Lions Fire Rogers and Name Fontes as Interim Coach

After a wait of more than 13 years, Wayne Fontes got his first National Football League head coaching job Monday. But he got it at the expense of a good friend, Darryl Rogers, who was fired as coach of the Detroit Lions.

Fontes, the Lions’ defensive coordinator, was named interim coach after owner William Clay Ford fired Rogers and offensive coordinator Bob Baker following the team’s 23-20 loss Sunday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I’m elated, overjoyed, probably overwhelmed,” Fontes said Monday. “This is something I’ve worked for all my life.

“I’m sorry to see Darryl released. We were close, but what is past is past. All I know now is, I’m the coach for the next 5 weeks. I’ll do the best I can and see what happens after that.”

Fontes, 48, is the 17th coach in the Lions’ history and the second interim coach since Ford became sole owner of the team in 1963.

“I feel these moves are in the best interest of our team and our fans,” Ford said in a statement. “It’s important the players maintain a positive attitude and make some progress during the last 5 weeks of the season. These changes should help make that possible.”

The Lions (2-9), who are tied with Green Bay for last place in the NFC Central Division, play the Packers at Green Bay Sunday.

“I’m very disappointed things didn’t work out better,” said Rogers, under whom the Lions went 18-40 since he took over from Monte Clark after the 1984 season. “I was given a fine opportunity by the Detroit Lions’ organization, but we just couldn’t get it done.”

Fontes joined the Lions in 1985 after working with John McKay for 9 seasons at Tampa Bay.

Earlier this season, Fontes pleaded guilty to drunk driving charges.

The crowd of 25,956 for the Tampa Bay game was the Lions’ smallest at home since 1951. The team is averaging only 37,017 fans per game this season in the 80,638-seat Silverdome.

“My No. 1 job is going to be to try to get the fans back behind us,” Fontes said. “I think this team can win.”