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The NFL lost a great one this morning.
Longtime NFL assistant coach Alex Gibbs died on Monday morning at the age of 80, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Alex Gibbs, one of the greatest assistant coaches in NFL history and a man who almost always got his offensive lines to overachieve, passed away Monday morning in Phoenix, Arizona, following complications from a stroke, per the Broncos. Gibbs was 80 years old. pic.twitter.com/648h0Zq0YS
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 12, 2021
Gibbs was an assistant with the Raiders in 1988 and ‘89 under head coach Mike Shanahan, and they were ultimately fired together.
He then went on to have a legendary NFL coaching career and is known as the innovator of the zone-blocking run offense. Gibbs was also a mentor to current Raiders’ offensive line, coach Tom Cable.
.@Raiders coach Jon Gruden on long-time offensive line coach Alex Gibbs, who passed away on Monday: “One of the great innovators, teachers and all time day-to-day grinders I’ve ever met.”
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) July 12, 2021
Gibbs was Shanahan’s offensive line coach during the Denver Broncos Super Bowl days and his scheme was credited for helping Terrell Davis build a Pro Football Hall of Fame career. In total, Gibbs coached in the NFL for 28 years and worked for eight different teams, including all four AFC West teams.
He was known as an intense, no-nonsense coach who got the best out of his players. The offensive line in Denver was famous for not talking to the media. That is something Gibbs championed — he wanted his players to do their talking on the field.
Gibbs was one of a kind and he leaves a major thumb print on the league. Condolences to the his family.
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