But at least one NFL front-office official, an AFC personnel executive who requested anonymity, viewed Williams as a great defensive coordinator not cut out to be a head coach. "There's nothing wrong with being an elite coordinator," the official said, "especially with the money they're starting to make."
"Sometimes the stigma of being a failed head coach can hurt you for a year or two before you get another shot at it," said Gil Brandt, an NFL personnel consultant and former Cowboys personnel executive.
Joe Gibbs, left, shares a laugh with assistant Gregg Williams, who, in his first season with the Redskins, has overseen the second-best defense in the NFL.
(Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)
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Although Williams is reluctant to discuss his tenure with the Bills, he says it has made him a better assistant coach. "People don't realize what a head coach has to do in this league until you've walked in their shoes," Williams said. "What Coach Gibbs is going through, I understand those things, and good assistants help out their head coaches during those times."
Williams has used his head coaching experience to help Gibbs become more acclimated to the NFL after an 11-year hiatus. Williams has tutored Gibbs on the salary cap, which was instituted in 1993 after Gibbs initially retired. "He's super organized," said offensive coordinator Don Breaux of Williams, "and he's on top of every facet of what's happening in the NFL."
Gibbs, known for his organizational ability, said that Williams is actually more organized. Williams, who has an extensive background in special teams, exchanges ideas with Gibbs that go beyond defense.
"He has the qualifications to be a head coach," said Joe Theismann, the ESPN analyst and former Redskins quarterback. "It's a question of: Does he feel like this program here has a chance to go some place? That's the question Gregg has to answer."
Redskins Note: The team activated cornerback Garnell Wilds and released linebacker Billy Strother.
Staff writer Leonard Shapiro contributed to this report.
