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Joe Gibbs Makes Decision On Attending NFC Championship Game

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Jan 23, 2025 6:42 PM ET

The last time the Washington Commanders were in the NFC Championship Game, Joe Gibbs was their head coach.

Thirty-three years ago, Gibbs led Washington past the Detroit Lions and into Super Bowl XXVI, where his team defeated the Buffalo Bills to win the franchise's third and most recent Super Bowl championship. Last Saturday, Gibbs, 84, was in Detroit to watch his former team upset the top-seeded Lions to reach the NFC title game.

The Commanders will take on their NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday afternoon. They will have the only coach to ever lead the organization to a Super Bowl win in attendance cheering them on.

Gibbs told 106.7 The Fan's Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier that he is making the trip to Philly this weekend.

"Joe Gibbs just told us he will be at the NFC Championship game on Sunday, cheering on the Commanders in Philly," Paulsen tweeted Wednesday. "Gibbs was in Detroit for the win last week. The HOGS are bringing their good luck charm back on the road this week."

Gibbs had two stints as head coach in Washington, first from 1981-1992 and then from 2004-07.

Overall, he went 154-94, taking the franchise to the playoffs 10 times and making four trips to the Super Bowl, winning three times.

"I'm so proud of everybody," Gibbs said after the Commanders' upset for the Lions, via Monumental Sports Network's Mitchell Tischler. "For everybody to put this together, really this team and really a year. So, it's phenomenal. It's great. To get a win like that on the road, it's really hard, gives you great confidence. Anyway, just fantastic for everybody."

The NFC Championship Game between the Commanders and Eagles will kick off at 3 p.m. ET Sunday on FOX. Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady will have the call.

The winner will face either the Kansas City Chiefs or Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl 59.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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