You have to admire Jim Tomsula's mental fortitude. There might not be anyone in football who has received more ridicule over the past few years than the former San Francisco 49ers head man and current Washington Redskins defensive line coach.

When he coached the Niners in 2015, Tomsula became a daily subject of jokes and derision. He was the go-to figure for frustrated San Francisco fans when they complained, and he served as the favorite laughing stock for the other 31 fanbases. Despite that, we barely heard anything from Tomsula, who chose the high road and continued with his job.

The Niners fired Tomsula at the end of the 2015 campaign after the team finished with just a 5-11 record. In one season of head coaching, Tomsula convinced San Francisco’s front office that he wasn’t fit to serve the position. That didn’t stop the Washington Redskins from employing Tomsula afterward as their defensive line coach.

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It didn’t take long before the Redskins started to feel the positive effects of having Tomsula onboard. Through three games this season, the Redskins defense is already regarded as one of the best in the league, allowing just 20 points and 272 total yards per contest, both top 10 marks in the NFL. That's a far cry from last season.

In Week 3, Washington put up its most impressive defensive performance to date, holding the high-flying Oakland Raiders’ offense to only 128 total yards. Derek Carr was a non-factor for the Raiders due to the Redskins’ constant pressure in the pocket, as he was sacked four times for a loss of 22 yards – something that Tomsula must be taking a lot of pride in.

San Francisco’s loss is turning out to be Washington’s gain. Not bad for a former night janitor.