Rams Fire Coach Jeff Fisher: Updated

LOS ANGELES, CA -- The Rams fired coach Jeff Fisher Monday, a day after a 42-14 loss that tied Fisher for the losingest coaching record in NFL history. Despite the team's 4-9 record, Fisher's firing comes as a shock to many just a week after news of his contract extension through 2018 was leaked to the media.

The team has not yet announced a replacement for Fisher. Special teams coordinator John Fassel was named interim head coach, the team announced, and he'll have his work cut out for him: The Rams play the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle on Thursday night.

“Making a decision such as this - especially during the season - is one of the most difficult in sports,” said Rams owner/chairman E. Stanley Kroenke. “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.”

Fisher and the Rams were booed by fans at the Coliseum Sunday when they were trounced by Atlanta Falcons. Sunday's loss ensures the team will have a losing record in the team's first year back in Los Angeles. The Rams haven't had a winning record since 2003.

Rams Chief Operating Officer Kevin Demoff said the cumulative effect of a few recent blowout losses sealed Fisher's fate.

"When you look at our team having lost eight of the last nine, and some of the performances the past few weeks have been a little more lopsided, and I think that's what tipped it," Demoff said at a press conference this afternoon.

Demoff said Fassel was tapped for the interim job with three games left in the season because "the players love him, they have tremendous energy, they play hard for him. I think if you look at our team, our special teams units have been among the best."

With an anemic offense, the losses have been mounting for the Rams along with the pressure to fire Fisher. Fisher has amassed 165 losses in his career, tying Dan Reeves for the most in NFL history. However, Fisher did it in 18 fewer games.

In his five seasons with the Rams, Fisher was 31-45-1. Before the Rams he coached the Tennessee Titans. Fisher took the Titans to the Super Bowl after the 1999 season, losing to the St. Louis Rams.

Fisher does have a Super Bowl ring he earned as a player for the Chicago Bears in 1985. His roots to Los Angeles go way back to his time as a college football player for USC.

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City News Service contributed to this story.