Jeff Fisher fired as coach of Los Angeles Rams

— -- LOS ANGELES -- The Rams fired embattled coach Jeff Fisher on Monday, one day after the team lost for the eighth time in nine games.

The Rams announced the decision in a press release but did not mention anything about general manager Les Snead, who, like Fisher, signed a contract extension through 2018 before the start of this season. The team later announced that special teams coordinator John Fassel has been named interim coach. The son of longtime NFL coach Jim Fassel has been with the team for five years.

Rams COO Kevin Demoff said the decision to fire Jeff Fisher was "solely a performance issue." Demoff also said, "It's unfortunate for him because this is an organizational failure."

Demoff would not guarantee GM Les Snead will be back next season. He said everybody is under scrutiny for the rest of this season and the search for a coach would begin immediately.

"Everyone says that the obvious thing is that they're going to hire an offensive-minded coach," he said. "But the best thing we can do is hire a coach for the Los Angeles Rams. That search will begin in earnest tomorrow."

The 4-9 Rams play a road game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday.

"Making a decision such as this, especially during the season, is one of the most difficult in sports," owner Stan Kroenke said in statement. "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's Rams were coming off a 42-14 blowout loss at home to the Atlanta Falcons?Sunday, their third consecutive lopsided defeat. The loss pushed their record to 4-9 and gave Fisher 165 career losses, tying him with Dan Reeves for the NFL record.

Fisher has six consecutive losing seasons, and his teams have finished above .500 in only six of his 20 prior full seasons as a head coach. Since Fisher arrived in 2012, the Rams have been no better than 7-8-1 while continually having problems with penalties and never being able to get their offense off the ground.

Fisher signed a contract extension through 2018 before the start of the season, but news of it didn't leak until Dec. 4, the morning before a 26-10 loss to the New England Patriots. Fisher confirmed the extension after that game. The Rams also confirmed it and did not seem motivated to get behind it.

When Kroenke first gave Fisher an extension, the thought was that he could at least lead the Rams into their new stadium in Inglewood, California, for 2019. There was a sentiment within the front office that it would be unfair to judge Fisher until he was at least a full year removed from the relocation and had time to groom rookie quarterback Jared Goff, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick.

Then the Rams' first season in Los Angeles unraveled, starting with a blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football and continuing with eight losses in a span of nine games. There was also controversy with Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson, who was infuriated by a phone call from Fisher in which Fisher allegedly denied him sideline passes. Then there were Fisher's comments about being "unaware" Snead, his GM the past five years, had also signed an extension, which reportedly rubbed people in the organization the wrong way.

Now the Rams will seek a new coach.

"I have to take it," Fisher said Sunday of shouldering responsibility for the Rams' lack of success. "The head coach takes it. It's obvious. That's the National Football League. I feel responsible for this."