Redskins’ Spurrier quits

Joseph White

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003 | 11:42 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Steve Spurrier resigned today as coach of the Washington Redskins, ending a failed attempt to bring his Fun 'n' Gun offense to the NFL.

Spurrier quit three days after the Redskins finished 5-11, losing 10 of their past 12 games. He was 12-20 overall.

He walks away from the final three years of a five-year, $25 million contract, the richest ever for an NFL coach.

Spurrier called Redskins owner Dan Snyder this morning and offered his resignation. Snyder accepted it with "much regret," according to spokesman Karl Swanson.

"It was totally unexpected," Swanson said.

Spurrier's replacement will be the fifth head coach since Snyder bought the team in 1999.

Spurrier said repeatedly in recent weeks that he planned to return for a third season, although there was wide speculation about his future with the Redskins.

Spurrier clashed with Snyder over personnel moves, particularly the owner's decision to cut quarterback Danny Wuerffel at the end of training camp.

But Spurrier also was hurt by an inability to enforce discipline on players, especially after defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis left to become the Cincinnati Bengals' head coach.

The Redskins set a franchise record for penalties this season, and players described a lax atmosphere in which tardiness was tolerated, cell phones rang during meetings and on-field errors weren't corrected at practice.