Tag: Joe Gibbs

One year ago, Commanders name Dan Quinn new head coach

Looking back on the one year anniversary of the Commanders hiring Dan Quinn.

“We’re going to start right now; the first thing is a head coach; we’ve got to find a great head coach.”

That’s what Adam Peters said the day he was hired to be the new Commanders general manager.

One year ago, on February 3, the new coach Peters had found was announced as Daniel Patrick Quinn.

In the night, Quinn and his wife, Stacey, were greeted walking off the airplane by Peters and his wife, Jennifer.

The following day, Quinn walked into the Ashburn team facility to be greeted by Peters, Jason Wright, Doug Williams, and many employees. In the lobby, Peters pointed to the three Super Bowl Trophies won by Joe Gibbs (1982, 1987, 1991), and Quinn responded, “Makes us think about it every day when we walk in.”

Quinn received a phone call. It was Gibbs who began, “Hey, welcome aboard, man. Here we go, here we go.” Gibbs had arrived in 1981 to a team that had not made the playoffs since 1976 and had finished 6-10 in 1980 under Jack Pardee.

Quinn told Gibbs he had thought about Gibbs driving up to the facility and walking into his old office. Quinn thanked Gibbs for giving him some time to talk to Quinn when he became head coach of the Falcons and that it meant a lot to Quinn.

At his press conference, he said it was a privilege to have been chosen to coach for this franchise and that he realized it takes time to build trust from the fan base, players, staff, and entire organization. But he couldn’t wait to start earning that trust.

“There is nothing I enjoy more than doing hard s–t with good people,” said Quinn…We will hit the ground running; there is lots to do.”

Quinn then stressed, “You will not hear me say the word ‘rebuild’ at all. This is a ‘recalibrate,’ finding our north again.”

“I want to make sure, above all things, that our identity takes place about how we play football. You’ve got to be bold; you’ve got to be aggressive. When people watch us play, they know what Commanders football looks like.”

“We are going to be explosive; we are going to be physical. There’s a lot to get done, but I honestly do not see that word as part of my thinking at all.”

That was Dan Quinn’s first day on the job, one year ago, February 3, 2024.

Joe Gibbs actually rescued the Commanders again

Joe Gibbs again proves why he’s the most important and beloved figure in Washington history.

As if Joe Gibbs hadn’t done enough for Washington’s NFL franchise, Gibbs again stepped up and came to the rescue.

In July 2023, former owner Daniel Snyder couldn’t go out in style and be gracious. He couldn’t bring himself to it. According to an ESPN report by Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr, Snyder actually put up a fight at the end.

The sale was announced as final to the Josh Harris ownership group of approximately 20 owners. When the NFL announced they were fining Snyder $60 million, the price dropped just below the $6 billion insisted upon by Snyder.

Consequently, Snyder “threatened to kill the deal by refusing to share his bank information, preventing Harris from wiring him the money. At 1 a.m. on July 21, Snyder and his wife were fielding phone calls from various executives and confidants, urging him to do what he’d pledged and let go of the team.”

Snyder, in addition, refused to hand over the stadium keys, knowing there would be a rally for the Harris group purchasing the team.

When Snyder took over in 1999, GM Charley Casserly suddenly resigned. Norv Turner was fired before the 2000 season concluded. Marty Schottenheimer lasted only the 2001 season. A frustrated Steve Spurrier, knowing he had a couple more years to collect on his contract, resigned anyway, later saying Snyder had never come through with a general manager as he had promised.

To the rescue came Joe Jackson Gibbs. Gibbs said his wife Pat had even told him that going back to the Redskins, he was going to ruin his good name. But Gibbs returned anyway and led the team to two playoff seasons, including a playoff win in the 2005 season, the last until this 2024  season.

So, too, in July 2023, it was again Joe Gibbs willing to get involved and talk to Daniel Snyder, hoping to get Snyder to see the big picture. In typical Gibbs fashion, he is said to have asked Snyder to think about what would be loving the team and the fan base.

Has there ever been an NFL head coach who spoke so well of his team’s fan base than Coach Joe? His entire time in both terms (1981-92 and 2004-07), Joe Gibbs praised the fan base, saying they were the best in the NFL.

How seriously was Snyder digging in? How long was he willing to hold out in July 2023?

Months later, Tad Brown, CEO of HBSE, told confidants, “We don’t get the Commanders if not for Joe Gibbs.”

Not only did Coach Joe bring the DMV 5 NFC Championship games, 4 NFC Championships, four Super Bowls, and three Super Bowl Championships, but he directly helped bring the Commanders to the Josh Harris ownership group.

Is perhaps the greatest Redskin and Commander of all actually Joe Jackson Gibbs?

Coach Joe Gibbs making the effort to support the Commanders

Joe Gibbs will be in Philadelphia to support the Commanders.

Seriously, how many 84-year-olds do you think will be in attendance on Sunday in Philadelphia at the NFC Championship game?

Well, one is planning on it, one Joe Jackson Gibbs.

That’s right, Coach Joe, now 84 years of age, told “Grant & Danny” of 106.7 The Fan in Washington on Wednesday that he plans to be at the game. Closing their interaction together, Grant Paulsen asked, “Will you be at the game, or are you gonna be on the couch? How you gonna watch it?”

“No, I’m gonna go to the game,” replied Gibbs.

Paulsen immediately clapped, responding, “Oh, let’s go!”

“That’s my plan, let’s go, here we go!” said Gibbs.

Joe Gibbs will be in the house, in Philly, for the Commanders and Eagles in the Championship game, ” closed Paulsen.

Earlier in the conversation, Gibbs offered praise, saying he had been down on the field before Saturday’s Detroit playoff game. He expressed that he had told Josh Harris and David Blitzer that they were doing a tremendous job getting things turned around quickly.

He also spoke highly of GM Adam Peters and HC Dan Quinn. He declared to get this far in only one season, “all of us really respect it. I think it is great and fantastic for all the fans there. It’s great for all of us to be a part of it. I just think it’s a special time.”

“It is so hard to do and they’ve done it. So they deserve the credit, man, I got to tell you…It has a lot to do with the people you select, the people on the team, and the character they have.”

Quinn, from day one, has spoken of the character of Jayden Daniels, Mike Sainristil, Terry McLaurin, Bobby Wagner, Tyler Biadasz, and Zach Ertz.

If anyone would know about the importance of character, it is Coach Joe.

Joe Gibbs reacts to Commanders’ win and Jayden Daniels’ performance

Joe Gibbs was happy after the Commanders’ win and he’s impressed with Jayden Daniels.

For years, when things were going bad at the end of another lost Washington season, former owner Dan Snyder would bring legendary coach Joe Gibbs to town for a game. Whether it was Snyder’s attempt at trying to earn some goodwill amongst Washington’s fan base or simply the timing being right for Gibbs, the Hall of Fame coach’s return to watch his former team never felt like a big deal.

Everything changed under the new owner, Josh Harris. When Harris purchased the team, we learned that Gibbs and Harris had communicated and developed a strong friendship before Harris purchased the Commanders. Harris and one of his minority partners, David Blitzer, invested in Gibbs’ NASCAR team. 

Since the purchase, we’ve seen Gibbs back. He was in town for training camp with Darrell Green last summer and attended games when he had time. On Saturday, there was no way Gibbs was missing the franchise’s most significant game in 33 years.

Gibbs was in Detroit on Saturday to see his Commanders upset the Detroit Lions, 45-31, in the NFC divisional round and head to the NFC championship game for the first time since 1991. Interestingly enough, Gibbs’ Redskins defeated the Lions 41-10 in the NFC championship game that season.

Washington improved to 4-0 all-time against the Lions in the playoffs, and Gibbs was present for three of those meetings.

After the game, the media caught up with Gibbs, who was understandably happy.

“So proud of everybody,” Gibbs said, courtesy of Mitchell Tischler of Monumental Sports. “For everybody to put this together, this team, in really a year, and so it’s phenomenal. It’s great. To get a win like that on the road, really hard, gives you great confidence…fantastic for everybody.”

So, what was it like watching sensational rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels?

“I think he’s an awful good quarterback, I’ll put it that way,” Gibbs said with a huge smile.

Yes, Coach Gibbs, Daniels is an “awful good quarterback.”

It was great to see Gibbs in the building to witness the franchise’s biggest win since its last Super Bowl run.

Marcus Mariota rescues Commanders: Quick facts from Washington’s win

Marcus Mariota rescued the Commanders. Several facts and numbers from the win.

The ‘Commanders’ offense was pitiful,, but Marcus Mariota rescued them Sunday in their come-from-behind 23-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington.

Here are some of the quick facts from the Commanders’ 12th win of the 2024 season:

  • With this 12th win of the season, Dan Quinn joins Joe Gibbs as the only head coaches in franchise history to obtain 12 regular season wins in a season.
  • Terry McLaurin’s game-winning touchdown reception was his 13th touchdown catch this season, a new franchise record.
  • The Commanders’ offense was so weak in the first half that they produced only four first downs and 64 total yards of offense.
  • The half ended with Dallas leading 6-3. When the teams met in November, the half ended with the game tied 3-3.
  • Marcus Mariota substituted for Jayden Daniels in the second half and led scoring drives of 70 yards, 70 yards, and 91 yards.
  • McLaurin joined Travis Kelce as the only active players to record 75-plus receptions and 1,000-plus receiving yards in five consecutive seasons.
  • Marcus Mariota’s second-half numbers were 15/18, 161 yards, two touchdown passes, and one touchdown rushing.
  • On the final drive, the Commanders faced a fourth & 1. Marcus Mariota pulled off a magical 33-yard run, which was the longest rushing attempt of the day for either team. Here it is:

 

  • Jayden Daniels had his worst day of the season. He only completed six of 12 for a mere 38 yards and was sacked four times for -18 yards.
  • Washington running backs today Brian Robinson (5-10) and Austin Ekeler (3-12) had a rough rushing. Jayden Daniels had four carries for 27 yards. But then Marcus Mariota produced 56 yards on five carries.
  • With a productive second half, Terry McLaurin finished with eight catches for 62 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
  • Today, the Commanders trailed at the half (6-3), the third consecutive week they have done so. They also achieved a come-from-behind win for the third consecutive week (Eagles, Falcons, Cowboys).
  • Jonathan Allen, working his way back from a torn pectoral muscle, collected a quarterback sack today. It was his 42nd career sack, passing Ken Harvey (41.5) for 5th in franchise history. * Note that only dates back to 1982 when sacks became an official statistic.
  • Washington only won four games in 2023. Today is their 12th win of the 2024 season. The improvement of eight games in a season is the greatest in franchise history.

Commanders Dan Quinn joined some elite company with Week 15 win

Dan Quinn did something only one other coach in Washington franchise history has done.

Dan Quinn is already in rare company.

With the 20-19 Commanders’ win over the Saints in Week 14, Dan Quinn reached his ninth win of the season.

The franchise has been led so poorly from the top that this 2024 season is the first nine-win season since Jay Gruden was the head coach, Kirk Cousins was the starting quarterback, and Sean McVay was the offensive coordinator in 2015. The only current player from that 2015 season was punter Tress Way.

Also, with that ninth win of the season, Quinn becomes only the second Washington head coach to have won nine games in his first NFL season with the franchise.

George Allen came to Washington in 1971, taking over a team that had finished 6-8 in 1970. Allen made numerous trades in the offseason but lost his starting quarterback, Sonny Jurgensen, to a broken shoulder in the preseason and Charley Taylor in the fifth game to a broken ankle. Yet the Redskins finished 9-4-1 and were the fourth and final team to make the NFC playoffs before losing in the first round to the NFC West champ 49ers in San Francisco 24-20.

The great Joe Gibbs came to Washington in 1981, taking over a team that was 6-10 in 1980. Gibbs lost his first five games and has often told of how then-owner Jack Kent Cooke asked to meet with Gibbs. Gibbs has commented that he thought he might get fired before winning even a single game.

Gibbs wasn’t fired, but he did manage to get the team to play his brand of football. They won eight of their final 11 games, finishing the season at 8-8.

Marty Schottenheimer came to Washington to succeed Norv Turner, whom owner Daniel Snyder had fired during the 2000 season in which the Redskins finished 8-8.

Schottenheimer inherited Jeff George as his starting quarterback, whom Snyder had brought to the team. Marty’s 2001 team started miserably, so miserably George was not only benched, he was released. The Redskins started 0-5, finished strongly at 8-8. But Snyder fired Schottenheimer.

How many games did Boston / Washington first-year head coaches win in their inaugural seasons?

  • 2020 Ron Rivera 7-9
  • 2014 Jay Gruden 4-12
  • 2010 Mike Shanahan 6-10
  • 2008 Jim Zorn 8-8
  • 2004 Joe Gibbs (2.0) 6-10
  • 2002 Steve Spurrier 7-9
  • 2001 Marty Schottenheimer 8-8
  • 1994 Norv Turner 3-13
  • 1993 Richie Petitbon 4-12
  • 1981 Joe Gibbs (1.0) 8-8
  • 1978 Jack Pardee 8-8
  • 1971 George Allen 9-4-1
  • 1970 Bill Austin 6-8
  • 1969 Vince Lombardi 7-5-2
  • 1966 Otto Graham 7-7
  • 1961 Bill McPeak 1-12-1
  • 1959 Mike Nixon 3-9
  • 1954 Joe Kuharich 3-9
  • 1952 Curly Lambeau 4-8
  • 1950 Herman Ball 3-9
  • 1946 Turk Edwards 5-5-1
  • 1944 Dudley DeGroot 6-3-1
  • 1943 Dutch Bergman  6-3-1
  • 1936 Ray Flaherty 7-5
  • 1935 Eddie Casey 2-8-1
  • 1933 Lone Star Dietz 5-5-2
  • 1932 Lud Wray 4-4-2

Commanders’ offense reminding some of the 1991 team

The current Commanders are doing things that hasn’t been done since the last Super Bowl team.

This Commanders team has accomplished something Washington hasn’t achieved in 33 seasons.

This dates back to pre-Daniel Snyder era teams, all the way back to Jack Kent Cooke being the owner, Joe Gibbs still being the coach, and Mark Rypien being the starting quarterback.

In 1991 the Washington Redskins were Super Bowl XXVI champions, having defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24 after having led 37-10. This year’s 2024 team has no guarantees to match that accomplishment. However, this year’s team has scored 40+ points three times, and that 1991 Super Bowl champion team last accomplished that.

Led by quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders have scored 40+ points at the Cardinals (42-14), against the Panthers (40-7), and the Titans (42-19).

The Commanders have converted 71 of 161 3rd down attempts for 44.1 percent. They have done quite well on fourth downs, as Washington has converted 13 of 15 plays for 86.7 percent. The Commanders offense has executed well in the red zone, scoring touchdowns 60 percent of the time on 33 of 55 possessions.

The 1991 team actually accomplished the 40+ points feat four times in the regular season: against the Lions (45-0), against the Browns (42-17), against the Falcons (56-17), and at the Steelers (41-14) and then also in their NFC Championship game win over the Lions (41-10).

Yes, this year’s offense has often been fun to watch. In fact, the Commanders have scored 30+ points in five games already this regular season: at the Bengals (38-33), at the Cardinals (42-14), against the Browns (34-13), against the Panthers (40-7), and the Titans (42-19).

 

Jay-Z, Joe Gibbs take in Cowboys-Commanders NFC East clash

Big-name celebs were at the Dallas Cowboys-Washington Commanders game

The Kansas City Chiefs have Taylor Swift at home games. The Washington Commanders had Jay-Z in attendance on Sunday when they played the Dallas Cowboys.

Former Washington coach Joe Gibbs was also on hand.

Commanders’ Dan Quinn maintaining a proper perspective after huge win

Dan Quinn on how the highs and lows of a season can be dangerous.

Life is full of ups and downs, mountains and valleys.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has lived long enough (age 54) and coached long enough in the NFL to know this is true in the NFL as well.

Consequently, after a night’s sleep following Washington’s thrilling 38-33 victory in Cincinnati, Quinn was level-headed and maintained a proper perspective Tuesday when talking with the media.

“Roller coasters are as fun as hell, but you can’t ride the highs and lows because both can be equally dangerous,” began Quinn.

He’s absolutely correct. I recall Washington in 1978 started 6-0; it was exciting. But it finished 8-8. On the other side of the coin, I recall the 1981 Joe Gibbs first season began dreadfully at 0-5. However, they rebounded to finish 8-8. Twenty years later, Marty Schottenheimer’s Redskins team also began 0-5 and also finished 8-8.

Quinn spoke of how the team traveled from Cincinnati to Arizona rather than returning home to Ashburn. He knows the win was a big one. He knows the temptations to get distracted, forgetting what you did to win a big game. “To me, it worked out perfectly to stay in this pocket, no outside voices of highs or lows. Our pocket is all about proving it, about competing, about improvement.”

He spoke of the team being connected while staying in Arizona in preparation for the Week 4 contest at the Cardinals. Yet the world is a different place today. Each player has his phone and will see stories about how great they were last night.

Dan Quinn has his work cut out for him this week, and he’s already displaying he is quite aware and wants to work hard to avoid a pitfall against the Cardinals.

Kevin Durant predicts a touchdown on Jayden Daniels’ first NFL play

Kevin Durant sees big things for Jayden Daniels on his first NFL play.

NBA superstar Kevin Durant is a massive fan of the Washington Commanders. Growing up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Durant has always stayed with his favorite team through good times and bad.

These days, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the Commanders under new owner Josh Harris. This entire offseason has been fun for Washington fans, beginning with general manager Adam Peters’ hiring in January.

Washington’s most notable offseason addition was rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Durant, like most fans, is fired up about Daniels.

On Friday, Durant was a guest on “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams, discussing the Commanders. Adams asked Durant to predict Daniels’ first play in his NFL debut on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“Play action, hit the post, Terry McLaurin for six,” Durant said. Adams said she wanted to see a similar result for Daniels on his first play.

The only other time the Commanders and Buccaneers opened the season was in 2004. That was Joe Gibbs’ first game back with the franchise after 12 years away. Running back Clinton Portis took his first carry in a Washington uniform 64 yards to the house, leading the burgundy and gold to a season-opening win over Tampa Bay.

Can Daniels create similar magic on Sunday?