NFL

Report: Jeff Fisher Done As Titans Coach (UPDATE: Team Confirms)

UPDATE: The Titans made it official, only saying that they and Fisher are “part[ing] ways.” It’s a good bet that come 2012, Fisher will be an NFL head coach again.

The original post is below.

Well, this is a surprise. After the Tennessee Titans got rid of quarterback Vince Young, seemingly cementing their commitment to longtime coach Jeff Fisher, SI’s Don Banks is reporting that Fisher’s run as Titans coach is unexpectedly over.

From Banks’ report:

According to an NFL source close to the situation in Tennessee, the move could be announced as early as Friday, although it’s uncertain if Fisher’s departure will be termed a firing, a resignation or a mutual parting of ways.

Though information about Fisher’s situation was scarce Thursday, it was confirmed by a league source that he will not return to coach the team in 2011, contrary to what was previously expected. Fisher was said to be in the process of negotiating the terms of his departure with Titans owner Bud Adams.

For all this season’s drama (and mediocre 6-10 finish), Fisher posted a 142-120 overall regular season record with the Titans, including their Super Bowl near miss against the Rams in 2000. Aside from that season, Fisher’s teams didn’t have much playoff success (he went 5-6 in the postseason overall), but NFL coaches who last 16 full seasons with one team in the modern era are few and far between, and while it’s most likely too late to see Fisher land anywhere this year, he’ll undoubtedly be a hot commodity for the 2012 season.

What exactly the Titans will do next is also unclear, but we’ll say this: the Fisher-Young situation provided the Titans an awful lot of angst this year – and suddenly, with neither person at the center of it all around any more, it all seems for naught. But really, at this point a completely fresh start might do the franchise some good.

[h/t Jimmy Traina]

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