Redskins tight ends coach Rennie Simmons retired Wednesday, ending an 18-year relationship with the organization.
Simmons first worked with Washington from 1981 through 1993, starting as a tight ends coach before moving to the offensive line (1990-91) and finally the receivers. He rejoined the staff when Joe Gibbs returned, spending the last five years as the tight ends coach.
Under his guidance, Chris Cooley blossomed from a third-round choice in 2004 to a Pro Bowl performer in 2007 and ’08. Cooley is taking Simmons with him to the Pro Bowl in February.
“Rennie was an outstanding coach for us,” Redskins head coach Jim Zorn said in a release. “Not only what he did on the field, but off the field. I think that the hard part, for me, seeing him retire is the wealth of experience that goes away immediately when he walks out the door. That experience then takes time to build back up when the new coach comes in and he begins his tenure. There is a hole there that is hard to fill right away.”
