Joe Gibbs Retires -- It's A Sad Day
As I wrote in The Journal this week, I was not surprised that Washington Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs announced his retirement on Monday. But in the days following the announcement, I have grown increasingly sad about this development.
Perhaps part of the sadness is rooted in the post-holiday period. Whatever the reason or reasons, I find Coach Gibbs' departure as as truly sad.
There are people who believe the game has passed him by, but I am not among them. He did so much for the Redskins during two tours of duty as coach. No one in the entire 75-year history of the team has had a more significant impact on this proud franchise. His impact goes beyond the three Super Bowl wins in four appearances and with three different non-Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
Without those triumphs, perhaps his power of personality would not have had a chance to work. But this deep man of faith knows how to deal with people and he put his skills to enormous use in the Redskin organization.
I doubt there is a coach alive who could have shepherded the team through this season as well as did Joe Gibbs. His club faced devastating injuries, the murder of its best athlete and the injury of its potential franchise quarterback.
The coach told Bob Costas that he believed the Redskins would defeat the Seattle Seahawks in last Saturday's wildcard playoff in Seattle. It did not happen, of course, and Gibbs and the rest of the Redskin community still are in shock. But that loss apparently was the last straw. He told Costas that as he got back on the plane following the Seattle game, he knew it was time to leave.
I will have more to say about this in future posts on this blog and columns in The Journal. But my immediate concern is who will be Coach Gibbs' successor. I hope defensive guru Gregg Williams is named coach. He has earned it. He has solid backing of the players and others on the team. If the Redskins bring a coach in from outside, the team yet again will be blown up. Again, I plan to post often and write often on this as events warrant.
Perhaps part of the sadness is rooted in the post-holiday period. Whatever the reason or reasons, I find Coach Gibbs' departure as as truly sad.
There are people who believe the game has passed him by, but I am not among them. He did so much for the Redskins during two tours of duty as coach. No one in the entire 75-year history of the team has had a more significant impact on this proud franchise. His impact goes beyond the three Super Bowl wins in four appearances and with three different non-Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
Without those triumphs, perhaps his power of personality would not have had a chance to work. But this deep man of faith knows how to deal with people and he put his skills to enormous use in the Redskin organization.
I doubt there is a coach alive who could have shepherded the team through this season as well as did Joe Gibbs. His club faced devastating injuries, the murder of its best athlete and the injury of its potential franchise quarterback.
The coach told Bob Costas that he believed the Redskins would defeat the Seattle Seahawks in last Saturday's wildcard playoff in Seattle. It did not happen, of course, and Gibbs and the rest of the Redskin community still are in shock. But that loss apparently was the last straw. He told Costas that as he got back on the plane following the Seattle game, he knew it was time to leave.
I will have more to say about this in future posts on this blog and columns in The Journal. But my immediate concern is who will be Coach Gibbs' successor. I hope defensive guru Gregg Williams is named coach. He has earned it. He has solid backing of the players and others on the team. If the Redskins bring a coach in from outside, the team yet again will be blown up. Again, I plan to post often and write often on this as events warrant.
posted by Rick Gunter at Wednesday, January 09, 2008
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