Zorn, who signed a five-year contract with the team, spent seven seasons as quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks under Head Coach Mike Holmgren, where they shared in playoff trips for the past five seasons and one Super Bowl appearance.
His elevation to head coach at the Redskins adds his name to Holmgren's "family tree" of quarterback coaches who moved into the head coaching ranks, joining Andy Reid (directly from quarterback coach to the Eagles head coach), Jon Gruden, Marty Morninwheg and Steve Mariucci.
Update [2008-2-9 19:38:58 by Skin Patrol]: Jim Zorn is the new head coach, diary posted by tom (our Patriots blogger -- his work can be found at Pats Pulpit) and promoted to front page. Story also at ESPN and Redskins Insider, who also notes that John Palermo is our new D-Line coach. The long search for a head coach appears to be over, though now we have to find a new offensive coordinator. So, so strange, as the final list inevitably felt like Meeks or Fassel or Mooch. Instead we get Zorn. Doug Farrar's thoughts on ourAssociated Press
WASHINGTON - The Washington Redskins hired Jim Zorn as their coach Saturday night, a surprise ending to a monthlong search for a replacement for Joe Gibbs, The Associated Press has learned.
Zorn will be introduced at a news conference at 3 p.m. Sunday, according to a person who was informed of the Redskins' decision. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement had not been made.
Zorn, a former Seattle quarterback, has been the Seahawks' quarterbacks coach for the last seven years. The Redskins hired him to be their offensive coordinator on Jan. 26 while continuing their search for a head coach.