New Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has final say over all football decisions. But can Shanahan be sure that owner Daniel Snyder won’t meddle?
Shanahan says he feels confident that Snyder will support him in every way -- including getting out of the way -- and that he feels that way in part because of a conversation he had with former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs.
“All I can tell you is what Joe Gibbs said to me,” Shanahan said on SIRIUS XM’s Mad Dog Radio. “He said, ‘Mike, you’re going to get the best owner in sports.’ He said, ‘I’ve never met a guy more positive. He’s got so much passion for the Redskins. He’s loyal. He grew up with them. He wants to win. He’s going to give you every opportunity to be successful.’
“I’ve known Joe for over 20 years. He said, ‘He will not interfere at all. All he will do is give you support.’ When Joe Gibbs tells me that, a guy that I’ve admired, I think you can put that in the bank.”
Those comments echo what Shanahan said at his introductory press conference, and the idea that Shanahan is running things was one of the central themes of the press conference -- to the point that Snyder stayed in the back didn’t take part in the press conference at all.
Whether Snyder can continue to remain in the background remains to be seen. But for now, the Redskins are Shanahan’s show.