Jay Gruden recently quipped this spring that he would likely be out of a job soon if his Washington Redskins were unable to string a few wins together and have a respectable season in 2019.
Now it seems that that sentiment is largely agreed upon, with Gruden being ranked as just the 22nd best head coach in the NFL.
While it’s fair to criticize Gruden a bit for his lack of success — .444 win percentage in five years with Washington —it should also be acknowledged that circumstances surrounding the team have been less than ideal over the past few years. In 2018 alone, the Redskins were rolling to the tune of a 6-3 start behind recently-acquired QB Alex Smith before a tibia and fibula break derailed the season as a whole.
Still, the record doesn’t lie, and Gruden has now missed the playoffs in three straight years, and will have another new QB at the helm of his offense in 2019, be it veteran Case Keenum or rookie Dwayne Haskins.
Should things turn around, and Washington find some success this coming year, then the lack of production over the past few years can largely be labeled as a cold-streak that was riddled with injuries. However, if Washington continues to putter around the midline in the league and another year goes by without a playoff birth, it’s highly feasible that the Redskins are looking to employ a new coach come 2020.
