Washington Redskins football history was forever changed on Jan. 13, 1981.
On that day, the Redskins announced the hiring of the San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator. He was a man who had never yet been a football head coach at any level.
Yet, Joe Jackson Gibbs was prepared and ready for the challenge of being an NFL head coach.
Saturday, Gibbs had another birthday, his 83rd. Nov. 25, 1940, Joe Gibbs was born in Mocksville, N.C.
Jack Kent Cooke, then owner of the Redskins, had never talked previously with Gibbs prior to their interview, which was reported to have lasted 3 and 1/2 hours.
Gibbs got off to a slow start losing his first five NFL games. Once he figured out his personnel’s strengths and weaknesses, Gibbs led a turnaround that saw Washington win 8 of its final 11 games in 1981.
He proceeded to then lead Washington to a Super Bowl championship (1982), another NFC championship and trip to the Super Bowl (1983), and a third consecutive divisional championship (1984).
In 1985, Gibbs lost Joe Theismann to his career-ending injury, but Washington still finished 10-6. A trip to the NFC championship game followed in 1986, and his second Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XXII (1987 season).
Gibbs experienced his only losing season in 1988 (7-9) but recovered well with a 10-6 in 1989 and another 10-6 with a road playoff win at Philadelphia (20-6) which resulted in Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan being fired.
The greatest Redskins team of all time followed in 1991 when Gibbs’ team was 14-2 and won all three playoff games going away (24-7, 41-10, 37-24). Super Bowl XXVI capped the 1991 season as Washington led Buffalo 37-10 before winning 37-24.
After the 1992 season (9-7) and a road playoff win at Minnesota, Gibbs “retired” from coaching. Following 12 years away from the NFL, Gibbs felt empathy for the franchise struggling as it was and returned to Washington in 2004.
After a 6-10 2004 season, Washington, in 2005, finished 10-6 and won a road playoff game in Tampa. His worst season came in 2006 (5-11), and then a 9-7 team that lost at Seattle in the playoffs marked his final season (2007).
Gibbs enjoys a significant unmatched accomplishment in NFL history. The vast majority of coaches who won multiple Super Bowls did so with the same quarterback. Bill Parcells won two with Phil Simms and Jeff Hostetler. George Seifert won with Joe Montana, then Steve Young.
But Gibbs is the only coach in NFL history to have won three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks. In addition, each of those quarterbacks, Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien, will never be in the Hall of Fame.
Conclusion? Joe Gibbs adapted his offenses to his personnel and won was a unit that was well-coached.
It’s sad to see people age, and Coach Joe is 83. Commanders Wire wishes Coach Joe a Happy 83rd Birthday and thanks him for his voluminous accomplishments, for bringing such joy to the fan base, and honor and success to the organization.
