The team said the former Washington Redskins head coach signed a contract Tuesday and will work under new offensive coordinator Bill Muir.
"We are excited to finalize our coaching staff today with the addition of Jim Zorn," Chiefs coach Todd Haley said in a statement released by the team. "As a former head coach with more than two decades of experience playing and coaching the quarterback position in the NFL, Jim has a tremendous working knowledge of the game, and he will play a big role in the continued development of our football team."
Zorn, 57, was released as the Baltimore Ravens' quarterbacks coach Jan. 27 after helping Joe Flacco have his finest NFL season, including beating the Chiefs 30-7 in the first round of the playoffs.
Zorn was 12-20 as the Redskins' coach in 2008 and 2009.
Muir was promoted from offensive line coach to offensive coordinator after Charlie Weis left for the University of Florida. It remains unclear whether Muir or Haley will call plays.
Zorn will be the first full-time quarterback coach the Chiefs have had since Haley became coach after the 2008 season. Haley, and then Weis, unofficially served in the position the past two seasons.
Zorn made 106 starts at quarterback during an 11-year NFL playing career, beginning in 1976 with the Seattle Seahawks. He completed 1,669 passes for 21,115 yards and 111 touchdowns after going undrafted.
Improved play by quarterback Matt Cassel was a major reason the Chiefs made a six-game improvement during the 2010 season and claimed their first AFC West title since 2003. Cassel wound up in the Pro Bowl after Kansas City's 10-win season.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
