Rams’ First Move: Show Knox the Door : Pro football: Coach has one year left on his contract, but the team fires him after a 4-12 season and a three-season record of 15-33.
Chuck Knox wanted to complete the final year of his contract, but management would not allow it, and so Monday he was forced to step down as the Rams’ coach.
“This is probably the end of my 41-year coaching career,” Knox said. “Certainly, I would have liked to continue, but, under the circumstances and after thorough discussion, it became apparent that was not going to be the case.”
Knox, doomed by his 15-33 three-year record, was also hurt by the team’s anticipated move to St. Louis.
“Obviously, there is a possibility the team will move,” Ram President John Shaw said. “And if the team moves, it will be looking to get a fresh start.”
The expected hiring of Steve Ortmayer, Raider special teams coach, to become vice president of football operations is one more indication of the team’s resolve to begin anew in St. Louis.
“As far as a new head coach goes,” Shaw said, “I have given no thought of a replacement. It will probably be more like a month before we make such a decision.”
Shaw dismissed reports that he is considering Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez, Minnesota Viking Coach Dennis Green and Dallas Cowboy offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese.
“All totally untrue,” Shaw said. “I have focused on no one at this time.”
The Rams characterized Knox’s firing as an agreement between both sides that it was best for the team to have a new coach.
“I think that he’s disappointed, as we were, that he didn’t get the job done,” Shaw said. “He still had some resolve to try and improve the football team. I wouldn’t say he was resigned (to being fired).”
Knox, hired on the recommendation of owner Georgia Frontiere to replace John Robinson three years ago, left without an opportunity to talk to her.
In a news release, Frontiere was quoted as saying, “Chuck worked hard to make the Rams a better football team. We are all disappointed that the effort Chuck and his staff put forth did not translate into a more successful performance by the team on the field.”
There had been reports that Knox would bypass Shaw and go directly to Frontiere to try to save his job.
“I didn’t really make an effort to do that,” Knox said. “I called Georgia before Christmas and left a message, wishing her a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I thought John Shaw was handling it, and we’d let the events play out the way they should play out.”
Knox’s assistants, with the exception of tight end coach Warren Simmons and running back coach Chuck Knox Jr., whose contracts expired, have one year remaining with the Rams. They have been given permission to seek employment elsewhere and will be given opportunities to interview with the new head coach.
Rod Perry, coach of the defensive backs, has already talked with Houston Coach Jeff Fisher about a position and will travel there for an interview.
Shaw refused to discuss the financial terms of Knox’s departure. Knox, who earned more than $700,000 this year, said when asked if he would be paid, “I’m under contract for another year.”
Knox, 62, the sixth winningest coach in NFL history with an overall mark of 193-158-1, inherited a 3-13 team, but, unlike previous stops in Seattle and Buffalo, was unable to resurrect the program.
Knox directed the Rams to five consecutive NFC West championships between 1973-77, during his first term as their coach. His combined eight-year record with the Rams, including eight playoff games, was 72-53-1.
His 22nd year as a head coach in the NFL, however, came to a close on a seven-game losing streak and left a bad taste in his mouth.
“Quite honestly, I never thought this was going to happen,” he said. “I thought we would get it turned around, although coming in I knew it was going to be a tough job and knew it was going to take at least four years to get it done.
“Certainly, I would much rather be going out the way we started, at 12-2, 10-4 and 12-2 and that type of thing. But that hasn’t come to pass, and what’s happened is history.”
Knox was named NFL coach of the year four times during his career and is the only coach in league history to win division championships with three franchises. But during the last three seasons, his team failed to put together a two-game winning streak and collapsed after opening 2-2 each year.
“The one thing Chuck taught me from Day 1: To make excuses after the fact is a loser’s lament,” said Joe Vitt, Ram assistant head coach and one of Knox’s closest friends. “We played a 16-game schedule like everybody else and we didn’t get it done.
“Like everybody else, you go looking for a job now. You call your wife and let her know and then go on with life.”
Vitt has spent the last 12 years working with Knox, and, in anticipation of Monday’s announcement, returned early from vacation to be with Knox when the news came.
“My heart goes out to him,” Vitt said. “He’s been like a father to me. I’m thankful for the time I had with him, and I’m thankful for the things he has done for me. Everything that I have in my life at this point he’s been responsible for--nothing but good memories.
“But again, we’re not standing outside a hospital room talking about him. And nobody’s died. This is life, and it’s new challenges and new beginnings for everybody.”
During their last week on the job, players circulated a petition asking management to retain Knox.
“Chuck was very good to the players and, if anybody is to blame, it’s all of us,” kicker Tony Zendejas said. “We let him down.”
Although Knox might not coach again, he said he will remain open to staying in football.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for retirement,” he said. “There are a lot of things I could do. I’ve been in the league a long time and we’ll see what happens. I just want to get through this period here; I’m concerned about my assistant coaches and getting them jobs.
“I would just like to thank the owners that have hired me, the coaches I’ve coached with and, most importantly, the players that have played for me. They are the ones that enable a coach to be successful, and it’s been 41 years in coaching--32 years in the National Football League--and without some great character players and great efforts on their part, we would not have had the success we have had. That’s what I want to think about at this time.”
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Chuck Knox’s Coaching Record
Career coaching record of Chuck Knox, who was fired as coach of the Rams on Monday: REGULAR SEASON
Year Team W L T Pct 1973 Rams 12 2 0 .857 1974 Rams 10 4 0 .714 1975 Rams 12 2 0 .857 1976 Rams 10 3 1 .750 1977 Rams 10 4 0 .714 1978 Buffalo 5 11 0 .313 1979 Buffalo 7 9 0 .438 1980 Buffalo 11 5 0 .688 1981 Buffalo 10 6 0 .625 1982 *Buffalo 4 5 0 .444 1983 Seattle 9 7 0 .563 1984 Seattle 12 4 0 .750 1985 Seattle 8 8 0 .500 1986 Seattle 10 6 0 .625 1987 *Seattle 9 6 0 .600 1988 Seattle 9 7 0 .563 1989 Seattle 7 9 0 .438 1990 Seattle 9 7 0 .563 1991 Seattle 7 9 0 .438 1992 Rams 6 10 0 .375 1993 Rams 5 11 0 .313 1994 Rams 4 12 0 .250
TEAM-BY-TEAM BREAKDOWN
Team Seasons W L T Pct Rams (1st Time) Five (1973-77) 54 15 1 .783 Buffalo Five (1978-82) 37 36 0 .507 Seattle Nine (1983-1991) 80 63 0 .559 Rams (2nd Time) Three (1992-94) 15 33 0 .313 Overall 22 Seasons 186 147 1 .558
PLAYOFFS
Year Team W L Pct 1973 Rams 0 1 .000 1974 Rams 1 1 .500 1975 Rams 1 1 .500 1976 Rams 1 1 .500 1977 Rams 0 1 .000 1980 Buffalo 0 1 .688 1981 Buffalo 1 1 .625 1983 Seattle 2 1 .563 1984 Seattle 1 1 .750 1987 Seattle 0 1 .600 1988 Seattle 0 1 .563 Total 7 11 .389
*-strike season
ALL-TIME REGULAR-SEASON VICTORIES
Coach Yrs W L T Pct. Don Shula 32 319 149 6 .682 George Halas 40 318 148 31 .671 Tom Landry 29 250 162 6 .605 Curly Lambeau 33 226 132 22 .624 Chuck Noll 23 193 148 1 .566 Chuck Knox 21 186 147 1 .558 Paul Brown 21 166 100 6 .621 Bud Grant 18 158 96 5 .620 Steve Owen 23 151 100 17 .595 Hank Stram 17 131 97 10 .571
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Division titles: 7
NFL Coach of the Year: 4 times
Knox and Paul Brown are the only two coaches in history to win division titles in each of their first five season.
Knox is the only coach who has twice inherited a team with a losing record and taken them to the playoffs the next season.