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Washington legend Joe Gibbs sounds off on Commanders' recent success, Jayden Daniels

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones07/21/25brianjones_93
Joe Gibbs (2)
Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Former Washington Commanders head coach Joe Gibbs on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Joe Gibbs, the owner and founder of the NASCAR team Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), loved what the Washington Commanders did in 2024. While speaking to reporters after his driver, Denny Hamlin, won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover, Gibbs was asked how happy he’s been with the Commanders, a team where he spent 16 seasons as the head coach.

“I think everybody that pulls for the Commanders or in the old days the Redskins, everything in my house is Redskins,” Joe Gibbs said. “Honestly, it’s great. It’s great to see that organization, what they’ve done. To see somebody like Jayden [Daniels] jump in there, there’s a lot of great stories there. It’s a hugely important deal.

“I was fortunate to coach there because in DC that team is important. I mean, it’s a big deal. I just appreciate it a lot. So thank you for bringing that up. We’ll be pulling for the Commanders.”

In 2024, the Commanders finished the regular season with a 12-5 record and reached the NFC Championship. It was the first time since 2012 Washington won 10-plus games, and the conference championship appearance was Washington’s first since the 1991 season, which was the last time the team won the Super Bowl.

Joe Gibbs had a lot of success at Washington

A big reason for the Commanders’ success last season was Daniels, who was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The 24-year-old quarterback threw for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns last year. He also rushed for 891 yards and six touchdowns.

Gibbs was Washington’s head coach from 1981 to 1992 and from 2004 to 2007. In his 16 seasons, the 84-year-old won 154 regular season games and 17 playoff games. He led Washington to five NFC Championship appearances, four Super Bowl appearances and three Super Bowl wins. Gibbs was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1982 and 1983. He’s a member of the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

In 1992, Gibbs and his sons founded JGR, and his first driver was Dale Jarrett. Under Gibbs’ leadership, JGR has won five NASCAR Cup Series championships and four Xfinity Series championships. JGR currently has four drivers on the Cup Series roster – Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, Christopher Bell and his grandson Ty Gibbs. This year, Hamlin has won four races, Bell has won three, Briscoe has won one, and Gibbs has reached the finals of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge.