Joe Gibbs

The Joe Gibbs era ended Friday--suddenly, dramatically and unequivocally. After 12 years, 124 regular-season victories, five NFC East titles, four conference championships and three Super Bowl victories, Gibbs, coach of the Washington Redskins, announced his retirement in a nationally televised news conference. Gibbs, 52, said he was stepping down because of health concerns and a desire to spend more time with his family.

They were the irregular Joes. Joe Gibbs, Joe Bugel, Joe Theismann -- once Washington's most influential running mates this side of Pennsylvania Avenue -- shared the field at Redskins Park this week, with Gibbs and Bugel, his legendary offensive-line coach, working to revive the franchise and Theismann observing from the sideline. "Feels like old times," said Theismann, the quarterback-turned-broadcaster who led the Redskins to a victory in Super Bowl XVII.

In 1980, a young ABC producer named Terry O'Neil had just been put in charge of "Monday Night Football" and was about to do his first game, the Hall of Fame exhibition between the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers. The Chargers' publicist, Rick Smith, now with the Rams, suggested that O'Neil talk to the team's offensive coordinator, Joe Gibbs, to get some good insights. Turned out to be good advice.

Joe Gibbs won three Super Bowls as coach of the Washington Redskins with three different quarterbacks. His next trick may be to win the Winston Cup for Joe Gibbs Racing with two different drivers. In the season just completed, Bobby Labonte finished second and rookie Tony Stewart fourth, the best finish for a first-year driver in 29 years of Winston Cup racing. Both drove Pontiac Grand Prixs. Even though Gibbs is a perpetual optimist, the team's success surprised him.

On a day when the Washington Redskins welcomed back Hall of Fame Coach Joe Gibbs, it was new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams who truly deserved to take a bow. Williams, who got a pay increase to become a coordinator for the Redskins after being fired as Buffalo's head coach, more than earned his keep Sunday as Washington's defense led the way in a 16-10 victory over Tampa Bay at FedEx Field.

As the days of Redskinsanity creep by, with more interviews and intrigue on the coaching-search horizon, the same idea keeps returning to mind. If the Redskins, after four interviews with Gregg Williams, decide not to name their defensive leader head coach, then, for most practical purposes, Joe Gibbs might as well never have come back to town. If the Redskins go outside their organization to hire a new coach, then that man, no matter how gifted he may be, almost certainly will bring with him or be given a new offensive and defensive coordinator.

Winning the Super Bowl is quite an experience, but it might not quite be the first turn at Daytona. That seemed to be the unlikely message Tuesday from Washington Redskin Coach Joe Gibbs, who took off his football cap, put on his racing shirt and was as proud as a new papa as he unveiled his new NASCAR racing team and one of his seven cars. "I've got to tell you the truth," Gibbs gushed. "When that thing comes off the first corner at Daytona, I think that'll be one of the thrills of my life.

Joe Gibbs, coach of the Redskins, gets his fiery interior and mellow exterior from his father, a colorful former North Carolina sheriff named J. C. Gibbs. Now retired in California after a long career as a lawman--sheriff's department, highway patrol, district attorney's office--Sheriff Gibbs was out chasing bootleggers the night Joe was born, Nov. 25, 1940. "Fortunately, I never had to shoot anyone," said J. C., who moved several years ago from his home in Mocksville, N.C., to Sun City.

At 52, Bobby Beathard and the Washington Redskins are the same age. This is significant, because the unassuming genius suddenly calling it a career here has had more impact on the Redskins than anyone since the fellow who brought them here. George Preston Marshall gave the Redskins life in Washington, 20 days after Beathard was born. Sonny Jurgensen gave them style. Vince Lombardi gave them credibility. Sammy Baugh gave them all-around excellence that never has been--and may never be--equaled.

It was February 1993 when J.D. Gibbs first worked on his dad Joe's Winston Cup car. J.D. was a front-wheel tire changer, and the car won the Daytona 500. On Sunday, J.D. will be back for the 500, but this time as the man in charge of the Joe Gibbs racing team, having moved up to the top position after Joe abruptly returned to football last month as coach of the Washington Redskins.