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Back to Washington

Returning to the NFL to coach after 11 seasons away, Joe Gibbs has gone from the top with the Redskins to the top at the racetracks. Now he must do something with a team on the skids.

WASHINGTON - The Redskins dipped into their glorious past Wednesday in the latest attempt to repair their struggling team, as Joe Gibbs agreed to a five-year contract to return as coach of the franchise he once led to three Super Bowl victories.

The decision by Gibbs, 63, to return to the sideline after an 11-year absence was met with surprise around the league and delight from the team's fans. He became a Washington sports icon by taking the Redskins to Super Bowl triumphs after the 1982, '87 and '91 seasons. But he retired after the 1992 season and settled into a less-stressful life centered on his family and his successful auto racing teams.

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder lured him back, however, with a recruiting effort that began just after Steve Spurrier resigned nine days ago. Snyder kept his wooing under wraps, however; Gibbs' name was not among the three candidates - former Giants coach Jim Fassel, former Vikings coach Dennis Green and Seahawks defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes - whom Snyder publicly pursued in the past week.

"The desire to coach has always been with me, even after being away from the game for 11 years," Gibbs said in a written statement released by his Joe Gibbs Racing team, based in Huntersville, N.C. "After speaking with my wife Pat, we both agreed it would be a thrill to go back."

Gibbs' friends say he reacquired the football itch in part through his association with the Falcons, in which he held a small ownership stake, and by watching coaching contemporaries Dick Vermeil and Bill Parcells return to the sideline after layoffs and re-establish themselves as winners.

"It's pretty amazing. I thought he was done," said former Redskins offensive lineman Joe Jacoby. "Bringing him back is an outstanding move. . . . It's hard to get it out of your system. I've been retired 10 years, and I still have a passion for it. It's so much of your life and it's in your blood. He probably sees what Vermeil and Parcells have done, and he's still got that burning desire."

Gibbs is scheduled to be formally introduced at a news conference at 5 tonight at Redskins Park in Ashburn, Va.

"Joe Gibbs helped define what the Washington Redskins stand for - integrity, hard work, determination, winning and championships," Snyder said in a written statement released by the team. "Who better to set our strategy and lead the Redskins back to championship glory."

Gibbs, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996, also receives the title of team president. Snyder and Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins vice president of football operations, will continue to participate in player-related decisions but Gibbs apparently will have the final word.

Gibbs' deal will pay him more than the $5-million per season earned by Spurrier in the five-year contract that he walked away from after two seasons, according to the Washington Post. Gibbs' contract does not give him an ownership stake in the Redskins but apparently contains a mechanism that could, at some point, enable him to earn additional income based on a percentage of the increase in the franchise's value during his tenure with the team.

Gibbs will resign from the Falcons board of directors and has begun the process of selling his ownership stake in that franchise. He and two partners reportedly purchased 5 percent of the team in 2002 for $27-million. Falcons owner Arthur Blank said he interviewed Gibbs for his club's coaching vacancy after Gibbs told him several weeks ago that he was interested in coaching again.

"When the opportunity at the Redskins came up, Joe told us he couldn't turn his back on the history, fans, loyalties and relationships built over time in Washington," Blank said. "While we understand his feelings, we are disappointed that he didn't continue his talks with us."

Gibbs has begun to assemble a coaching staff that includes a mixture of his old Redskins assistants and younger coaches from elsewhere. While Gibbs runs the offense, Gregg Williams apparently will run the defense. Williams was fired as Bills coach last week, and previously was a highly successful defensive coordinator for the Titans.

Joe Bugel, the leader of the "Hogs" as Gibbs's offensive line coach, rejoins his old boss as assistant coach. Bugel is the former coach of the Raiders and Cardinals, and was an unpaid coaching consultant to the Redskins this season. Don Breaux returns as Gibbs' running backs coach, and the Post reported Gibbs could bring along one of his sons, Coy, as an assistant.

He perhaps could hire Russ Grimm if the former Redskins player and assistant - now the Steelers offensive line coach - is available.

Gibbs inherits a team that went 12-20 in two seasons under Spurrier, including 5-11 this season, and made one playoff appearance in Gibbs' absence. Gibbs becomes the club's fifth coach - after Norv Turner, interim coach Terry Robiskie, Marty Schottenheimer and Spurrier - since Snyder purchased the franchise in 1999 for $800-million.

"This is a pride-swallowing from Dan Snyder to say, "I don't know enough about running an organization, so I'm going to hire someone who does,' " said former Redskins offensive lineman Mark Schlereth. "It's a sign of maturity (by Snyder). It's like Dallas and (Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones having to swallow his pride when he got Parcells."

Many league executives believe the Redskins have a solid core of talented players, and the Post reported that Snyder is planning to add an expensive haul of free agents in the offseason to bolster Gibbs' roster. The Redskins also have the fifth overall choice in April's draft.

Said Joe Theismann, one of Gibbs's three Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks: "I just talked to Dan. He sounded so relieved. I told him, "Now you have a chance to be a real owner.' It gives hope back to Washington. . . . It's not like (Gibbs') system has ever been outdated. And when he took over with us, it didn't take a long time to implement. He also has free agency at his disposal . . . (and) he can fill in the gaps very quickly."

Gibbs was known for his around-the-clock work schedule, his offensive wizardry and his ability to adjust on the move during games. He will have to demonstrate that the game didn't pass him by while he was away.

"It's up in the air if he'll be as successful because the system has changed so much since he last coached," Jacoby said. "But he's a coach who's always adapted to all kinds of situations."

Said Redskins middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter: "If you can coach, you can coach. Sometimes it's better to take time off. You can burn out. The NFL is rough. Steve Spurrier can attest to that."

Snyder grew up in the Washington area idolizing Gibbs and his great teams, and Gibbs always was his dream coach. Snyder tried to hire Bobby Beathard, the Redskins general manager alongside Gibbs, in January 2002, but the deal unraveled at the last minute.

Snyder had pursued Gibbs in the past when he had a coaching vacancy, and took his private jet to an airport near Charlotte to meet with Gibbs on the day after Spurrier resigned. Gibbs is cordial with Dwight Schar, the Northern Virginia real estate executive who became a minority owner of the Redskins last year.

Gibbs racing teams won 40 Winston Cup races - his first was the 1993 Daytona 500 with Dale Jarrett - and owner titles in 2000 and 2002 with Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart, respectively. The increased success of his 13-year operation gave him less to do, and his on-track personnel said daily operations should not be affected.

"He's not nearly as involved as he used to be," said senior vice president of racing Jimmy Makar. "The team has grown to the point to where it runs itself without him having to be there. This opportunity is something he can sink his teeth into."

Gibbs summoned Makar, driver Tony Stewart and his crew chief, Greg Zipadelli to Daytona Beach International Airport on Tuesday night to share his plans.

"At first I thought we'd bought a new airplane at Joe Gibbs Racing, because it was a plane from the Redskins," Stewart said. "And I was a little down because I found out we didn't have a new airplane at Joe Gibbs Racing. But maybe we'll get some time on it."

"You can walk through this building and look at those Super Bowl trophies," said Redskins offensive tackle Chris Samuels. "That will tell you enough about him, even if you were too young to watch this guy coach."

Samuels, one of the few players who showed up Wednesday at Redskin Park, said he knows that Gibbs based his offenses on a strong running game.

"I'm excited because I heard we're going to run the ball," he said.

- Times staff writer Brant James contributed to this report.