4 best (almost) moments of Dan Snyder’s time as Commanders owner

Commanders hired Joe Gibbs

On January 8, 2004, Dan Snyder introduced Joe Gibbs as the new coach of the now-Washington Commanders. It was the biggest story in the area – not just the biggest sports story. It was national news.

It was the one truly unquestioned feel-good moment in the entire ownership of Snyder. After an 11-year absence, the savior was returning.

The hiring of Gibbs highlighted everything good about Snyder: his love of franchise history, his magical salesmanship, his willingness to make bold moves, and his willingness to spend big.

The four years under Gibbs’ second regime were far from perfect. There were plenty of missteps. The Archuletta deal went down. Future Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey was traded.

By Gibbs’ final season, coordinator Gregg Williams looked like a petty tyrant whose delusions of grandeur led to a defensive implosion.

Still, Gibbs took the team to the playoffs twice in his four seasons and actually won a playoff game. January 7, 2006, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, the team now known as the Commanders defeated the Buccaneers 17-10 in a wildcard clash. It was a contest that saw safety Sean Taylor score a touchdown, and the defense dominate.

It was one of two playoff victories in Snyder’s tenure as owner. The other came in his first season, under a coach he wanted to fire, and was really more of a defiant statement against the owner than a sign of approval.

For a brief moment, it did indeed look like the glory days were set to return. Snyder had learned a lot. He had gotten his coach. Things were never brighter, at least not under this owner.

Alas, it was all an illusion.

The Commanders would lose decisively the following week against the Seattle Seahawks. Gibbs would retire for good after another futile season. Things returned to what they would always be under Snyder – a morass of frustration in which brief flickers of light were quickly extinguished, all trundling toward an ugly end.

King Midas in reverse was back in charge.