NFL’s Haley, Sparano fired

Associated Press

Even before the Miami Dolphins fired Tony Sparano on Monday, names of potential successors were being bandied about.

Bill Cowher? Jeff Fisher? Jon Gruden?

“I’d like to find a young Don Shula if that’s possible,” owner Stephen Ross said.

It’s no wonder Ross craves some stability. Since Shula retired in 1996, no coach has made it through five full seasons in Miami.

That includes Sparano, fired three games from the end of his fourth season, and one day after the Dolphins lost to the Philadelphia Eagles to fall to 4-9. The defeat ended a recent surge by the Dolphins after they lost their first seven games.

With two other NFL teams already in the market for a new coach, Ross didn’t want to wait any longer to start shopping. Sparano’s dismissal came hours after the Kansas City Chiefs fired coach Todd Haley. Jacksonville fired coach Jack Del Rio on Nov. 29.

General manager Jeff Ireland’s status had also been in question, but he’ll be retained and take part in the coaching search, Ross said.

Todd Bowles, who had been assistant head coach and secondary coach, becomes interim head coach. He’s the sixth coach since 2004 for the Dolphins, who haven’t won a playoff game since 2000 and haven’t reached the Super Bowl since 1984.

The Chiefs fired their combustible head coach one year after Haley led the team to a surprising AFC West title. But the Chiefs were stuck at the bottom of the division following a series of devastating injuries and discouraging blowouts.

The Chiefs dropped to 5-8 after Sunday’s 37-10 loss the New York Jets, their fifth loss in six games. Kansas City committed 11 penalties for 128 yards in the dismal performance, including a 15-yarder on Haley for unsportsmanlike conduct that may have sealed his fate.

“Timing in these situations is always difficult. There never seems to be a right time,” Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. “We just felt the inconsistent play the team has experienced throughout the season, including yesterday’s game, made today the right day to do it.”

Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel will serve as the Chiefs’ interim coach for the final three games, and Pioli said he will be considered for the permanent job.

“I don’t perceive Todd Haley as a mistake,” Pioli said. “Todd Haley is a good football coach. I’ll say that. What we need to do is figure out what direction we’re headed in and how we’re going to continue to make progress, how we can get some consistency back.”