30 best NFL head coaching hires of the 21st century

While not nearly as prominent of a coach as his older brother, Jay Gruden has quietly made a name for himself as a shot caller worth keeping an eye on. His hiring signaled the start of a new era for the Washington Redskins, and one that was focused on securing a brighter future.

Now it hasn’t all been positive during Gruden’s stay in D.C. At one point, they were calling for his job. For the most part though, the younger brother of Chucky has built a strong foundation that suddenly has the Redskins looking like a potential playoff contender.

His first season with Washington wasn’t pretty. After going 4-12, it seemed as though his stay would be a short one. Then, things got better in year two, as the Redskins went 9-7 and made the playoffs. The postseason has eluded them since, but the signs are promising this season that the short streak is about to end.

Gruden deserves much of that credit. He’s spent the last few years tinkering with this roster, adding young, exciting talent at key positions while making a few adjustments on the fly. The loss of Kirk Cousins hurt, but the addition of some excellent draft picks and veteran free agents have helped the Redskins stay relevant.

In my opinion, the best is yet to come for Gruden. If the Washington defense continues to play at its current level, this should be the best season yet since his arrival in 2014.