Shanahan's Friendship With Redskins Owner Has History

By Jonathan Wilson

New Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan arrives in Washington with two Super Bowl rings, as well as a relationship with Skins owner Dan Snyder goes back farther than some may realize.

Daniel Snyders interest in hiring Mike Shanahan may have started years ago.

During his introduction at Redskins Park in Ashburn on Wednesday the new head coach recalled a half-joking proposition Snyder once made to Pat Bowlen, the owner of the Denver Broncos, the team Shanahan coached at the time.

"Mr. Snyder was talking to Mr. Bowlen at the time, and said, I wanna trade for your coach. Mr. Bowlen said, 'Don't pay him any attention,'" says Shanahan. "We had some fun."

Shanahan says he'll spend the next couple of weeks talking to assistant coaches wishing to remain with the team, and others he'd like to hire to help the turn the franchise around.

"I'm not going to make very many staff moves right away. I'm going to take my time," he says.

One decision Shanahan has already made is the hiring of his son, Kyle Shanahan. He spent last season as the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans, and is expected to fill the same role here.