playoffs, a career .629 winning percentage that ranks third all-time behind George Halas and Don Shula among coaches with more than 125 wins. Gibbs Resigns As Redskins Coach -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com __________________

01-08-2008, 09:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Schwartz Fan Co-Administrator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The flatlands...Where dirt is for farming, clay is for racin' and asphalt is for gettin there!!! Posts: 7,451	J.D. Gibbs: Nothing changes with dad's return to team SCENEDAILY - 7:19PM ET TUESDAY JANUARY 8, 2008 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs said his role would not change even though his father and team owner Joe Gibbs resigned as coach of the NFL's Washington Redskins and will return to the race team. J.D. Gibbs became president in 1997, seven years before Joe left the team to return as Redskins' coach. "As far as my role with the team goes - nothing changes, just like nothing really changed when he went back to the Redskins in 2004," J.D. Gibbs said in a news release. "I guess it's a good thing I never moved into his office. We're all working really hard to win races and championships, just like we always have." J.D. said it will be "be great to have him back" at the shop. "It's a biased opinion because he's my dad, but there's so much that he brings to the table," J.D. Gibbs said. "He has such a gift for leading a team. He's been coaching for 40 years and a leader of this race team since we formed it in 1992. "Having him back will be a huge encouragement to our 430 families and a benefit to all of our corporate partners. I know my dad loves the Redskins and thinks the world of [Redskins owner] Dan Snyder. As a huge Redskins fan myself, I'm thrilled he will remain in partnership with Dan as a consultant, helping the Redskins wherever he can in the years to come." J.D. Gibbs: Nothing changes with dad's return to team __________________

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01-08-2008, 10:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
24girl 4-Time Champion Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SUNSHINE STATE Posts: 4,218	Sad to hear this.But he has soooo much to be proud of and now he wont have so much on his plate.and have more time to spend with his family,so its probly a good thing...

01-08-2008, 11:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
wopher Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3,178	you are so right and after seeing his temper flare (in a bad way) a few times this year, maybe it is the right thing..........

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