Longtime NFL’er Jeff Fisher looked like a deer in the headlights when this happened
Back in 2016, the Los Angeles Rams were struggling, and during that rough 2016 season under head coach Jeff Fisher, Jared Goff’s rookie year, Fisher was fired as general manager Les Snead was extended. That happens, many teams retain their GM, but move on from their head coach.
What doesn’t always happen is the coach is asked about the extension of the GM, and claims to have absolutely no idea.
Said Fisher when hearing about Snead’s extension:
“I wasn’t aware, I’m so busy here I honestly wasn’t aware that he was extended, you know, and that’s…I’m just being honest with you, we’re just working here, and I mean I think that from Stan’s (Kroenke) standpoint, if in fact that’s the case, then Stan’s showing confidence in us.”
You can watch the awkward (if not honest) response by Fisher below.
VIDEO: Jeff Fisher on news of GM Les Snead’s extension, “I wasn’t aware of it.” @CVRamsClub @ProFootballTalk pic.twitter.com/pu6gzZJttq
— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) December 7, 2016
Timeline of Fisher’s firing:
On December 4th, 2016 Turf Show Times shares that both Jeff Fisher and Les Snead are extended (according to Adam Schefter the extension by either or both parties was signed weeks before the news was reported)
Jeff Fisher has signed extension, as @RapSheet reported. Deal done weeks ago. Rams GM Les Snead also signed extension, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 4, 2016
On that same day, Schefter also reported that the extension to Fisher guaranteed zero job security. Fisher needed the team to perform to stay.
A contract extension does not give Jeff Fisher any more job security. Rams must win and play well down stretch or his job will be in danger.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 4, 2016
On December 12th 2016, Turf Show Times shares that Jeff Fisher is fired.
The situation is not normal, even for a NFL team, it’s a dramatic swing of emotions from fans and the organization thinking Fisher will be around for at least another go, to showing the head coach the door.
Give Fisher credit
Before Sean McVay was head coach of the Rams, there was Jeff Fisher, and in all fairness before Fisher, the St. Louis Rams were for many years irredeemable, Fisher at least made the team respectable, and he had help from a younger Les Snead.
At first, Fisher looked promising as .500 records are better than losing ones, but over time it was clear Fisher would not take the team any further, and it was fair to wonder if both Fisher and Snead would be shown the door.
Should Snead have been let go too?
It’s a silly question now, but this was almost 10 years ago, and I can tell you I was of the opinion they should’ve both been let go at the same time, but instead Fisher was solely released and has he hasn’t been a leading man at the NFL level since.
Snead has since helped L.A. find phenom McVay, as he’s continued to draft premiere talent while helping L.A. win a Super Bowl.
Could Fisher’s and Snead’s paths be any more different after they were separated as co-workers?
One day Snead will leave the Rams, and it appears to me more head coaches and GMs get fired than leave on their own terms, but perhaps Snead will be one of the rare exceptions. And, if Snead survived the Fisher era, perhaps he’ll be able to go past the McVay era too. Whenever McVay and or the team decide that era has reached its end.
And if McVay and Snead are both able to leave on their own terms, that might be one of the rarest occurrences that can happen in the NFL.
Super Bowls happen every year in the NFL, saying good bye on your own terms does not. Ask Jeff Fisher.