The Redskins have fired team president Bruce Allen, the team announced in a statement. Although some recent reports indicated that Allen would remain in the organization in some capacity, perhaps as part of the club’s stadium detail, that is not the case. The Redskins have completely cut ties with him.
Washington is also expected to hire Ron Rivera as its next head coach, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). Rivera is meeting with the team today, and as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, today’s “interview” is expected to be more of a coronation than anything else. Owner Dan Snyder has acted quickly to get the coach he wants before any other interested clubs could get a crack at him, and it looks like he has his man.
Rivera was fired by the Panthers earlier this month, but his strong track record in Carolina immediately catapulted him to the top of the list of head coaching candidates in this year’s cycle. He amassed a 76-63-1 regular season record, a 3-4 playoff record, and, most notably, a Super Bowl appearance. The Panthers did not win it all under Rivera’s watch, but he is highly-regarded and commands respect.
The same cannot be said for Allen. The Redskins went 62-97-1 during his 10-year tenure and qualified for the playoffs just twice in that time. He also became a divisive figure for Washington fans, most of whom are likely glad to see him out of the organization.
With Allen gone, senior VP Eric Schaffer will see his role increase, as Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets. One of the purposes of today’s meeting between Rivera and the team is to ensure that Rivera — who is also expected to have significant say in personnel matters — is comfortable with Schaffer.
Snyder’s statement regarding Allen’s dismissal reads, in part, as follows:
“Like our passionate fan base, I recognize we have not lived up to the high standards set by great Redskins teams, coaches and players who have come before us. As we reevaluate our team leadership, culture and process of winning football games, I am excited for the opportunities that lie ahead to renew our singular focus and purpose of bringing championship football back to Washington D.C.”
Why would you hire a coach when you are on the verge of firing you GM? Shouldn’t the GM be involved in coaches hiring? This is why the Redskins don’t get better.
They don’t have time to wait
Bet Rivera gets to hire somebody he is comfortable with.
Agree, Once again the Redskins get it wrong !!
Pete Carroll was hired without a GM.
Promotion from within. Schaeffer or Smith I would imagine.
Seahawks did this with Pete Carroll when they hired him. He then assisted in interviewing GM candidates
Bills also did it this way and it seems to have worked out for them.
Absolutely, the Skins should have hired their new GM, and let him hire the coach…I’m a Knicks and Redskins fan, this type of dysfunction??…We just call that Monday….
Kidding aside, it’s a solid hire, Rivera is a good coach, knows defense and the cupboard is far from bare, on both sides of the ball…
I don’t understand this from Rivera’s perspective. A bunch of jobs are about to open up. The Giants job just did. Why not interview with other teams. The Redskins have been a joke for most of my life, and I’m 37.
I agree. If I were a good coach, I would not apply for the Redskins coaching job. The Giants job just opened up. I know they didn’t give Pat Schumer much time to prove himself, but that is a much safer opportunity than the Redskins job.
*Schurmer
Gahhh!! Shurmur
Sherrmerr
Suremurr
Why is the giants job better?
It’s not. All head coaching jobs are the same.
That couldn’t be further from the truth
Why would it be a safer opportunity? The giants have 12 wins over the past three seasons. Not like we’re talking about a former Super Bowl contender that had a nightmare season.
At least the Redskins were 6-3 and primed for a division title before Alex Smith’s injury last year. Clearly Rivera thinks he can restore the team to that state with Haskins. Having a generational talent in Chase Young available doesn’t hurt.
Because believe it or not they actually have some young talent and are not as bad for the future as people make them out to be.
It’s pretty simple the Redskins are likely giving him the most control over personnel and paying the most money. The “better” opportunities come with less control, established GMs, etc
Yikes…..the Skins are a joke….why oh why join them this early without checking out other options?
Even the Browns would be a better landing spot and that’s saying something!!!!
My guess is he’s being given a LOT of say in the organization. Browns are a mess organization wise, and Giants won’t let Gettleman their GM go . Hopefully they bring in a Bugel clone to rebuild the OL and turn O’Connell and Haskins loose .
Rivera in his best Spicoli mode “ I can FIX it !”
In fairness to WAS and Ron Rivera, if I decide I want this guy as my HC and only this guy, why go through the motions of an interview process and waste other people’s time? And for Ron Rivera, who was usually jerked around so that teams could satisfy the Rooney Rule- it’s gotta be nice to be genuinely wanted. And he’ll answer to no one but the man who writes his checks.
Considering the Redskins have let many mediocre coaches hang around way too long and paid them way too much (Spurrier, Zorn, Shanahan, Gruden etc) why not take a job that pays you like an elite coach even though you haven’t been an elite coach in the past. I’ve also heard that he has ties with the probable GM promotion which is another reason to take the job (after the Allen firing). And why would he want to work for the two teams you just mentioned when they only have their respective coaches less than 3 years to get the job done.
The Giants are only as good as Barkley and he has already been injured. Jones is not the answer at QB as they went back to Old man Manning. They also have no defense. The Browns have been a hot mess for close to 40 years so let’s examine their history before bombing the Redskins for having a mediocre decade or two.
Rivera also probably has a woody for Chase Young and sees that there is huge potential on the defensive side (his side) with the Bama boys, Sweat, Collins, Dunbar, Kerrigan etc. I couldn’t even name anyone playing defense for the Giants or the Browns TBH.
Pretty early to say Jones isn’t the answer. I’d put money on him before I would Haskins.
“Jones is not the answer at QB as they went back to Old man Manning”
That’s because Jones got INJURED, you buffoon. It had nothing to do with his on-field performance.
Sanfranb27…..You are all over it. I was born and raised in the DC area, but now live in Charlotte, NC (35 years). I think the choice of Rivera is a great choice, for he is a players coach and is defense focused. Our group of former coaches have been offense oriented, so a change is welcomed. If in fact Rivera is offered and accepts the job, I hope he keeps Callahan and O’Connell, and parts ways with Manusky. Talent is not an issue with this team, for like you said about the defense, they just need a coach to put them in the right position. I know that you like Young, but I think a OT is a must……HTTR
Does the Rooney rule even exist anymore?
Rivera is a minority, Redskins have complied with the Rooney Rule.
Ahhh. Well there you go…
I guess Allen can now find a career where daddy didn’t pave the way. Hall of Fame Coach doesn’t mean you are a capable GM.