Jeff Fisher Out as Titans Coach

By Justin Worsley,

Just when it seemed that the NFL coaching carousel just stopped spinning, an unexpected turn took place.

The Tennessee Titans announced that head coach Jeff Fisher would not return for the final season of his contract.

Fisher, the NFL's longest tenured head coach, was named the interim coach of the then Houston Oilers in 1994 and has since commanded the team. He is the only person to coach the organization since relocating to Tennessee.

The 52-year-old former cornerback is 142-120 in his career. The Titans made their only Super Bowl appearance in franchise history in 1999, a last-second loss to the St. Louis Rams.

Fisher has a 5-6 career postseason record, but the Titans have not won a playoff game since the 2003 season. Tennessee finished this season with a 6-10 record and failed to make the playoffs for the second straight season.

Titans owner Bud Adams announced on Jan. 7 that he would retain Fisher as head coach and instead part ways with quarterback Vince Young, who Adams hand-selected to be their franchise player in the 2006 draft.

Fisher and Young experienced a falling out with one another this season, climaxing when Young stormed out of the locker room after an argument with Fisher and finding himself on the injured reserve list the next day.

Defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil was also fired last week. Offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger was diagnosed with cancer last year and it is uncertain as to whether or not he will still be with the organization next year.

With Fisher's departure, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid is now the longest tenured head coach.