Redskins lure Saunders

K.C. coordinator named Washington aide

? Al Saunders, whose Kansas City offense the past five years led the NFL in yards and touchdowns, has agreed to become an assistant coach for the Washington Redskins. Saunders’ title has yet to be determined.

Chiefs coach Herm Edwards confirmed Thursday that Saunders had agreed to take the job.

Saunders, who turns 59 on Feb. 1, also had interviewed the past two weeks for several head-coaching jobs, including Kansas City, Detroit, Houston and Oakland.

“Obviously, he had some opportunities,” Edwards said. “But he felt his best opportunity right now as a coach was to go to Washington. We talked again today. I wish him a lot of luck. He’s done a great job here with our offense.”

Edwards said Mike Solari, who has been line coach under Saunders, had been elevated to replace him as offensive coordinator.

Saunders was head coach at San Diego in 1986-88, but has been an assistant, mostly with Kansas City, ever since.

He joined Dick Vermeil’s staff as offensive coordinator in 2001 and installed a shifting, motion-laden attack that perfectly suited a host of talented personnel.