Redskins are expected to fire their head coach
Redskins coach Jim Zorn’s tenure began as a surprise. His end will not occur the same way. According to multiple sources and various reports, Zorn will be fired Monday (UPDATE: Zorn was fired early Monday morning).
Recommended Stories
This will be the least surprising development of the season, considering speculation has been rampant since early October about his job security. And it’s been clear for a while that Zorn would be fired.
The Redskins finished 4-12 in his second season and were 6-18 in his last 24 games after a 6-2 start.
“There’s a lot of things out there,” Zorn told reporters after the 23-20 loss to San Diego on Sunday. “I get that. But I’m working on our offseason schedule … I’m still reeling from this loss. Anything I might say about what my future might be here would just be babbling along here. I’m just going to be forthright and ask and get things moving, but I certainly want to be the head coach here.”
Redskins executive vice president/general manager Bruce Allen said on ESPN 980’s pregame show that he would meet with the coaches on Monday.
Zorn, who would be paid only for next season, has told people privately that he knows what will happen this week. When he was stripped of play-calling duties in October, his fate was all but clinched.
The only question remaining is who will replace Zorn. For a long time, the heavy favorite has been former Denver coach Mike Shanahan, someone the Redskins have talked to for a long time. Shanahan, according to a source close to Dan Snyder, turned down an overture earlier this season because he did not want to take over until after the season.
An NFL source said Shanahan would be the next coach and multiple reports have stated the same. The same source said Shanahan’s agent had inquired about other jobs and had even called Chicago, but was told the Bears had no interest. Allen is said to have a Plan B if Shanahan falls through. Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher is the other “big name” available.
Secondary coach Jerry Gray already interviewed for the job, though that could just be to fulfill the NFL’s Rooney Rule regarding minorities. Last week, John Wooten, the chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance — a consultant for the NFL regarding minority coaching hires — said he would like Gray to re-interview with new executive vice president/general manager Bruce Allen. Gray initially interviewed with former Redskins vice president Vinny Cerrato.
Gray told Comcast SportsNet after the game that “if it’s open and they call me, of course I do [want it]. It’s one of the best jobs in the country. … But there has to be things that change.”
And there will be lots of change, regarding both the coaching staff and the roster.
“It’s the last time a lot of us will be together,” Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell told reporters afterward. “We understand there will be separation.”
