The Rams stunned the football world on Monday afternoon, firing long-time head coach Jeff Fisher just a few months after handing him a two-year contract extension. Just last week, Fisher confirmed he signed that deal before the start of the 2016 season.

The team’s interim head coach is John Fassel, coordinator of special teams and the son of former Giants head coach Jim Fassel.

At a press conference on Monday, Kevin Demoff, the executive vice president of football operations for the Rams, stated, “This was solely based on performance.” “We had the best opportunity to move forward and close the season with some hope and direction today. He should be disappointed because this is not a problem with the head coach or the coaching staff; rather, it is an organizational failure. All things considered, we must get better.”

At a press conference on Monday, Kevin Demoff, the executive vice president of football operations for the Rams, stated, “This was solely based on performance.” “We had the best opportunity to move forward and close the season with some hope and direction today. He should be disappointed because this is not a problem with the head coach or the coaching staff; rather, it is an organizational failure. All things considered, we must get better.”

Demoff continued by saying that the Rams’ eight-game losing streak of the previous nine games “tipped” the scales in favor of cutting Fisher. Furthermore, in response to a question regarding the potential for general manager Les Snead to be in danger, Demoff stated, “It would be a mistake to say anybody in the building would be back next year.”

Demoff, KevinSince taking over the team in 2012, Fisher, who is 58 years old, has led them to a 31-45-1 record with no postseason appearances. He wasted an inherited No. 1 overall pick on quarterback Sam Bradford and chose Jared Goff with the first pick of this year’s draft.

Fisher essentially gave the team no options. The Rams had to choose between giving a lifeline to the team’s emerging young stars on offense and defense or sticking with what hasn’t allowed them to even sniff the postseason this decade. Wide receivers Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and rookie of the year Todd Gurley would all be selected first overall by the New York Jets in June.

Fisher essentially gave the team no options. The Rams had to choose between giving a lifeline to the team’s emerging young stars on offense and defense or sticking with what hasn’t allowed them to even sniff the postseason this decade. A head coach would find an alluring base in wide receivers Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, last year’s Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley, and No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff. They’re probably taking a chance in the hopes that someone will be able to turn the team around before their new stadium in Los Angeles opens for business in 2019.

Fisher recently acknowledged that the group needed to “do a better job from a personnel standpoint,” but he also accepted accountability for the team’s record. After selecting a quarterback with the first or second overall pick in the draft, the Rams have now followed the Titans and Buccaneers in firing their head coaches in the same season.

“This is one of the hardest decisions in sports to make, especially during the season,” Rams owner and chairman Stan Kroenke stated in a statement made public by the team. “As a coach, friend, father, and individual, I have the utmost regard for Jeff.

Unsurprisingly, the Rams’ season began with a 28-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, who went on to win just once this season. The Rams completely collapsed after three victories, winning just one since October 9.

It wasn’t just the record, though. These Fisher teams were drubbed. The team’s last three games were a 49-21 loss to the Saints, a 26-10 loss to the Patriots, in which the offense hardly got close to midfield, and a 42-14 rout at the hands of the Falcons this past weekend in Los Angeles, with the exception of a four-point loss to the Miami Dolphins. In terms of total offensive yards and points, the team is last in the league. Their defense, which ranks ninth in terms of total yards and 10th overall,

Fisher recently acknowledged that the group needed to “do a better job from a personnel standpoint,” but he also accepted accountability for the team’s record. After selecting a quarterback with the first or second overall pick in the draft, the Rams have now followed the Titans and Buccaneers in firing their head coaches in the same season.

“This is one of the hardest decisions in sports to make, especially during the season,” Rams owner and chairman Stan Kroenke stated in a statement made public by the team. “As a coach, friend, father, and individual, I have the utmost regard for Jeff.