Image via Wikipedia
We thought the NFL head-coaching carousel had stopped spinning, but the Titans had a surprise in store Thursday as they announced they were parting ways with longtime head coach Jeff Fisher.
Fisher had been in charge of the Titans since their final year as the Houston Oilers, way back in 1994. Since leading the franchise through an extended location switch that included a stopover in Memphis, Fisher has put together a solid 142-120 regular-season record and been the most successful former interim coach in the last two decades. Fisher’s run included six playoff berths and a trip to Super Bowl 34, the first such trip in the franchise’s history. Fisher was a picture of stability – never changing his hardnosed style. He’s had strong running games and aggressive defenses – spurring former coordinators Gregg Williams and Jim Schwartz into head-coaching jobs. But Fisher clashed with owner Bud Adams this year over quarterback Vince Young, a favorite of the owner. Young is reportedly still on the way out, but that clash made the specter of a lame-duck contract year in 2011 untenable for both Fisher and the Titans. Now he’s on the way out, leaving the Titans without the figurehead who has defined them for so many years.
The timing of Fisher’s departure, after the other seven head-coaching vacancies were already filled, means that he won’t be coaching this year. That may have been the plan, since the Titans are on the hook for his 2011 salary anyway. Don’t fret for Fisher – he’ll have options in 2012 if he wants to return to coaching. He’s also been incredibly media-friendly over the years, so landing a job with a network – even for just a year – is possible as well. (To show you Fisher’s media-friendly ways: When I was at Pro Football Weekly, I was doing a story and wanted a quote from Fisher. I called the team’s PR staff to ask them to ask Fisher one question and forward me the answer. Instead, Fisher preferred to call me for a quick conversation on the topic. No other head coach ever went that far to be available to an ink-stained wretch like me.) Fisher will land on his feet, and will have a chance to build on a resume that’s pretty dang impressive even if it doesn’t feature a Super Bowl ring.
Football Relativity 