The Washington Redskins confirm that team officials met with Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden to interview for the head coach vacancy.
Gruden is a 12-year veteran of the NFL coaching ranks and recently wrapped up his third season leading the Bengals offense. It was also the team's third-consecutive playoff appearance.
He is the fourth confirmed candidate to interview with the Redskins, joining Cowboys special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell and Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.
In Cincinnati, he was charged with the development of 2011 second-round pick, quarterback Andy Dalton, who has 11,000 passing yards and a Pro Bowl appearance in three seasons.
Through his first two seasons, Dalton had a 19-13 record as a starter, the best percentage in Bengals history with more than 10 starts.
His 47 career touchdown passes through two seasons ranked third in NFL history among sophomore quarterbacks, trailing only Dan Marino (68) and Peyton Manning (52).
Gruden has coached a total of seven Pro Bowlers in his three seasons, boasting at least one elite performer each season.
According to quotes provided to Bengals.com, Gruden is credited both with Dalton's development and the effectiveness of the overall offensive scheme.
"We are much simpler in our scheme for the quarterback since Jay has come on board," Lewis says. "We are not reinventing the wheel against every new defense we face.
"The quarterback has a lot of leeway in the things he can call, and Jay recognized that Andy was the type of player who could use those options effectively."
Whoever is brought on as the 29th Redskins head coach will be charged with the development of third-year signal callers Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins, making Gruden's background intriguing.
He also has ample prior experience with Redskins general manager Bruce Allen.
Prior to joining the Bengals coaching staff, Jay Gruden spent seven seasons in Tampa Bay, coaching on the team's 2002 Super Bowl staff.
He was a celebrated quarterback at the University of Louisville in the mid-1980s, parlaying that into a decorated professional career as a player and coach in the Arena Football League, World League of American Football and United Football League before sticking full-time in the NFL.
He succeeded Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett as head coach of the UFL's Florida Tuskers in 2010 before joining the Bengals staff.
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