The Skins got their man and Mike Shanahan is now a huge part of Redskins Nation.

After an afternoon of negotiations, Shanahan signed a five-year contract to become head coach and executive vice president of football operations for the Washington Redskins.

According to reports, Shanahan's contract is worth approximately $7 million a year.

The Skins' intense courtship of Shanahan began shortly after Jim Zorn was fired on Monday morning. Zorn was dismissed during a meeting in his office with Allen after the team's cross-country flight following a 23-20 loss to the Chargers on Sunday. The Redskins finished 4-12.

Shanahan won two Super Bowls in 14 seasons with the Broncos. He was fired a year ago after Denver missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

Tuesday night, when word began to spread that Shanahan would replace Zorn as the Redskins' on-field leader, there was no need for introduction. Several players embraced the move immediately and openly.

"I think we needed a guy in here who people are going to respect off of his name alone, and Mike Shanahan is that guy," cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. "You already knew he was going to come in here with a great scheme, a great mind. But to have that name, Mike Shanahan, associated with the Redskins is big for us, it's big for the fans, and it's just great news."

Shanahan's career regular-season record is 146-98, including 138-86 with the Broncos from 1995 to 2008 and 8-12 with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1988-89. His playoff record is 8-5.