Earnest Byner is done as a Redskins coach. Washington hired Stump Mitchell as running backs coach, filling a spot Byner had hoped to maintain.
Meanwhile, the Redskins offered the offensive coordinator job to Tennessee assistant head coach/running backs Sherman Smith. He interviewed Tuesday and remained in town Wednesday, trying to decide if he wanted to leave a place he liked and was comfortable.
Regardless, new head coach Jim Zorn said he, and not the new coordinator, would call plays.
Byner, the running backs coach the past four seasons, was offered a one-year contract. But, according to a team source, by the time he agreed to the deal, the team told him it was too late and he would have to interview with whomever became the new head coach.
The Redskins had tried to get Mitchell shortly after Zorn was hired to be the offensive coordinator, but were denied permission.
This time, however, they gave him a promotion of sorts by naming him assistant head coach/running backs. He’ll also help devising short-yardage plays. Mitchell, a former head coach at Morgan State, spent nine years as the Seahawks running backs coach.
Byner also spent five seasons as a running back with the Redskins. He had interviewed with Tampa Bay earlier this offseason.
“I wasn’t happy about speaking with him because of how difficult any of that is,” Zorn said. “He had a good outlook on the situation and he’ll land on his feet.”
