Rust Fired as Patriots Coach

Rod Rust, who guided New England to the worst record in its 31-year history, was fired today after one season as coach of the Patriots.

The decision was announced after a morning meeting lasting about three hours between Rust and the new chief executive officer, Sam Jankovich.

Rust got his first NFL head coaching job after spending the last 12 seasons as a defensive coordinator with three clubs. But he inherited a team that went 5-11 last season under Raymond Berry, who was fired.

It got progressively worse. The Patriots lost their last 14 games and finished at 1-15. They tied NFL single-season records for most losses and most consecutive losses. In addition, there were off-the-field incidents that rocked the organization, including sexual harassment charges by a female reporter against several Patriots’ players.

The low-key Rust, 62, had two years and an option year left on his contract.

Speculation about a successor has focused on Illinois Coach John Makovic, who also coached the Kansas City Chiefs. Jankovich has not indicated whom he is considering.

Jankovich had been athletic director at Miami since 1983. After watching Miami beat Texas 46-3 in the Cotton Bowl on Tuesday, he flew to Foxboro on Thursday night to concentrate on his new job of pulling the Patriots out of their deepest hole.

From the time he was named coach on Feb. 27, Rust faced numerous obstacles. His late appointment meant that many potential assistant coaches were already locked into jobs.

The Patriots scored 181 points this season, the fewest since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. Buffalo set the previous record of 200 in 1985. New England also gave up 446 points, second most in the league.

After watching his first Patriots game after his appointment, a 42-7 loss to the New York Jets on Dec. 23, Jankovich assessed the situation.

“We just have to get this year over with,” he said, “and when January comes, start putting all the pieces together.”