Redskins coach-in-waiting Mike Shanahan has reportedly landed in Washington this afternoon, and may be introduced officially as the team’s new head coach as early as tomorrow. Dan Hellie of WRC/NBC4 tweeted from Dulles Airport that Shanahan landed on a Redskins plane and got into Dan Synder’s limo, offering no comment. News first broke in mid-December that the former Denver Broncos coach and winner of two Super Bowls was talking with the ‘Skins about the head coaching job.

It must have been a happier flight to Dulles today for Shanahan than for ousted ‘Skins coach Jim Zorn, who touched down in the wee hours of this morning. Zorn of course was fired shortly after landing this morning, escorted out of Redskins Park by a security escort at 4:45 a.m. Zorn declined at the press conference following yesterday’s game–a 23-20 loss to the San Diego chargers to end the season–to acknowledge the writing on the wall that he was out. Not writing, actually. Make that graffiti. In big block letters. Zorn had to know he was going, but was a man doing his best to go nobly about his business.

That’s why it’s hard not to like Zorn, who by all accounts is a great guy if not a good NFL head coach. ‘Skins fans must be rightfully relieved that next year offers a big change, but you have to admit that Zorn was at minimum a classy, honest and … entertaining guy.