Chiefs linebackers coach Gary Gibbs will not interview for Washington’s defensive coordinator job

Chiefs linebackers coach Gary Gibbs will not be interviewing for Washington’s open defensive coordinator position, a team source confirmed to The Star on Wednesday.

The source, however, added that the Chiefs did not block Washington’s interview request, and said instead said Gibbs turned Washington down.

The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who said the Chiefs blocked Washington’s attempt to interview Gibbs.

Gibbs, 62, just completed his 13th NFL season, the last six of which have been spent as the Chiefs’ linebackers coach. Before that, he spent 2006 to 2008 as the Saints’ defensive coordinator. In 2006, the Saints reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time in team history and ranked 11th in total defense, allowing 307.3 yards per game that season.

After ranking 28th in the league in scoring defense in 2005, the Saints ranked 13th in that category under Gibbs in 2006, allowing 20.1 points per game. The Saints fell to 25th in 2007 and 26th in 2008 before he was relieved of his duties by coach Sean Payton.

That’s when Gibbs joined the Chiefs and promptly helped develop one of the game’s best linebacking corps. Over the last six years, Gibbs has coached Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and Derrick Johnson to a combined 11 Pro Bowls.

This story was originally published January 7, 2015 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Chiefs linebackers coach Gary Gibbs will not interview for Washington’s defensive coordinator job."