Nate Davis

USA TODAY Sports

Gruden%2C who spent past three seasons running Bengals offense%2C has never been an NFL head coach

He is Washington owner Dan Snyder%27s sixth hire since taking over franchise in 1999

Redskins have lost double-digit games and finished last in four of past five seasons

The Washington Redskins have their new head coach.

Jay Gruden was introduced at the team's Ashburn, Va., headquarters Thursday after agreeing to a five-year deal. He replaces Mike Shanahan, who was fired 10 days ago.

"This is an opportunity that is a once-in-a-lifetime deal," said Gruden at his introductory press conference.

"This is about commitment to being a consistently great franchise."

He was also quick to commit to his top priority — getting franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III, whose relationship with Shanahan incrementally frayed in the public spotlight over the last 12 months, back on track.

"I expect a lot from the starting quarterback," said Gruden of a player who sent expectations in the nation's capital through the roof in 2012 when Washington won the NFC East during his rookie season.

Shanahan and Griffin were frequently on different pages following RG3's knee injury during the 2012 playoffs. The coach later expressed regret for not pulling Griffin against the Seattle Seahawks last January when the quarterback tore multiple knee ligaments. The duo also publicly disagreed on several issues in 2013, beginning with Griffin's workload in training camp and ending with Shanahan's decision to bench him with three games left in a lost 3-13 season.

Gruden said he was "excited" for the opportunity to coach Griffin, whom he called a great quarterback.

"I don't know what happened last year and I don't care what happened last year," said Gruden.

Gruden, 46, the younger brother of ESPN Monday Night Football analyst and former Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden, has spent the past three seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive coordinator. The Bengals won the AFC North in 2013 thanks in part to an attack that steadily improved under Gruden's watch. Cincinnati finished 10th in yards gained (368.2 per game) and tied for sixth in points scored (26.9 per game) in the regular season.

Washington was ninth in yards (369.7 per game) in 2013 but only 23rd in scoring (20.9 per game).

Shanahan was fired Dec. 30 with one season remaining on his deal after the stormiest and most disappointing of his four years with the team. He was 24-41 with the team and only reached the playoffs once.

Gruden confirmed that he will not have control of personnel decisions as Shanahan did but will be part of a collaborative effort instead. General manager Bruce Allen reiterated that he has assumed the player procurement responsibilities and will have final say on the roster's construction.

Gruden becomes the sixth coach hired by Washington owner Daniel Snyder since he assumed control of the team in 1999. The Redskins have only reached postseason four times in that span, once under the leadership of Norv Turner, whom Snyder inherited but fired before the end of the 2000 season.

Joe Gibbs is the only coach hired by Snyder to win a playoff game since 1999.

The Redskins have endure double-digit losses and last-place finishes in the NFC East four of the past five seasons. The exception was 2012, when they won the division after being sparked by Griffin's offensive rookie of the year effort.

Gruden, who's spent the past 17 years coaching in the NFL, UFL and Arena league, successfully developed quarterback Andy Dalton, who was drafted by Cincinnati in 2011. Dalton passed for 4,293 yards and 33 TDs in 2013, both Bengals records and numbers the Redskins would surely like to see Griffin reach.

"As long as he's working his butt off," Gruden said of RG3, "I will provide him with everything he needs to be successful."

The last Bengals coordinator to leave Cincinnati for a head coaching position was Bruce Coslet, when he was hired by the New York Jets in 1990.

Gruden interviewed with the Tennesee Titans on Tuesday and had one scheduled with the Minnesota Vikings for Thursday before agreeing to his new post.

Gruden has ties to some of the Redskins staff. He worked with general manager Bruce Allen, defensive backs coach Raheem Morris and tight ends coach Sean McVay while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Orlando of the UFL, he worked under defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, who brought Gruden on as his offensive coordinator, while McVay was the tight ends coach. When Haslett went to the Redskins, Gruden became the head coach in Orlando.

Haslett, Morris and McVay were retained in Washington after Shanahan's dismissal.

With Gruden leaving the Bengals, running backs coach Hue Jackson was promoted to offensive coordinator. Jackson has been the offensive coordinator in Washington (2003), Atlanta (2007) and Oakland (2010) as well as being the Raiders head coach in 2011.

Contributing: Joe Reedy

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Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis

