After Hall of Famer, Joe Gibbs, resigned as Head Coach for the Washington Redskins, the search for a new Head Coach lasted a grueling 32 days. Jim Zorn, 54, came out on top and signed a five-year contract in February. He commented, “I've always dreamed of being a head coach with a franchise rich in tradition like the Redskins.” Zorn left the Seattle Seahawks a month earlier and signed as offensive coordinator for the Redskins.
Zorn’s NFL career began in 1976 when he signed as quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, the first year starring in all nine games and earning AFC Rookie of the Year. He played quarterback nine seasons for the Seahawks and then played one year each with the Green Bay Packers, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He retired from play in 1987. His Washington Redskins predecessor, Joe Gibbs, who supported Zorn from the beginning, commented, "Playing experience like Jim's is an enormous advantage for a head coach. Every move he makes, every play he calls, is based on the foundation of having actually played in real time and in the face of real opponents. You can't learn that on the sidelines or in the classroom."
Zorn coached nine seasons as quarterback coach or offensive coordinator at Boise State, Utah State and the University of Minnesota. He then joined the NFL as Seahawks offensive assistant coach in 1997. In 1998, he signed with the Detroit Lions as quarterback coach. Zorn moved back to the Seahawks in 2001 as quarterback coach. In February, 2008, he was picked for Washington Redskin’s Head Coach.
Redskin players are impressed with Zorn’s ability to make the right calls that have led to victories in the first two preseason games. Zorn said, “For the most part, we are executing mostly what we're setting out to do." Zorn has already won the confidence of the players, and players and coach are expecting a great season.
