11/05/24
January 08, 2008
Joe Gibbs Resigns as Washington's Coach: After four years in which his teams went 31-36, Joe Gibbs surprised Washington's players and coaching staff by resigning for the second time from the team. The Hall of Fame coach, winner of three Super Bowls in 12 years the first time around, had an arduous year after the diagnosis of a grandson with leukemia and the murder of player Sean Taylor.
I echo l_b_b's sentiments. He will still be a valuable asset as an adviser to Daniel Snyder.
posted by Howard_T at 11:19 AM on January 08, 2008
Best to Joe Gibbs and his family. Even as a Cowboy fan, I've always admired and respected Gibbs. I hope his life is a bit more peaceful from here on out.
posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 11:23 AM on January 08, 2008
Gibbs has been incredibly successful in most, if not all, of the efforts he's undertaken. And he was a nice, professional, honest person along the way. You can't ask for more. Good luck, Joe.
posted by 86 at 11:27 AM on January 08, 2008
Even this born and raised Eagles fan has much love for Joe Gibbs.
posted by GoBirds at 11:41 AM on January 08, 2008
Much respect to Joe Gibbs from a die-hard Seahawks fan. Hopefully he can find some peace off the sidelines and be strong to give his family the support they need right now.
posted by THX-1138 at 11:48 AM on January 08, 2008
I don't think I can add much to what the posters above me have written. I have absolutely no love for the Washington football club, but I have always had the utmost of respect for Joe Gibbs. May he find only peace and good health as he steps away from the sidelines.
posted by tommybiden at 12:33 PM on January 08, 2008
We all wish the best to a real gentleman. and also to his grandson.
posted by Fly_Piscator at 01:26 PM on January 08, 2008
Who sees Bill Cowher taking this job?
posted by dbt302 at 02:03 PM on January 08, 2008
Rumor has it Bill Cowher will get an offer of total control and $10 million a year (!). There are other rumors that Gregg Williams will get a shot and has the support of the players (defensive and offensive players). These are just rumors at this point, but the former fits Dan Snyder's M.O., that's for sure. I'd love to see Cowher on the sidelines, but I'm reluctant to see the team start again under a new system. I was really appreciating the consistency from one season to the next (finally).
posted by 86 at 02:10 PM on January 08, 2008
Three super bowl rings with a three different starting QB's and three different starting running backs. It doesn't get any better than that. And he was always #1 on my list when the Jets went looking for a new Head Coach. I can't pay him a bigger compliment as head coach than that.
posted by cjets at 02:11 PM on January 08, 2008
Dont forget Gibbs also owns (co-owns?) NASCAR Cup and Busch series raceing teams. He may be out of football but still in the public eye. As stated above best wishes to him and his family. I truly believe we make our own luck yall.
posted by Folkways at 05:27 PM on January 08, 2008
Four years and a loosing record. Gee what's the suprise. He may have been a good coach in the past but he did little for the Redskins over the last four years unless you consider loosing more games than you win a good thing. He's an old guy and deserves to retire. I wish him luck. I just don't get all praise he is getting now. Based on the last 4 regular season games maybe. Base on the last 4 years and last playoff loss, sorry. It's time to retire.
posted by Atheist at 05:50 PM on January 08, 2008
He did little for the Redskins over the last four years They made the playoffs two of the last three years.
posted by 86 at 06:25 PM on January 08, 2008
And he did it in spite of the salary cap handicaps ownership presented him with. Remember they traded a lot of talent and picks for veterans who didn't pan out.
posted by yerfatma at 07:30 PM on January 08, 2008
His record isn't bad considering two of the seasons were horrible but Gibbs does one thing many others can't -- he can win with mediocre talent at quarterback. I wonder if Gibbs doesn't win coach of the year any other year than this year (with a certain team going 16-0) I wish him the best.
posted by jc at 09:32 PM on January 08, 2008
JC salary cap handicaps? Synder has always spent money where people were afraid to go. Some team don't even approach the cap limit while the skins were always at the top. Gibbs has/does prefer vets over rookies. Hence always trading away picks for players. There were has beens and never weres on his coaching staff when he came back. If the NFC wasn't in such poor shape he never would have made the playoffs. Clearily the game has passed him by. He is smart enough to realize it
posted by whodat at 01:56 AM on January 09, 2008
Much respect for Coach Gibbs, but the game has passed him by......Good luck in retirement Coach, you deserve it.
posted by LeftyPower at 04:49 AM on January 09, 2008
JC salary cap handicaps? Synder has always spent money where people were afraid to go. Some team don't even approach the cap limit while the skins were always at the top. Spending money on shitty, over-the-hill, over-priced talent isn't helpful, especially when it comes at a cost of developing young players to be the nucleus of a team for years to come.
posted by yerfatma at 06:04 AM on January 09, 2008
What yerfatma said. Everyone pretty much knew Snyder's free-spending over the past several years would put the team in a bind down the road. I'm not sure football has passed Gibbs by, but he's getting older and, from what he said, I take from him he just can't devote the time appropriately that it would take to remain head coach. That's part of being a head NFL coach that must be tough for anyone, especially someone who's concerned about family issues. If anything, I think Joe Gibbs sees things much more clearly than many in the game. He's a class guy, and if football starts passing people like him by, then football has the problem.
posted by dyams at 07:15 AM on January 09, 2008
Spending money on shitty, over-the-hill, over-priced talent isn't helpful, especially when it comes at a cost of developing young players to be the nucleus of a team for years to come. I believe that is the redskins mode of operation the last few years.
posted by whodat at 07:35 AM on January 09, 2008
Go back and look at how The Danny's team signed veterans with Norv Turner and Steve Spurrier. Do you really think things have stayed the same?
posted by yerfatma at 08:49 AM on January 09, 2008
It's a shame; Snyder was just starting to learn that his team does better with him in the background and a coach on the sidelines. Maybe his old owner-runs-everything attitude was a folly of youth, and he won't interfere with the next head coach he hires. It's too bad Joe Gibbs is retiring, for what he might have continued to teach Snyder about managing professionals. I've been a Redskins fan my whole life, and over the years I've come to the conclusion that Joe Gibbs is more a leader of men than a great football mind. He's a tremendous coach not through great innovation or tricky tactics, but through his ability to motivate groups of men to practice and play together, to find their own strengths, and to win and lose as a team. He's got a great Nascar team for similar reasons. I'm sure he'd make an inspiring field general in war. I'd follow him, singing, to my death in battle. I'm sorry to see him retire again, and I wish him the best in the future.
posted by Hugh Janus at 12:08 PM on January 09, 2008
When I was a child, I thought like a child, and followed my grandparents as a Cowboy fan. Then, having come of age, I understood the folly of my formative years and learned to love those whom I had been taught to hate...I still hate the Giants and Eagles, but the 'Skins have taken over my top spot for the last 12 years. Even in my youthful naivete, I still appreciated the consummate professionalism espoused and practiced by Coach Gibbs anywhere I saw him. I truly hate to see him leave this team, and desperately hope Snyder's smart enough to listen to the players and give G.W. the top spot. Continuity in philosophy plus continuity in player/coach relationship sounds like a good combination to me.
posted by newbie1412 at 12:35 PM on January 09, 2008
Joe Gibbs is a class act.He said he couldn't give 100% to the team.I guess he can now concentrate on his race team full time,something he said he wasn't able to do with the Redskins.Good luck to him.
posted by Ghastly1 at 06:20 PM on January 09, 2008
Go back and look at how The Danny's team signed veterans with Norv Turner and Steve Spurrier. Do you really think things have stayed the same? Having Brunell, Daniels, Collins, and Randle El on the roster does not help your case. That being said, you are correct that the current rooster is younger then the previous coaches.
posted by whodat at 01:09 AM on January 10, 2008
I am die hard Cowboys fan and have been since I could walk and talk. I would just like to say that Mr. Joe Gibbs will always rank up there with Mr. Tom Landry and Mr. Don Shula! They ALL have class and the respect of true football fans(except for Mr. Landry who is in sideline heaven)!!!
posted by c-shelle at 05:44 AM on January 10, 2008
As good a coach as Gibbs has been, his double timeout penalty at the end of the Bills loss was one of the biggest coaching blunders in league history. He moved the Bills' kicker from a 51-yarder to a 36-yarder for a go-ahead field goal as time expired. There aren't a lot of situations where a coach can so clearly be blamed for a loss.
posted by rcade at 08:31 AM on January 10, 2008
Sounds like this really and truly is a resignation for personal reasons. Congratulations to Gibbs for having a clear sense of his priorities, and best wishes for him and his family.