Joe Bugel returned to the Redskins in 2004 as assistant head coach-offense. The 31-year NFL coaching veteran has a long and storied legacy with the Redskins that included building the legendary “Hogs,” the Redskins offensive line of the 1980s.
Bugel continues to direct the offensive line and looks to achieve the same success that he enjoyed during his first tour with the team.
Bugel is such a Redskins icon that Redskins Head Coach Jim Zorn, during his introductory press conference, made a specific point of how excited he was to work with the celebrated coach.
“I am pleased to have a legendary offensive line coach in Joe Bugel on my staff,” Zorn said. “He has done a tremendous job taking me through the Redskins’ running game, the terminology, the blocking schemes and his favorite play, ‘50 gut.’ As a first-year head coach, his expertise is invaluable.”
One of Bugel’s greatest strengths as an offensive line coach is to fill a void when projected starters sustain injuries, and this skill was on display yet again in 2008. Despite a rotating cast at the right tackle position and a late-season injury to left tackle Chris Samuels, the offensive line paved the way for the Redskins running game to rack up 130.9 yards per game, eighth in the NFL.
Running behind Bugel's offensive lines, Clinton Portis has established himself as one of the premier backs in football. His 2008 totals--1,487 yards on 342 carries--move him to sixth among active running backs in career rushing yards. With six 100 yard rushing games in 2008, Portis also took over as the leader in most 100-yard rushing games in Redskins history, with 25.
Additionally, Portis's 2008 campaign made it five straight seasons (2004-08) in which Bugel's lines have led a player to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark: Portis, 1,315 in 2004; Portis, 1,513, in 2005; Ladell Betts, 1,154 in 2006; Portis, 1,262 in 2007 and Portis, 1,487 in 2008.
Despite suffering a late-season injury, Samuels continued his stellar career as a member of Bugel's offensive line, earning his sixth Pro Bowl berth in nine active seasons--including four straight during his five seasons under Bugel's tutelage.
In 2007, Bugel faced his biggest challenge since returning to Washington in 2004. He was without the services of a pair of his starters on the right side and was forced to make a series of adjustments. Right tackle Jon Jansen (ankle surgery) landed on injured reserve after the season opener against Miami and right guard Randy Thomas (triceps injury) missed 14 contests.
Overall, Bugel’s 2007 offensive line featured six different lineups and three different starters at the right tackle position but still led the Redskins to finish fifth in the NFC and 12th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (116.9 yards per game) in 2007. Portis ranked third in the NFC and sixth in the NFL with 1,262 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2007.
Bugel’s offensive front led the Redskins to consecutive Top 10 finishes in rushing yards per game in the 2005 and 2006 seasons. The Redskins ranked seventh in the NFL and averaged 136.4 yards per game in 2005. The following season (2006), Washington ranked fourth in the NFL with an average of 138.5 yards per contest. Additionally, the Redskins pass protection unit allowed just 19 sacks in 2006, third-lowest in the NFL.
In his first stint with the Redskins (1981-89), Bugel developed the dominating “Hogs” offensive line that included stalwarts Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby, Mark May, Jeff Bostic, George Starke and others. He began as the Redskins offensive coordinator in 1981 and was promoted to assistant head coach in 1983.
Under Bugel’s direction, the Redskins scored a then-NFL record 541 points (1983), had four 1,000-yard rushers, one 4,000-yard passer and nine 1,000-yard receivers. Washington won two Super Bowls while Bugel was with the team, following the 1982 and 1987 seasons. Overall, he has participated in three Super Bowls, six conference championships and 24 playoff contests.
Bugel returned to coaching in 2004 after a two-year respite. From 1998-2001, he oversaw the offensive line of the San Diego Chargers. He spent three seasons with the Oakland Raiders, serving as assistant head coach-offense from 1995-96 before being named head coach for the 1997 season.
Prior to arriving in Oakland, Bugel served as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 1990-93.
Bugel originally entered the NFL in 1975, spending two seasons as the offensive line coach for the Detroit Lions. He joined the Houston Oilers in the same capacity in 1977. During his four seasons with the Oilers, the team set records in rushing and passing.
Before joining the NFL, Bugel spent time coaching at Ohio State (1974), Iowa State (1973), Navy (1969-72) and his alma mater, Western Kentucky (1964-68).
While earning his degree in physical education, Bugel was an all-conference guard and linebacker. He earned a master’s degree in counseling, also at Western Kentucky.
A Pittsburgh native, Bugel was a two-way star in football at Munhall High School. In 2005, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (Western Chapter).
Bugel and his wife, Brenda, have three daughters: Angie, Holly, and Jennifer and a son-in-law Monte.
