Washington ? Steve Spurrier resigned Tuesday as coach of the Washington Redskins, ending a failed attempt to bring his Fun ‘n’ Gun offense to the NFL.

“This is a very demanding job,” Spurrier said in a statement released by the team. “It’s a long grind, and I feel that after 20 years as a head coach, there are other things that I need to do.”

Spurrier quit three days after the Redskins finished 5-11 by losing 10 of their last 12 games. Spurrier’s record was 12-20 over two seasons.

“I simply believe that this is the right time for me to move on, because this team needs new leadership. … I’ve enjoyed my time in Washington. Obviously, all of the losing can wear you down, but I believe that the franchise is headed in the right direction,” the coach said.

Spurrier confirmed his resignation after two hours of confusion during which he told a newspaper he hadn’t quit — even though the team announced that he did. Spurrier was not aware that final details already were worked out between his agent and the team.

“We had a little miscommunication there,” Spurrier told the Associated Press.

The coach called owner Dan Snyder Tuesday morning to offer his resignation, and Snyder accepted with “much regret,” according to the team. Spurrier then told Snyder to work out the final details with agent Jimmy Sexton.

With Sexton in Memphis, Tenn., Snyder in Washington, and Spurrier on a golf course in Florida, the coach didn’t know that all the issues had been resolved when he told The Washington Post, “I have not resigned.” Minutes later, after hearing from his agent, Spurrier acknowledged he was quitting.

He walked away from the final three years of a five-year, $25 million contract, the richest ever for an NFL coach. His replacement will be the fifth head coach since Snyder bought the team in 1999.

Spurrier said repeatedly in recent weeks that he planned to return for a third season, although there was wide speculation about his future with the Redskins.

Still, his resignation was “totally unexpected” by the team, according to spokesman Karl Swanson.

Spurrier clashed with Snyder over personnel moves this season, particularly the owner’s decision to cut quarterback Danny Wuerffel at the end of training camp.

But Spurrier also was hurt by an inability to enforce discipline, especially after defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis left to become Cincinnati’s head coach.

The Redskins set a franchise record for penalties this season, and players described a lax atmosphere in which tardiness was tolerated, cell phones rang during meetings, and on-field errors weren’t corrected at practice.