The Los Angeles Rams announced Monday that they have relieved head coach Jeff Fisher from his head coaching duties, effective immediately.
The news comes as a bit of a surprise as Fisher signed a two-year extension just a couple of weeks ago to remain with the team past this season.
After starting off the season 3-1 the Rams have lost eight of their last nine games though, including a 42-14 loss at home to the Atlanta Falcons this past Sunday, leaving owner Stan Kroenke, COO Kevin Demoff and general manager Les Snead in a tough position.
The Rams released a full statement on the firing, as Kroenke talked about just how tough the decision was, via Myles Simmons of TheRams.com:
Full statement from Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke regarding the Rams relieving Jeff Fisher of his head coaching duties. pic.twitter.com/aED6cenkwl
— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) December 12, 2016
In five seasons with the team Fisher was a combined 31-45-1, failing to finish with a winning record in each season in addition to failing to reach the postseason.
Fisher’s overall record in 22 seasons as an NFL head coach is 173-165-1. The 165 losses are tied for the most by a head coach in NFL history. Fisher has made the postseason just six times, with the last time coming in 2008 with the Tennessee Titans and has never won a Super Bowl.
Fisher has been scrutinized a lot in recent weeks, not only for his decisions on the field for getting the Rams to 4-9, but also for the way he dealt with a situation involving Rams Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson in which he banned Dickerson from being on the sidelines at the Coliseum during games because Dickerson publicly criticized Fisher and the Rams.
Dickerson responded by saying that he would not attend any more Rams games as long as Fisher is the head coach, a promise that he only had to keep for a few weeks.
The Rams offense ranks dead last in the NFL at 14.9 points per game, so Fisher will likely be replaced by an offensive minded coach. While no names have been formally mentioned, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan could be among the possible candidates for the job.
Special teams coordinator John Fassel has been named the team’s interim head coach for the last three games of the season.
