News

Redskins Coach Jay Gruden Fires Entire Defensive Staff

Now that the Washington Redskins have officially missed this year’s playoffs, head coach Jay Gruden has made a bold move by deciding to fire all four members of his defensive staff.

Redskins Coach Jay Gruden Fires Entire Defensive Staff

The Redskins finished the 2016 regular season 8-7-1, with a 19-10 home loss to the New York Giants. Washington didn’t score in the first quarter in four of their last six games, and trailed at halftime in five of them. Gruden often spent most of his post-game press conferences apologizing for what had just happened.

“I don’t like the way we came out,” he said after the loss in Arizona. “I don’t like the way they had a 16-play drive right down our throat to start the game. I don’t like the way our offense answered with two penalties on the first drive and having to punt.”

“First off, we were out-coached today, there’s no question about that,” he said after the Carolina loss. “It’s my responsibility to get these guys ready to play, and we weren’t as ready as we’d liked to have been.”

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

The firing of defensive coordinator Joe Barry comes as no surprise, given the Redskins’ defensive struggles this season both against passing and running. Barry spent two seasons as defensive coordinator in Washington and saw no real improvement in his unit.

The termination of the other three assistants, however, does seem shocking. Gruden may possibly want his new defensive coordinator to start fresh, and one simple way to do that is to let the new coordinator bring in his own staff of defensive assistants.

This is the second time Gruden has demonstrated he is capable of making a tough decision. The first time was when he benched quarterback Robert Griffin III two years ago.

Early in the season, Barry said the Redskins didn’t want to move corner Josh Norman around and have hims shadow one receiver. Three games in, that’s exactly what they began doing.

Many players stated privately they didn’t have a problem with Barry and liked his upbeat demeanor and felt they were prepared. Fans, however, thought otherwise, as dozens immediately took to social media after Barry was hired to call Gruden’s choice “abhorrent” and “revolting,” among other things. Gruden praised Barry’s energy and his “commitment to being great.”

In Barry’s two years with the Redskins, the team’s defense finished No. 28 in the NFL in yards allowed.

DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 23: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins looks on while playing the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 23, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Pablo Mena

Writer and assistant editor for usports.org. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Recent Posts

Paul George Exits With Knee Injury As 76ers Fall To 2-12 In Loss To Grizzlies

With their big three finally back in action Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers suffered another setback…

11 hours ago

VIDEO: Nike Pays Tribute to Rafael Nadal With 30-Foot Projection In Front of Eiffel Tower

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tny--EWynOQ Nike paid tribute to Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal with a 10-meter-tall animated display…

1 day ago

VIDEO: Rafael Nadal Gets Emotional Tribute as He Retires From Tennis

https://youtu.be/dtJoJz9hC48 Tennis legend Rafael Nadal bid a heartfelt goodbye to his devoted Spanish fans as he brought…

1 day ago

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Olympic Fencer Eli Dershwitz Explains The Art Of Fencing

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DQ9Rxhnuer4 U.S. Olympic fencer Eli Dershwitz shed light on the critical skills necessary in fencing…

2 days ago

Two Bears Offensive Linemen Return To Practice, Caleb Williams Desperate For Blocking

Two offensive linemen for the Chicago Bears returned to practice, a massive step in the…

3 days ago

VIDEO: UFC Heavyweight Champion Performs Viral Trump Dance In New York

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s2g9t_33Myw President-elect Donald Trump received a warm welcome from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Jon…

4 days ago