Joe Gibbs Steps Down as Coach and President

      Today Joe Gibbs  held a news conference  and resigned from his Hall of Fame career with the Redskins. Just  three days after a playoff loss ended an inspirational late-season run that followed the death of safety Sean Taylor.  

"I had real good visits with everybody, and at that point when I started back to D.C. and got on the plane that afternoon, I kind of had a real strong feeling in my heart of what I felt like I should do," Gibbs said.

      Redskins owner Dan Snyder tried to persuade him to stay ,

"I tried very, very hard to try to convince Joe not to retire," the owner said. "This is something none of us wanted to see happen. But all of us respect it and understand it."

       Candidates to replace him will be two former head coaches who have been members of his staff, Gregg Williams and Al Saunders.  Former Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher also could be a candidate.

      Gibbs’ final career totals: 171-101, including 17-7 in the playoffs, a career .629 winning percentage that ranks third all-time behind George Halas and Don Shula among coaches with more than 125 wins.

      Gibbs will likely remain with the franchise he is so closely associated with as a special adviser to owner Daniel Snyder

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