Ron Rivera researched and sought advice before taking the Washington Redskins’ head coach position. One of those he turned to was Redskins legend Joe Gibbs. And it may have been Coach Gibbs advise that helped pushed Rivera to coming to Washington.
Gibbs told Rivera that Redskins owner Dan Snyder was never an interference.
“Where I felt like I could help the most was telling [Rivera] what it was like working with Dan,” Gibbs said while appearing on the Carol Maloney Show, Tuesday. “When I was there, Dan did every single thing he could do to help us win and was never, in any way, an interference. He was always trying to help in every single way he could.”
Gibbs had two stints as Redskins coach. His first garnered the franchise three Super Bowl wins and four appearances in the big game under former owner Jack Kent Cooke. After taking a 12-year hiatus from the game, Gibbs returned to coach Washington from 2004-2007 under Snyder.
Gibbs guided the Redskins to two playoff appearances and a Wild Card game win in 2005, the franchise’s last playoff win.
Gibbs’ positive insight on his experience with Snyder is contrary to the perception of the team’s owner meddling with the football operations.
Gibbs also explained to Rivera how passionate the Redskins fan base was, calling them the “greatest fans in the world.”
He also told Rivera coaching the Redskins was “the greatest job in the NFL.”
Gibbs also approved of the Rivera hiring, saying he is a proven head coach that guided a team to the Super Bowl.
“[Rivera] was certainly a great choice,” Gibbs said. “[He was] Coach of the Year twice, put a team into the Super Bowl. And I think he’s kind of a man’s man. I think he can talk to the players. And I think he’s proven that he can get the job done.”
