Washington Redskins, Jim Haslett part ways

By Cory Buck | Dec 31, 2014

Oct 12, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Redskins 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The Washington Redskins announced via social media that they have mutually agreed to part ways with defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.

Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden promised change and it looks like the team is backing the promise early in the offseason. Their first order of business has been to move on from defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. The team announced the decision via its Twitter, presenting it as a mutual agreement.

BREAKING: #Redskins and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett have mutually agreed to part ways. pic.twitter.com/Q7YhJaWisG
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 31, 2014

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If Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers taught us anything, it’s that mutual can be a pretty loosely applied term though. Just a day after Harbaugh was hired away from the 49ers by the University of Michigan, he basically pinned their parting on the team.

Jim Haslett lacks the profile of Jim Harbaugh, but this isn’t his first rodeo in the NFL. The Washington Redskins have been a hot mess for years now and they can hardly deal with more of a media circus than they’ve already become.

Instead of deeming this as a firing or even Haslett quitting, both sides maintain an easy story and both are likely to get what they want in the end. Haslett gets to escape Washington while the Redskins can find someone who can do a better job with a defense that allowed the third-most points against in the league.

Now Jay Gruden will be charged with finding a new defensive coordinator and there should be plenty available. However, it’s likely that a few head coaches will first have to be hired before Washington can thin the herd and find their guy.

The team could opt to try and make a high-profile hire. Rob Ryan could shake loose from the New Orleans Saints. Unfortunately that is the only Ryan they could get because Rex Ryan said he won’t take a demotion back to a coordinator position, it is head coach or analyst on television. The latter is a long shot though as Rex is likely headed to another head coach job.

The more likely outcome is that Gruden finds a lesser-known candidate who can offer stability to this crew. Gruden has stressed that he doesn’t want media leaks in his locker room and it’s likely he already has someone in mind for that role. It’s also probable we won’t know that someone until the playoffs end and a few more coordinators become available.

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