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Joe Gibbs Retires as Redskins Head Coach

by David Kindervater on January 8th, 2008

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

Joe Gibbs retired (for the second time) as head coach of the Washington Redskins today. As he leaves the sidelines once again, I can’t think of a classier man who has served as head coach in the National Football League. He was everything that is good about the NFL.

I can’t say that I am surprised with this announcement, though, even with one year left on his five-year deal. Coach Gibbs is 67-years-old. He’s been through a very difficult season with the death of Sean Taylor. And his grandson is suffering from leukemia. He feels he needs to be “there” for his family now and that is an honorable and admirable decision from a man who has always had his priorities straight. Still I know Coach Gibbs wants to see the Redskins succeed. They are a part of him. And there is no doubt, he will always be a part of the Washington Redskins. In fact, Coach Gibbs will continue to serve as an adviser to team owner Dan Snyder but he was vague about his new role, other than to say he would no longer have an office at Redskins Park because it would place an unfair burden on the new coach. Again, a classy move.

Some felt that the game may have passed him by. That he was too old. That his game plan was somewhat antiquated. And I bought into that for a short time. I wondered myself. But when you get right down to it, he did a heck of a job to get this team through a lot of adversity and into the playoffs, winning four straight games to grab the final Wild Card spot. That was not an easy accomplishment for any coach at any age. It’s not easy to win football games in the NFL. And Coach Gibbs won a lot of them. For that, he’s in the Pro Football Hall of Fame where he belongs. I’m sure every Washington Redskins player that suited up for Coach Gibbs is better for having played for him and known him.

Coach Gibbs’ 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. The Redskins have big shoes to fill.

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POSTED IN: Washington Redskins