One thing fans can expect this offseason is to hear a lot of ‘old’ names whispered in slumping NFL cities. It already has been suggested that should the Cowboys drop out of the NFC playoff picture Mike Holmgren would become a leading candidate to replace Jason Garrett (assuming, of course, Garrett is given his walking papers). Bill Cowher is always a popular first candidate, and Jon Gruden seems to be rumored for every opening.

All three of those men have a Super Bowl ring, but they also all have been out of coaching for at least four years. Even so, clubs like to hire winners and fans get most excited by a name they know.

Most coaching legends that retire or take an extended leave from the game never return; those that do often struggle to adjust to changing trends or experience personality conflicts with players. Very few succeed, although in the past two decades several big-name coaches have tried …

Joe Gibbs — No coach was more successful from 1981-92, during which time Gibbs delivered three championships (and four NFC titles) to Hog Nation. Following his retirement, Gibbs built one of NASCAR’s most successful racing teams. Everything he touched turned to gold, so it was probably too tempting for Gibbs when Redskins owner Daniel Snyder sold the coach on returning in 2004. But football had changed, and so had the players. The organization gave him a workhorse running back (Clinton Portis) and a veteran quarterback (Mark Brunell) — two Gibbs’ staples — but the veteran coach managed to win just 30 of 64 games in four seasons.