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What took them so long?
Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher has been fired, a day after the team lost its fourth straight game, suffering its eighth setback in the past nine games.
Fisher was relieved his duties late Monday morning by owner Stan Kroenke despite the team's short week as the Rams prepare to play the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
"Making a decision such as this -- especially during the season -- is one of the most difficult in sports," Kroenke said in statement. "I have great respect for Jeff as a coach, person, father and friend.
"He has worked tirelessly despite some challenging circumstances. He played an integral role in helping this team make history in returning the NFL to Los Angeles, and we always will be grateful for his commitment and dedication to our organization.
"However, this is the right time to make a change as our performance has not lived up to my or our fans' expectations. We all are focused on improving as an organization and building a team that makes Los Angeles proud. Our mission is to celebrate a Super Bowl title with our fans in Los Angeles. Today is the first step to bringing us closer to that goal."
The Rams lost 42-14 to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at the Los Angeles memorial Coliseum, dropping to the team to 4-9 for the season. Fisher was 31-45-1 in nearly five seasons with the Rams.
Fisher's tenure with the Rams is over despite the coach having signed a contract extension prior to the start of the season -- the franchise's first back in Los Angeles.
Though he and general manager Les Snead both received extensions, sources told ESPN in December that Fisher's deal included a team option for the Rams, who could part ways with Fisher after the season and owe him only one year of salary.
The franchise's return to Los Angeles after leaving for St. Louis in 1995 was supposed to help the team start a new era of success, and the Rams got off to a 3-1 start. However, poor quarterback play from incumbent Case Keenum coupled with lingering calls by fans and critics for 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff to start ahead of Keenum hung over the team's head.
After dropping four of their next five games, Fisher named Goff his starter, but that didn't help salvage the Rams' season.
Heading into the season, the team was featured on the HBO behind-the-scenes series "Hard Knocks," which notably captured Fisher explicitly saying he was against the type of habits and culture that lead to 7-9 and 8-8 seasons. Despite that desire, Fisher never had a season better than 7-8-1 (2012) with the team and finished no higher than third in the NFC West.
Fisher's teams have finished above .500 in only six of his 21 full seasons as a head coach, a resume that includes 16 seasons with the Oilers/Titans franchise in addition to the five seasons he spent in St. Louis and L.A. with the Rams.
Though Fisher rankled some in the fan base by engaging in a public back-and-forth with Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson, the veteran coach had the support of his players.
"I love him," Rams running back Todd Gurley said in December after news of Fisher's extension became public. "I don't care what everybody else says."
"Damn good decision," added defensive end Eugene Sims of Fisher's extension. "Fisher's a good coach, and he's a player's coach. He takes care of us. He's a great coach. He puts us in good situations. We just have to come out and do our part. We play the game; they coach us."
Information from ESPN's Chris Mortensen was used in this report.
Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher has been fired, a day after the team lost its fourth straight game, suffering its eighth setback in the past nine games.
Fisher was relieved his duties late Monday morning by owner Stan Kroenke despite the team's short week as the Rams prepare to play the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
"Making a decision such as this -- especially during the season -- is one of the most difficult in sports," Kroenke said in statement. "I have great respect for Jeff as a coach, person, father and friend.
"He has worked tirelessly despite some challenging circumstances. He played an integral role in helping this team make history in returning the NFL to Los Angeles, and we always will be grateful for his commitment and dedication to our organization.
"However, this is the right time to make a change as our performance has not lived up to my or our fans' expectations. We all are focused on improving as an organization and building a team that makes Los Angeles proud. Our mission is to celebrate a Super Bowl title with our fans in Los Angeles. Today is the first step to bringing us closer to that goal."
The Rams lost 42-14 to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at the Los Angeles memorial Coliseum, dropping to the team to 4-9 for the season. Fisher was 31-45-1 in nearly five seasons with the Rams.
Fisher's tenure with the Rams is over despite the coach having signed a contract extension prior to the start of the season -- the franchise's first back in Los Angeles.
Though he and general manager Les Snead both received extensions, sources told ESPN in December that Fisher's deal included a team option for the Rams, who could part ways with Fisher after the season and owe him only one year of salary.
The franchise's return to Los Angeles after leaving for St. Louis in 1995 was supposed to help the team start a new era of success, and the Rams got off to a 3-1 start. However, poor quarterback play from incumbent Case Keenum coupled with lingering calls by fans and critics for 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff to start ahead of Keenum hung over the team's head.
After dropping four of their next five games, Fisher named Goff his starter, but that didn't help salvage the Rams' season.
Heading into the season, the team was featured on the HBO behind-the-scenes series "Hard Knocks," which notably captured Fisher explicitly saying he was against the type of habits and culture that lead to 7-9 and 8-8 seasons. Despite that desire, Fisher never had a season better than 7-8-1 (2012) with the team and finished no higher than third in the NFC West.
Fisher's teams have finished above .500 in only six of his 21 full seasons as a head coach, a resume that includes 16 seasons with the Oilers/Titans franchise in addition to the five seasons he spent in St. Louis and L.A. with the Rams.
Though Fisher rankled some in the fan base by engaging in a public back-and-forth with Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson, the veteran coach had the support of his players.
"I love him," Rams running back Todd Gurley said in December after news of Fisher's extension became public. "I don't care what everybody else says."
"Damn good decision," added defensive end Eugene Sims of Fisher's extension. "Fisher's a good coach, and he's a player's coach. He takes care of us. He's a great coach. He puts us in good situations. We just have to come out and do our part. We play the game; they coach us."
Information from ESPN's Chris Mortensen was used in this report.
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