Joe Gibbs, celebrated for his remarkable achievements in both the NFL and NASCAR, has publicly expressed deep regret over the personal sacrifices made on his path to sporting greatness. In an interview earlier this year, Gibbs candidly discussed the cost of his professional dedication, especially regarding Joe Gibbs family priorities.
The Cost of Success: Time Lost with Loved Ones
During a conversation with Kyle Petty, a former NASCAR driver, Gibbs revealed the most significant regret from his lifelong career as both a Super Bowl-winning NFL head coach and the founder of Joe Gibbs Racing. Gibbs acknowledged that, while his list of sporting accomplishments is extensive, the years he missed with his two sons, J.D. and Coy, weigh heavily on him. He stated,
“I think the thing I will always second-guess the most is missing so much of Coy and JD’s growing up, games, and everything that they got to play because I was so focused on football. I wished I had handled that differently. The thing I second-guess I think the most about my life is that… the challenge has always been keeping the right priorities.”
—Joe Gibbs, Head Coach and Owner
Gibbs openly admitted that the relentless pressures of coaching and racing ownership frequently kept him from being present for crucial moments in his sons’ lives. This absence, he reflected, cannot be reversed by trophies or championships and has provided a sobering context to the success he achieved in professional sports.
Personal Loss Shapes New Perspective
Gibbs often emphasizes that his guiding principle is to prioritize God, family, and career—in that order. However, he also concedes that, in the heat of competition and drive for victory, he did not consistently live by this creed. The regret has grown even stronger due to the profound losses the family has experienced. J.D. Gibbs, after struggling with brain health issues, passed away in 2019, and Coy Gibbs tragically died in his sleep in 2022 from unknown causes. These events have lent an even more poignant and serious weight to Gibbs’ reflections on balancing family with his professional life.
Moments of Tribute and Legacy
After J.D.’s passing, Joe Gibbs Racing’s driver Denny Hamlin delivered an emotional victory, winning the Daytona 500 and paying tribute to J.D. by placing his name on the race car. That gesture made the win not only a personal highlight for Hamlin and the team but also a permanent memorial for J.D. The victorious No. 11 Toyota car now resides at the Joe Gibbs Racing facility, representing more than a championship—as Gibbs shared,
“This car is part of the most important victory that I’ve ever had in sports because it was all about JD at that point and everything that happened… JD actually found Denny. Racing late models in Manassas.”
—Joe Gibbs, Head Coach and Owner
The enduring impact of this tribute showcases the deep connections and powerful memories found beyond the records and results on the field or track.
A Legacy Continued Despite Tragedy
Coy Gibbs is survived by his son, Ty, who currently races full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Cup Series. Through Ty’s ongoing career, the Gibbs family legacy endures in NASCAR, blending remembrance with the ongoing pursuit of excellence that has defined Joe Gibbs’s journey.
The story of Joe Gibbs offers a reminder that personal priorities and professional triumphs are often intertwined, revealing the complexities and costs behind even the brightest public successes. While his accomplishments in football and racing will endure, Gibbs’s candid admissions about his family reinforce the importance of time and presence amid the pursuit of greatness.
