By PFW staff
Jan. 26, 2008

Instead of being the heir apparent to Joe Gibbs, Gregg Williams is out of a job.

On Saturday, the Redskins fired Williams, their assistant head coach/defense, as well as Al Saunders, their assistant head coach/offense — moves that on Friday, PFW had suggested were likely to happen (“Signs point to Williams, Saunders coaching elsewhere next season”).

“The process of selecting a new head coach continues, although no hire is planned until after the Super Bowl so as not to distract from the championship game as well as to keep open all our options,” owner Dan Snyder said in a statement released Saturday.

The leading candidates for the head-coaching job are reported to be former Giants head coach Jim Fassel and current Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Redskins have to wait until after the Super Bowl to interview Spagnuolo or any other coach involved in the game. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels also is reportedly on Snyder’s short list of candidates.

The team also announced that defensive coordinator Greg Blache would be retained to run the defense. Although Blache had the coordinator title last season, it was in name only, because Williams actually ran the defense under Gibbs. The Redskins also confirmed the hiring of Jim Zorn as offensive coordinator to a three-year contract. A QB coach for the Seahawks since 2001, Zorn will assume the duties previously held by Saunders.

The Associated Press is reporting that the Redskins have granted permission to the Rams to interview both Williams and Saunders, a procedure that was required because the contracts of the two coaches hadn’t been officially terminated yet.

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Signs point to Williams, Saunders coaching elsewhere next season
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