Claim:
Former NFL coach Joe Gibbs, who led the Washington Commanders, died in August 2025.
In late August 2025, a rumor spread that Joe Gibbs, former coach of the NFL's Washington Commanders, had died.
For example, a Facebook post shared a photograph of the storied coach and read "FAREWELL TO A LEGEND" (archived):
As of this writing, the post had more than 17,000 reactions and 4,900 comments. The claim appeared several times on Facebook. Further, Snopes readers searched the website seeking confirmation about the rumor.
The pinned comment under the post linked to an article on a website that presented all the hallmarks of a junk content farm. The article read:
The NFL is in mourning as former Washington head coach Joe Gibbs has passed away. A great architect of modern football, Gibbs led Washington to its golden age in the 1980s–1990s, winning three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks—an unprecedented feat. He restored the capital team's image as a symbol of strength, discipline, and indomitable spirit, and turned the old RFK Stadium into an impregnable fortress in the hearts of fans.
However, the rumor was false. Running the text of the article through artificial-intelligence detectors revealed it was AI-generated. Everything indicated the rumor was another example of AI slop.
Gibbs' religious organization, Game Plan for Life, posted on social media confirming the rumor was yet another celebrity death hoax and that Gibbs was "alive and well" (archived):
We are aware of false reports circulating online about Coach Joe Gibbs. We want to assure you that these claims are entirely untrue — Coach Gibbs is alive and well.
We encourage everyone to be mindful about the information they share online and to always verify the source before spreading news. Out of respect for Coach Gibbs, his family, and our community, we ask that you join us in ensuring the truth is what gets shared.
Thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and support.
Snopes has covered many such death hoaxes in the past, including one about actor Julia Roberts and another about pop star Miley Cyrus.