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Mariucci out as Lions' coach
ESPN.com news services
DETROIT -- The disappointing Detroit Lions fired coach Steve Mariucci and some of his assistants on Monday.
After Detroit lost 27-7 to the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving to fall to 4-7, reports swirled that the team was considering firing Mariucci. When Mariucci was not let go over the weekend, some thought his job was safe for the final five games of the regular season.
Mariucci and the assistants, tight ends coach coach Andy Sugarman and OL coach Pat Morris, were fired late Monday morning.
The Lions have lost four of five games since a solid start put them atop the NFC North with the Chicago Bears. The team has collapsed on and off the field with players failing to produce and some bickering with one another and questioning the coaches' game plans.
Mariucci's record with the Lions was 15-28. His hiring was hailed by fans and media alike, but he was not able to turn around a team that has won one playoff game since 1957.
Mariucci has more than two years remaining on the $25 million contract he signed in 2003. The Michigan native came to the Lions from San Francisco, where he was 60-43 over six seasons.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
SportsNation on Mariucci
[SIZE=-2]Mariucci[/SIZE]At one point, Lions head coach Steve Mariucci did have fans on his side. He posted a 77% approval rating after a 17-3 Week 1 win over division rival Green Bay. Since then, however, the ratings show a displeased Detroit SportsNation contingent. Mariucci's Lions did not win again until Week 5 and 7, when he posted ratings of 55% and 52%, respectively. Week 7 was the last time Mariucci received better than a 50% weekly rating. Even after the Lions' most recent win in Week 10, Mariucci only received a 38% rating. Take away Weeks 1, 5 and 7 and Mariucci never rose above a 38% rating.
He finished his tenure as Lions head coach with an 18% approval rating.
Mariucci's week-by-week graph.
ESPN.com news services
DETROIT -- The disappointing Detroit Lions fired coach Steve Mariucci and some of his assistants on Monday.
After Detroit lost 27-7 to the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving to fall to 4-7, reports swirled that the team was considering firing Mariucci. When Mariucci was not let go over the weekend, some thought his job was safe for the final five games of the regular season.
Mariucci and the assistants, tight ends coach coach Andy Sugarman and OL coach Pat Morris, were fired late Monday morning.
The Lions have lost four of five games since a solid start put them atop the NFC North with the Chicago Bears. The team has collapsed on and off the field with players failing to produce and some bickering with one another and questioning the coaches' game plans.
Mariucci's record with the Lions was 15-28. His hiring was hailed by fans and media alike, but he was not able to turn around a team that has won one playoff game since 1957.
Mariucci has more than two years remaining on the $25 million contract he signed in 2003. The Michigan native came to the Lions from San Francisco, where he was 60-43 over six seasons.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
SportsNation on Mariucci
He finished his tenure as Lions head coach with an 18% approval rating.
Mariucci's week-by-week graph.
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