Shanahan To Become 7th Redskins' Coach Under Snyder Ownership

NFL News - January 6th, 2010 - Written by John

The Washington Redskins did not wait long, nor leave any suspense as to who they wanted to fill the head coaching vacancy left by Jim Zorn earlier this week. Just one day after firing their former coach, the Redskins agreed on a contract with former Denver Broncos' head coach Mike Shanahan.

Shanahan agreed to a five-year deal with the Washington Redskins that will pay him close to $7 million per year, as reported first on the Denver Post website. Shanahan will work closely with team owner Dan Snyder and General Manager Bruce Allen, but will have the final say on all football related decisions.

Immediately following the firing of Zorn, Washington pursued Shanahan intently. Zorn was let go following a 4-12 season, the worst for the team since 1994. Zorn finished with a 12-20 record in two seasons with the organization. He lost 18 of the last 24 games in which he coached and never came close to making the NFL Playoffs. His firing came as a surprise to no one.

In October, Zorn was stripped of his play-calling responsibilities by the front office. Snyder even conducted an interview with current assistant coach Jerry Gray about the head coaching position several weeks ago.

"The status quo has to end," Allen said to the Associated Press. "We have to change the way we've been doing some business. Last place two years in a row is not Redskins football."

The hiring of Shanahan makes him the seventh Redskins' coach since 1999, Snyder's first year of ownership.

"No one in the organization is satisfied with our record over the last two years," Snyder said to the AP in a statement, "and I am sure that Jim would concur with that statement. It has been painful for him, too. I certainly accept responsibility for mistakes that I have made."

Shanahan has two Super Bowl wins on his resume' and will get to work straight away on a coaching staff. He will begin by conducting interviews with the Redskins current assistant coaches on staff, and make decisions from there.

Players on the Redskins reacted to the hiring of Shanahan, including former Denver Broncos' RB Clinton Portis. Portis had previously described Shanahan as the "perfect guy for the job."

"If you're doing the stuff you're supposed to be doing, you're fine with him," Portis remarked on a radio appearance on ESPN980. "If you're not, no matter how much you're getting paid, he's going to get you up out of there."

In his 14 seasons with the Denver Broncos, Shanahan made the playoffs seven times. He endured just two losing seasons. He has a career coaching record of 146-98 and a record of 8-5 in the playoffs.