Gruden to Return in 2019
Coach Jay Gruden will be returning as head coach of the Washington Redskins in 2019, according to a source close to the team, first reported by the Washington Post.
Gruden is Washington’s longest tenured head coach under Dan Snyder’s 20-year reign as team owner. The Redskins have gone 35-44-1 in five seasons under Gruden’s leadership.
While Gruden, 51, will return, other changes look certain. Some assistant coaches are reportedly on the chopping block, which could lead to many new faces occupying the sidelines next season. No official word has come from team leadership as to when this may happen.
The front office is another big uncertainty. One theory, according to NFL agents, is Bruce Allen, team president, might move from overseeing football operations to the business side after Syder’s firing of Brian Lafemena, who served as chief operating officer and president of business operations. The agents also suggested Eric Schaffer, vice president of football operations, could expand his current role.
The Redskins have had only two winning seasons since Gruden’s arrival, though the team’s inconsistency and undesirable performances have not been seen as his fault.
Former head coach Mike Shanahan’s sudden departure after the 2013 campaign left Washington’s leadership in chaos, and Gruden was hired with the monumental task of cleaning house. Gruden’s tenure has proven to be nothing short of Sisyphean.
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Robert Griffin III was thrust into an unfamiliar system, which ultimately lead to a career changing injury for the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner. Gruden then turned to Kirk Cousins but had to wait patiently for the star quarterback to overcome growing pains. Cousins then led the ‘Skins to a 9-7 record and the NFC East title in 2015 — Gruden’s best season — but franchising the quarterback year after year did nothing to stabilize the team.
The Plague Strikes Again… and again
Injuries destroyed the starting lineup, continuing into this past season. Both their starting quarterback Alex Smith and tenured backup Colt McCoy suffered broken legs just two weeks apart, forcing Gruden to use two players nobody wanted — Josh Johnson and Mark Sanchez — who were sitting at home. Johnson had been prepping to take a starting quarterback job in the newly minted pro football league Alliance of American Football (AAF), while Sanchez had been practicing his famous butt-fumble routine.
Gruden also led the team through a series of controversies in 2018, including the waiver-claim of star linebacker Reuben Foster, who was arrested twice on domestic violence charges (note: all charges have since been dropped), the arrest of safety Montae Nicholson after a fight near the team’s Ashburn headquarters, and DJ Swearinger’s release following the player’s public criticism of defensive coordinator Greg Manusky.
The Redskins have not released an official statement regarding Gruden’s return as of press time.
