The Redskins Blog

Doug Williams Has New Deal At Grambling

Twenty-five seasons after he was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXII, former Redskins quarterback Doug Williams continues to have success coaching at his alma mater.

Williams, 56, on Monday was officially handed a new three-year contract at Grambling State University, where he left in 1978 as the school’s most prolific quarterback before guiding the team to several conference championships in two stints as head coach.

The extension was made official Monday after it was approved by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, according to this release from Grambling State.

Williams’ first stint at Grambling State began in the 1998 season. In 1997, the team was 3-8, but after just three years under Williams’ watch, the Tigers were 10-2 and won their first Southwestern Athletic Conference title since 1989. Grambling State would go on to capture SWAC titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002, and Williams was named conference coach of the year each season.

Williams left Grambling State in 2004 to take a job as personnel executive with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he returned to Grambling State as its head coach last February and, again, guided the team to the SWAC championship.

Williams is perhaps best-known by Redskins fans for his heroics in the 1987 season, when he led Washington to a Super Bowl XXII rout over the Denver Broncos, 42-10, in San Diego.

Williams caught fire when head coach Joe Gibbs named him the starter midway through the 1987 season. With the help of receivers like Gary Clark, Art Monk and Ricky Sanders, Williams passed for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in five regular season starts.

Williams shined the brightest in Super Bowl XXII with his MVP performance, completing 18-of-29 passes for 340 yards and four touchdowns. He became the first-ever black quarterback to start in and win a Super Bowl game.