General Manager Takes the Fall for Bills’ Loss : Pro football: Polian announces his own firing, part of Buffalo’s ‘restructured’ management.

Bill Polian, general manager of the Buffalo Bills, was fired Thursday, four days after the team’s third consecutive Super Bowl defeat.

Polian, who announced his own dismissal at a news conference, took over the team in 1986 after consecutive 2-14 seasons and within three years transformed it into the dominant franchise in the AFC.

He said owner Ralph Wilson Jr. had told him at the start of the season that he planned to restructure the team management. Wilson reaffirmed his plans this week, Polian said.

“As a result, I will be leaving the Bills effective today,” Polian said.

Polian did not say if the Dallas Cowboys’ 52-17 rout of the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII played a role in Wilson’s decision to fire him. He refused to answer questions during the four-minute, 16-second news conference.

Polian said Wilson told him restructuring would not affect Coach Marv Levy or the rest of the coaching staff. No successor to Polian has been appointed. Wilson was unavailable for comment.

Polian had kind words for Wilson and thanked him for the opportunity to run the Bills.

“He is a fine man for whom I have nothing but respect and affection,” Polian said. “When you go from two consecutive 2-14s to three consecutive Super Bowls, there are a lot of thank yous.”

Polian rebuilt the Bills through the college draft, trades and free agent signings. The Bills have been to the playoffs five consecutive seasons and have won more games than any other team over the past five years.

Polian, 50, came to the Bills in 1984 as director of personnel, a job he held during two 2-14 seasons. During that time, Polian signed defensive end Bruce Smith, the Bills’ No. 1 draft pick in 1985, along with center Kent Hull, safety Mark Kelso and special teams ace Steve Tasker, all free agents.

After becoming general manager, Polian signed quarterback Jim Kelly and helped orchestrate a three-way trade with the Rams and Indianapolis Colts that brought linebacker Cornelius Bennett to the Bills. He also was credited for finding unheralded collegians Andre Reed, Don Beebe and Phil Hansen.

From 1978-82, Polian worked as a scout for Levy, who was coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. He also worked for Levy with the Chicago Blitz in the USFL in 1984 and the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League in 1976.

“Bill will be missed by all,” Levy said. “He is the consummate competitor. He is deeply loyal to all who have worked in this organization.”