Joe Gibbs has resigned as coach and team president of the Washington Redskins. It comes three days after his team's playoff loss concluded a season marked by the killing of safety Sean Taylor.

A statement released by the team says the 67-year-old Gibbs will serve as a special adviser to owner Dan Snyder. Gibbs will discuss his decision at a 3 p.m. news conference.

The Redskins will begin a search for a new coach immediately. Among the certain candidates are two former head coaches on Gibbs' staff, Gregg Williams and Al Saunders.

Gibbs went 31-and-36 after emerging from NFL retirement and his NASCAR career to sign a five-year, $27.5 million contract in 2004. That includes a 1-and-2 record in post-season play.

Gibbs' resignation brings an apparent end to a Hall of Fame coaching career in which he twice raised the Redskins from mediocrity into a playoff team. But he ultimately failed in his goal of bringing the team back to the Super Bowl during his second stint in Washington.

Gibbs won three NFL titles during his first tenure from 1981-92. The second time around he took the team to the post-season in two of his four seasons.