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.
January 13, 1981#HTTR hire Joe Gibbs pic.twitter.com/c2l7T7VYgu
— Old Time Football
(@Ol_TimeFootball) September 1, 2023
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.”
Joe Gibbs returns (2004) pic.twitter.com/ZA0WMUcEyJ
— Vintage NFL (@NFL_vintage) July 11, 2022
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?