Not many people rise to the top of two different professions. Probably even fewer people come back to their first profession after a long absence and again become successful. That is just what Joe Gibbs has done, as he led the Washington Redskins to three Super Bowl victories in four appearances, then quit to own a NASCAR racing team. After returning as coach of the Redskins, he led the team to the playoffs in only his second season back. As if those things haven’t taken enough of his time, he also founded a private home for at-risk teenage boys and girls. To top it off, Gibbs is an outspoken Christian who often shares his faith with others.
Joe Gibbs was born November 25, 1940 in Mocksville, North Carolina. He is already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame because of his success in his first stint as coach of the Redskins. He is the 20th and 26th coach of the Redskins.
Some, who know football, say the players he put together for his championship teams would not have been as successful anywhere else and may have only been considered mediocre players with another team.
During Joe Gibbs’ first tenure with the Redskins, from 1981-1992, he led them to eight playoff appearances, four NFC championships, and three Super Bowl titles. He was known for his hard work and extremely long hours.
He was an offensive line coach under Don Coryell at San Diego State from 1964-1966, held the same position at Florida State from 1967-1968, and then served under John McKay at the University of Southern California from 1969-1970, and Frank Boyles at Arkansas, from 1971-1972. In the pro ranks he served as an offensive backfield coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, from 1973-1977, again for Don Coryell; was offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in 1978, under McKay, and rejoined Coryell with the San Diego Chargers for the 1979 and 1980 seasons.
With Gibbs as the offensive coordinator for the Chargers, the “Air Coryell” offense set numerous records, including becoming the first team ever to average more than 400 yards per game of total offense. In 1981 Redskins’ owner Jack Kent Cooke gave Joe Gibbs a chance to become a head coach after 17 years as an assistant coach.
Even in his first season, Gibbs showed promise as a coach, even after the team lost its first five games. The team rebounded to finish the season at 8-8.
In the second season for Joe Gibbs as a coach the team won the NFC championship game and beat Miami in Super Bowl XVII, 27-17, getting revenge for a loss to the Dolphins in Super Bowl VII.
The Redskins went to the Super Bowl the next season, 1983, but the favored team lost to the Los Angeles Raiders, 38-9. That was the only loss for Joe Gibbs in the Super Bowl.
In 1986 the team lost the New York Giants in the NFC championship game, but Joe Gibbs has not lost another championship contest since. The next season, in Super Bowl XXII, the team set offensive records, including 35 points in the second quarter that might be hard to be equaled, as the Redskins beat the Denver Broncos, 42-10. In 1991 the Redskins again made the Super Bowl and beat the Buffalo Bills 37-24.
Gibbs retired from football in 1993, after citing health problems. He was known for his long hours, and he said he wanted to spend more time with his family.
In 1996 he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with a record of 124 wins and 60 losses and a post season record of 16 wins and five loses. His winning percentage of .683 was behind only the legendary Vince Lombardi and John Madden. His teams won four NFC titles, reached the playoffs eight times, and had a losing season only in 1988 at 7-9. Joe Gibbs was the only coach ever to win three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks and three different starting running backs.
While Gibbs helped create a passing style that was hard to beat with the Chargers, his Redskins were a run-oriented team. Running back John Riggins provided a powerful running game. His deep passing attack, however, complimented the ground game, and Art Monk was a receiver that helped the team win. The Super Bowl wins came with capable quarterbacks, Joe Theismann, Doug Williams, and Mark Rypien-none of whom, however, has made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His use of a single back with two or three tight ends helped his team to neutralize the great Lawrence Taylor.
Joe Gibbs was also successful owner of a NASCAR racing team after retiring the first time from football. His Joe Gibbs Racing teams won three NASCAR championships. His son, J.D. Gibbs, is the president of the team. His Nextel Cup team included J.J. Yeley, Tony Stewart, and Denny Hamlin. His Busch series team consisted of Yeley, Hamlin, and part-time driver Aric Almiriola. The three championships included one in 2000, with Bobby Labonte driving, and in 2002 and 2005, with Tony Stewart driving.
Throughout his retirement Joe Gibbs turned down many offers to return to coaching. In 2004 he returned to the Redskins at the request of owner Daniel Snyder. In 2004 he had his worst season ever at 6-10. In his second season the team was only 5-6, but rallied for five straight victories and a wildcard playoff berth. In the wildcard game the Redskins beat Tampa Bay 17-10, a team they had lost to earlier in the season 36-35. The Redskins then lost to eventual NFC champion Seattle 20-10. Future seasons will determine whether Gibbs can again lead the Redskins to any more championships.
In 1986 he helped found Youth for Tomorrow, a youth home, private school, and counseling center for at-risk teenage girls and boys in the Washington metropolitan area. More than 650 young people have been touched by the center. Many of the young people have been abandoned, abused, or in some way alienated from their community. Some of the residents have been drug users, juvenile delinquents, or homeless due to circumstances beyond their control. One graduate of the program is now the owner of a multi-million dollar company.
Joe Gibbs has also made no secret of his faith, but he has never discriminated against those who do not share his faith. He never picked only football players who were Christians. He did not increase the playing time for players who attended church. Yet many players have said they were impressed with the integrity which Gibbs showed, and several said they were inspired to model their lives after his.
Not many people have the success in their career that Joe Gibbs has had in two different careers. Through it all, he has also helped the time to help neglected teenagers and share the most important thing in his life-his faith.
