Mike Singletary has been fired by the San Fransisco 49ers after the team was eliminated from playoff contention following their 25-17 loss this Sunday against St. Louis.
Singletary had been under constant media scrutiny after the 49ers’ horrid start to the season and his constant shuffling of his two best quarterbacks, Alex Smith and Troy Smith.
Apparently team President Jed York had seen enough.
The 49ers started out the season with playoff aspirations but are sputtering to the finish line with a 5-10 record and a disheartening loss to their NFC West rivals that featured a sideline spat between Singletary and Troy Smith.
Take a look at it by CLICKING HERE
San Fransisco began the 2010 season 0-5. It was the franchise’s worst start since losing their first seven games to begin an abysmal 2-14 campaign in 1979.
The team made the announcement late Sunday upon returning to the Bay Area, several hours after San Francisco was eliminated from playoff contention with a 25-17 loss at St. Louis. Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was promoted to interim coach and will run the team in next Sunday’s season finale at home against Arizona. He was to be formally introduced in a news conference Monday.
York said money wasn’t an object in this decision considering Singletary had two years remaining on his contract.
“We’re going to take our time before we make any decisions like that. We don’t want to make an emotional decision right now, after the game,” York said in the locker room. “Obviously, we didn’t achieve the things we set out to achieve. We should be a playoff team. We aren’t a playoff team this year. Very disappointed about that. We need to figure out how we can get into the playoffs and how we can start competing for Super Bowls.”
Singletary also addressed his termination in a statement with these quotes:
“One of the greatest experiences of my life was having the opportunity to coach the San Francisco 49ers,” Singletary said in a statement. “What made it so special were the players. They were some of the most outstanding men I have ever been around in my life. The coaches were truly professionals. I wish the 49ers nothing but the best. I am thankful to the York family for having given me the opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL. I am indebted to them for that. I am also thankful for the Faithful fans, I am just sorry I couldn’t give them more.”
“You know what, I’ll put it this way: a personal failure. I’m the head coach of this team and obviously wanted us to do better, felt that we could do better,” Singletary said after Sunday’s loss. “There are some obvious questions that I hoped would be answered as the season went on, and obviously were not answered. When that happens, you end up out of the playoffs.
Defensive Line coach Jim Tomsula has been promoted to interim coach for next Sunday’s season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.
Singletary finishes his coaching tenure with an 18-22 overall record.
I’m not so sure how to feel about this firing even though I know it was about time.
I guess I was just hoping he would succeed.
Don’t worry though, Mike - you will never be forgotten in the minds of NFL fans, not just because of your Hall of Fame career, but because OF THIS.
I will post more info as I gather it.