The Redskins hired Jim Zorn as offensive coordinator on Saturday--and that could signal significant change for the Redskins' offense next season.
Zorn, previously the quarterbacks coach with the Seattle Seahawks, has worked primarily in the West Coast offense since 2001.
In Seattle, Zorn tutored under head coach Mike Holmgren, who has used the West Coast offense with Brett Favre in Green Bay and Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle.
Along with duties as offensive coordinator, Zorn is also tasked with continuing the development of Jason Campbell, the Redskins' fourth-year quarterback.
"We're counting on Jim to continue Jason Campbell's growth, while moving our offense forward," Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder said in a statement on Saturday.
Campbell finished his second season as the Redskins' starting quarterback. He started 12 games and completed 250-of-417 passes for 2,700 yards, 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Said Campbell: "I had the opportunity to meet Jim Zorn at the [NFL Scouting Combine in 2005] before being drafted by the Redskins and came away really impressed by him.
"I've heard a lot of great things about him both as a coach and as a person. I'm looking forward to getting started working with him."
Zorn joined the Seahawks as quarterbacks coach in 2001, 25 years after he was the team's first starting signal-caller when the franchise was founded in 1976.
In his rookie year, Zorn was named AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year. He would go on to lead the Seahawks for nine seasons and is honored in the team's Ring of Honor.
Zorn ranks second in the Seahawks' record book behind Dave Krieg in yards (20,122), completions (1,593), attempts (2,992), and touchdowns (107). His three consecutive 3,000-yard seasons were tops in team history, since broken by Hasselbeck in 2005.
After departing Seattle, Zorn finished his playing career with the Green Bay Packers (1985), the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1986) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987).
As an NFL coach, Zorn is credited with the development of current Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. He has also helped develop Seneca Wallace into a quality, reliable backup quarterback.
He has helped the Seahawks offense become among the NFL's best. Last year, Seattle finished the regular season ranked 9th overall and 8th in passing offense.
Prior to joining Seattle, Zorn was quarterbacks coach with the Detroit Lions from 1998-2000. He worked along-side current Redskins special teams coordinator Danny Smith in Detroit.
"I'm thrilled to be able to work with him again," Smith said on Saturday. "He is an outstanding coach with respect from everyone throughout the league."
Zorn helped develop then-Lions quarterback Charlie Batch to produce several solid seasons. Batch's 88.3 passer rating in his 1998 rookie season ranks as the fourth-highest rookie mark in NFL history.
Zorn broke in as an NFL coach with the Seahawks in 1997, serving as an offensive assistant.
Prior to becoming a professional coach, Zorn spent eight seasons in the collegiate ranks, two as quarterbacks coach at the University of Minnesota, three as Utah State's offensive coordinator, and three as an offensive assistant-quarterbacks coach at Boise State.
Zorn and his wife Joy have four children: Rachael, Sarah, Danielle and Isaac.
