The Associated Press

ASHBURN, Va. - In a bid to return to their heyday, the Washington Redskins reached into their past with a most stunning move: Joe Gibbs is coming back.

The Hall of Fame coach who led the team to three Super Bowl championships instantly restored hope to a franchise searching for answers after a decade of losing and the resignation of Steve Spurrier.

Gibbs, 63, retired 11 years ago and then rose to the top in a second sports career as a NASCAR team owner. He signed a five-year contract worth about $25 million Wednesday in a coup for owner Dan Snyder, who grew up rooting for Gibbs' great teams.

"Who better to set our strategy and lead the Redskins back to championship glory?" Snyder said.

The details of Gibbs' contract, confirmed by a source within the NFL, speaking on condition of anonymity, is similar to the NFL-record deal given to Spurrier.

"The desire to coach has always been with me, even after being away from the game for 11 years," Gibbs said.

Gibbs owns a minority share of the Atlanta Falcons and will sell his portion. In a statement, the Falcons said Gibbs approached them several weeks ago and talked about their vacant coaching job.

"When the opportunity at the Redskins came up, Joe told us he couldn't turn his back on the history, fans, loyalties and relationships built over time in Washington," the Falcons' statement said.

Gibbs also was given the title of Redskins team president, but the protocol for roster decisions essentially will remain the same. Vinny Cerrato continues as director of player personnel, and Snyder will have the final word to settle any disputes, according to the source.

Gibbs will be introduced at a news conference today, but he already has his first two hires in place, according to the source. Former Buffalo Bills coach Gregg Williams will be defensive coordinator.

Joe Bugel, who oversaw the "Hogs" as offensive line coach under Gibbs from 1981-89, returns to that post. The Williams hiring first was reported by SportsLine.com.

Spurrier quit last week with three years left on his contract. His teams went 7-9, then 5-11.

In contrast, the Redskins made the playoffs during eight of Gibbs' 12 seasons, and his 68.3 winning percentage ranks third in NFL history. His record was 124-60 in the regular season and 16-5 in the playoffs, including Super Bowl victories after the 1982, '87 and '91 seasons - each with a different quarterback.

Burned out from long days and nights - he was known as a workaholic who sometimes slept on a cot at Redskins Park - Gibbs left football and pursued a successful NASCAR career. His racing team heavily involved both his sons, giving him the family life he missed in the NFL.

Gibbs' oldest son, J.D., is president of Joe Gibbs Racing. The racing is largely unaffected by Gibbs' move.

Gibbs was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1996 and over the years has said he had no desire to return to coaching, although he has retained NFL connections. He was involved with a group that attempted to purchase the Redskins after owner Jack Kent Cooke's death in the late 1990s, and he and two partners bought a combined 5 percent of the Falcons for $27 million in 2002.

Snyder first contacted Gibbs on New Year's Eve, and the talks were kept under wraps during the owner's high-profile trip to the West Coast to interview former Giants coach Jim Fassel and former Vikings coach Dennis Green.

Gibbs' return rekindles the great NFC East coaching rivalry of the 1980s. Gibbs again will face off against Bill Parcells, the former Giants coach now with Dallas.

"I said when he retired that Joe was the best coach I'd ever faced," Parcells said. "I have great respect for his ability."