By John Keim
March 11, 2008

Jim Zorn

ASHBURN, Va. — The day he lost his starting quarterback job a quarter century ago, Jim Zorn stewed about his new status. And he mentally debated how he should handle the demotion, with negative thoughts raging in his head. He could pout. He could demand a trade. He could make life tough for the new starter, Dave Krieg.

After sleeping on it, Zorn opted for another tactic, one that shaped a coaching philosophy. He would be a team player, throwing his support behind Krieg for the betterment of the Seattle Seahawks.

“That was probably the most difficult time of my playing career,” Zorn said. “That humiliation helped me (later) as a coach. It helped me to understand about backup players and what they felt like. As a backup guy, when you get your chance, you’ve got to make sure you’re ready.”

When the Redskins asked him in early February if he wanted to interview for their head-coaching job, Zorn — once he picked his jaw off the floor — was more than ready. Even if almost no one else (read: Redskins Nation) was ready for him to be named head coach.

Nobody, not even the Redskins, had Zorn, who spent the previous seven seasons as Seattle’s QB coach, on their initial list of coaching candidates. But other candidates mentioned him as a potential offensive coordinator during their interviews. So they hired him in that capacity. Eventually, the combination of other possible successors to Joe Gibbs dropping out and a less-than-exciting remaining pool prompted Washington to consider Zorn.

Since his hiring, Zorn has been scrutinized like never before, from his press-conference gaffes (calling the team colors maroon and black; praising the 10-man tribute to Sean Taylor vs. Buffalo, perhaps not realizing it was the fired Gregg Williams’ idea) to his offbeat drills.

But this is a guy who, on occasion, goes downhill biking in the mountains. Of course, those rides might seem tame compared to the ride he’s embarked on in Washington, where it can be debated as to who is under more pressure: the president of the United States or the Redskins’ coach. Or who is more popular. He’s gone from a place (Seattle) that adored him from his playing days to a town that will judge him on wins and losses.

“I heard on the radio that there was already a poll out, and I was at a 41-percent approval rating,” he said to laughter during his introductory press conference. “That’s better than the president of the United States.”

Redskins owner Dan Snyder harped on Zorn’s character after the hiring. By all accounts, he’s a devoted Christian and family man, much like the Hall of Fame coach he’s replacing. And Zorn comes across as one of the nicer guys in coaching, though he was also known for being brutally honest with his quarterbacks.

However, Zorn is also completely unproven as an offensive coordinator, let alone as a head coach. Zorn supporters point out that Andy Reid, another coach from the Mike Holmgren tree, had a similar résumé. But Reid was 40 years old — not 54 like Zorn, though he was 34 when his playing career in the NFL ended.

“I think he’ll be an outstanding coach,” ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” analyst Ron Jaworski said. “But he’s never been in a full position of authority where he designed the offense. You don’t know how good he’ll be until you have to do it. Anyone who says they’re totally prepared to do a great job, they’re giving you BS.”

Those who have worked with Zorn, played with him or been coached by him, swear by him.

“I wasn’t surprised [by his hiring],” said Redskins special-teams coach Danny Smith, who worked with Zorn for two years in Detroit. “He has a great presence. He’ll do a great job. He’s a teacher and a communicator. Those two things are what you need.”

“He’s the real deal,” said Hall of Fame WR Steve Largent, who played with Zorn in Seattle and has remained close to him. “He speaks the truth and is really straightforward. He doesn’t play games. That’s the way he is with his wife and friends, and he’ll be like that with the Redskins.”

And he fits every bit the left-handed stereotype as someone just a shade off-center, at least when it comes to his drills. For now, that’s what most know about Zorn’s coaching career. But his coaching played a role in Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck’s development into a Pro Bowl player. Former Seattle QB Trent Dilfer once raved about Zorn’s Monday film sessions. Zorn will work closely with Redskins QB Jason Campbell, transitioning him to a West Coast offense.

Hasselbeck once told the Seattle Times that Zorn guided him through a tough first year.

“He was a perfect quarterback coach for me at that point,” Hasselbeck said. “Had he not been my coach, who knows? I don’t know if I would have made it through.”

Zorn’s drills include teaching his quarterbacks how to slide by using — what else? — a Slip ’n Slide. Initially, he would bring an ex-major-league baseball player — Frank Tanana in Detroit; John Olerud in Seattle — to teach this fundamental.

Eventually, he turned to the backyard toy designed to keep kids occupied, and cool, in the summer.

He’ll bring it out once or so per training camp just to remind quarterbacks of something that seems rather basic. But, Zorn said, Hasselbeck used to jam his shoulder on occasion when trying to slide, using his hand to brace his fall. When using the Slip ’n Slide, the quarterback must squeeze the ball to his chest with both hands. Other times, his quarterbacks play dodgeball.

“People think I have all these goofy drills, but they really do mean something,” said Zorn, who is in the Seahawks’ Ring of Honor. “There are many times where we’re [watching video] and we see what they’re doing and say, ‘That’s the drill right there.’ ”

Zorn wasn’t even sure if coaching would be for him initially. At the end of his playing career, Zorn approached then-Seattle coach Chuck Knox about joining his staff as an assistant. Knox, he said, didn’t want to have a coach on his staff who was deciding if this was a career for him. So, he suggested landing a college job. After stints at Boise State and Utah State, Zorn returned to the NFL. He was the Lions’ QB coach for two seasons under Bobby Ross, whom he called a “dramatic influence” on his life.

“What I learned most from him was how to work,” Zorn said. “He paid attention to all the details.”

Zorn is an upbeat guy, unafraid to reveal his emotions. So, when asked at his first press conference his reaction to Snyder’s asking him to interview, Zorn’s mouth shot wide open and his eyes practically bugged out. He also admitted to being a little intimidated by the three Super Bowl trophies sitting in front of him, a nod to the Gibbs I era.

“I’m very excited about being the Redskins’ head football coach,” said Zorn, who received a five-year, $15 million contract. “And that is quite miraculous for me to even say.”

John Keim covers the Redskins for the Washington Examiner.