Redskins RB Chris Thompson gives emphatic endorsement of Jay Gruden

For any head coach to succeed in the NFL, one thing is certain: That coach must have the respect of the players.

There are a culmination of factors that go into being a head coach in the NFL. Tangible criteria such as in-game decisions and play calling matter a great deal, but so too do the countless invisible hours of work, scheming, and locker room interaction that occur without the knowing of outsiders.

Ask ten people what they think of Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden, and you’re likely to get nine different answers. Heading into his fifth year as the Washington Redskins’ man with the headset, Gruden is feeling the pressure to compete in 2018. He’s said himself that both he and the team view 2018 as a “win-now” year, and for his sake, success is almost a necessity.

Despite this urgency, Gruden does not have an empty resume in D.C., and his record, 28-35-1, is misleading at best. After inheriting a roster ridden with controversy and devoid of talent in 2014, Gruden has seemingly righted the ship. In 2015 and 2016, the Washington Redskins were playoff contenders, and in 2017, despite falling victim to a slew of injuries, Gruden still found a way to keep the Wasingon Redskins competitive down the stretch. They ultimately went 7-9, but that record is far from an accurate reflection of Gruden’s individual performance.

There are times when Gruden’s play calling decisions garner scrutiny, and like all coaches, he has had some mishaps managing the clock. But the body of work speaks for itself. Gruden has helped turn around a franchise accustomed to losing, and in the process, he’s earned his players’ respect. In an article by Lake Lewis Jr. of the Redskins Wire, Chris Thompson had the following to say about his longtime head coach:

"There isn’t a man, woman or child that doesn’t like Jay Gruden. You can’t find, not one person, I assure you. As players at this level, we want someone who we can get along with. Sure, coach will yell at you and get after you, but two minutes later he has forgotten that and is laughing with you. He doesn’t let things linger out. He really has a likable personality, even when he is getting on you. You know most of the time what he is getting on you about."

It is in Gruden’s record that qualities such as these become lost. Yes, Gruden is on the hot seat in 2018. That is an inevitable truth after just one playoff berth in four years. But the smart evaluator weighs all the factors, and as it stands, there’s evidence that not only does Gruden deserve more than a year to win with this roster, but that his players want him to stick around as well.

Next: Redskins backup safety battle: Who makes the team?

The first ingredient to a successful NFL team is mutual respect. The New York Giants went 11-5 in 2016. Look what happened in 2017 when Ben McAdoo lost his team. Through adversity, Jay Gruden has earned the endorsement of his players, and perhaps, with the pieces coming together in 2018, he can soon earn the endorsement of his greatest critics.