Jim Haslett and Redskins Part Ways: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Following a 4-12 season in which the team allowed 438 points, Washington and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett have agreed to go their separate ways. 

According to the team's official Twitter, Haslett and Washington "mutually agreed" to go in a different direction:

The team tweeted Haslett's statement on the decision: 

This decision comes two days after Washington head coach Jay Gruden told reporters, via Tom Schad of The Washington Times, at his Week 17 postgame press conference he "would recommend keeping" Haslett as defensive coordinator. 

Haslett has been with Washington since 2010. During that time, the franchise has made the postseason once and only finished in the top 20 of total defense twice. A deeper dive into the numbers, via Rob Carlin of Comcast SportsNet Washington, shows the problems on defense were vast:

The good news for Haslett is that he has a long, extensive resume in the NFL. He has been a coach in the league every year since 1993, with the exception of a one-year stint in the United Football League in 2009. The 59-year-old likely won't be out of work for long. 

For Washington, this change is an opportunity to fully examine everything that's been wrong with the defense. Haslett wasn't the answer for the franchise, but there's no way he was the only problem.

Gruden can ease the burden on him this offseason by finding a top coordinator for the defense, since there's little doubt that team owner Dan Snyder will open his wallet to lure one of the many strong defensive-minded coaches on the market. 

The only thing left after hiring the right defensive coordinator is getting the personnel in place to upgrade what has been one of the league's worst units for years.