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Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver announced Tuesday that coach Jack Del Rio has been fired and that he is selling the team to businessman Shahid Khan, who will keep the team in Jacksonville.
Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker will coach Jacksonville on an interim basis and has been told he will get a chance to interview for the full-time job, Weaver said.
Also, general manager Gene Smith received an extension, Weaver said. A source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that Smith's extension is for three years.
The Jaguars are 3-8 heading into a Monday night game against the San Diego Chargers.
On the ownership side, Weaver said Khan plans to buy a home in Jacksonville. Khan, who lives in Illinois, was born in Pakistan in 1950 and moved to the United States when he was 16. WThe sale must be approved by the NFL's 32 owners.
Weaver said there is no signed agreement that Khan has to keep the team in Jacksonville but he said he was comfortable agreeing to the sale because Khan "has a passion" for the area. "I've had calls from California that I've refused to take," Weaver said of other potential buyers.
"I have known Wayne for some time and have long admired his spirit, which nearly 20 years ago -- against all odds -- helped make the Jaguars and the National Football League a reality for Jacksonville and North Florida," Khan said in a statement on the team's website. "Wayne's legacy will be lasting, and I will always be grateful for Wayne's trust and confidence in my commitment to the Jaguars, the NFL and the people of the Jacksonville community."
Del Rio was the second head coach in the team's short history, replacing Tom Coughlin in 2003. He finishes his Jags career with a 68-71 record, last leading the team to a winning record in 2007 when it was 11-5. His teams were 1-2 in postseason play.
Weaver retained Del Rio after last season when Jacksonville finished 8-8, but made it clear that the coach needed to reach the postseason in 2011 to keep his job.
"If we're not in the playoffs, it's pretty apparent we'll have a different coach," Weaver said in January.
Weaver refused to give contract extensions to Del Rio's assistants, putting everyone on alert that this was a win-or-else season.
Del Rio refused to let offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and linebackers coach Mark Duffner interview for lateral positions. He couldn't stop quarterbacks coach Mike Shula, whose contract ended, and receivers coach Todd Monken, who returned to a college job at Oklahoma State, from bolting.
Given the situation, the pool of coaches wanting to come to Jacksonville was small, so Del Rio had few options while rebuilding his staff. Del Rio hinted this season that his hands were tied in terms of what he could do to assemble the best staff.
Fans have been clamoring for his departure for years, with many calling for him to be fired following a 5-11 finish in 2008. Instead, Weaver parted ways with personnel chief James "Shack" Harris and hired Smith as general manager.
Smith has rebuilt the roster over the last three years, but the Jaguars have shown no progress under Del Rio's leadership.
Del Rio's tenure will be remembered for putting an ax and a wooden stump in the locker room in 2003, settling up a situation in which punter Chris Hanson hacked into his leg, and for repeatedly failing to properly handle quarterback situations.
He announced he was benching Mark Brunell and giving rookie Byron Leftwich the job in 2003 before talking to the players. He insisted Leftwich was his starter in 2007, and then cut him days before the season opener. He did the same thing to David Garrard this season, cutting him five days before the opener and naming Luke McCown the starter.
McCown was benched after two games.
The Jaguars have been inept most of the season with Blaine Gabbert under center. The 10th overall pick in April's draft has been rattled under pressure and inaccurate on short throws, and doesn't appear to be making much progress.
Del Rio said Monday he was sticking with the rookie. It turned out to be the coach's final decision in Jacksonville.
Source: AP
Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker will coach Jacksonville on an interim basis and has been told he will get a chance to interview for the full-time job, Weaver said.
Also, general manager Gene Smith received an extension, Weaver said. A source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that Smith's extension is for three years.
The Jaguars are 3-8 heading into a Monday night game against the San Diego Chargers.
On the ownership side, Weaver said Khan plans to buy a home in Jacksonville. Khan, who lives in Illinois, was born in Pakistan in 1950 and moved to the United States when he was 16. WThe sale must be approved by the NFL's 32 owners.
Weaver said there is no signed agreement that Khan has to keep the team in Jacksonville but he said he was comfortable agreeing to the sale because Khan "has a passion" for the area. "I've had calls from California that I've refused to take," Weaver said of other potential buyers.
"I have known Wayne for some time and have long admired his spirit, which nearly 20 years ago -- against all odds -- helped make the Jaguars and the National Football League a reality for Jacksonville and North Florida," Khan said in a statement on the team's website. "Wayne's legacy will be lasting, and I will always be grateful for Wayne's trust and confidence in my commitment to the Jaguars, the NFL and the people of the Jacksonville community."
Del Rio was the second head coach in the team's short history, replacing Tom Coughlin in 2003. He finishes his Jags career with a 68-71 record, last leading the team to a winning record in 2007 when it was 11-5. His teams were 1-2 in postseason play.
Weaver retained Del Rio after last season when Jacksonville finished 8-8, but made it clear that the coach needed to reach the postseason in 2011 to keep his job.
"If we're not in the playoffs, it's pretty apparent we'll have a different coach," Weaver said in January.
Weaver refused to give contract extensions to Del Rio's assistants, putting everyone on alert that this was a win-or-else season.
Del Rio refused to let offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and linebackers coach Mark Duffner interview for lateral positions. He couldn't stop quarterbacks coach Mike Shula, whose contract ended, and receivers coach Todd Monken, who returned to a college job at Oklahoma State, from bolting.
Given the situation, the pool of coaches wanting to come to Jacksonville was small, so Del Rio had few options while rebuilding his staff. Del Rio hinted this season that his hands were tied in terms of what he could do to assemble the best staff.
Fans have been clamoring for his departure for years, with many calling for him to be fired following a 5-11 finish in 2008. Instead, Weaver parted ways with personnel chief James "Shack" Harris and hired Smith as general manager.
Smith has rebuilt the roster over the last three years, but the Jaguars have shown no progress under Del Rio's leadership.
Del Rio's tenure will be remembered for putting an ax and a wooden stump in the locker room in 2003, settling up a situation in which punter Chris Hanson hacked into his leg, and for repeatedly failing to properly handle quarterback situations.
He announced he was benching Mark Brunell and giving rookie Byron Leftwich the job in 2003 before talking to the players. He insisted Leftwich was his starter in 2007, and then cut him days before the season opener. He did the same thing to David Garrard this season, cutting him five days before the opener and naming Luke McCown the starter.
McCown was benched after two games.
The Jaguars have been inept most of the season with Blaine Gabbert under center. The 10th overall pick in April's draft has been rattled under pressure and inaccurate on short throws, and doesn't appear to be making much progress.
Del Rio said Monday he was sticking with the rookie. It turned out to be the coach's final decision in Jacksonville.
Source: AP