.png) Fisher in 2020 | |||||||||
| Nashville Kats | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Principal owner & team president | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1958-02-25)February 25, 1958 (age 67) Culver City, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 188 lb (85 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | William Howard Taft (Woodland Hills, California) | ||||||||
| College | USC | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1981: 7th round, 177th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
Playing | |||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||
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Operations | |||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||||
| Regular season | NFL: 173–165–1 (.512) USFL: 2–8 (.200) | ||||||||
| Postseason | NFL: 5–6 (.455) | ||||||||
| Career | NFL: 178–171–1 (.510) USFL: 2–8 (.200) | ||||||||
| Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference | |||||||||
Jeffrey Michael Fisher (born February 25, 1958) is an American professionalfootball coach, executive, and formercornerback andreturn specialist. He served as a head coach in theNational Football League (NFL) for 22 seasons, primarily with theHouston /Tennessee Oilers / Titans franchise. Fisher coached the Oilers / Titans from1994 to2010 and theSt. Louis /Los Angeles Rams from2012 to2016. He is currently the commissioner ofArena Football One, after serving as interim commissioner of the previous incarnation of theArena Football League and also majority owner of the AF1'sNashville Kats.
After playingcollege football for theUSC Trojans, Fisher was drafted in the seventh round of the1981 NFL draft by theChicago Bears, and played with the Bears for five seasons. He won aSuper Bowl ring in 1985 while on injured reserve during his final season as a player.
Fisher then held several coaching positions for various teams before becoming the head coach of the Titans towards the end of the1994 season during their tenure as the Houston Oilers and was the team's first coach when they relocated toTennessee. Fisher continued to coach the Titans until after the end of the 2010 season when he and the team mutually agreed to part ways. Following a season away from football, Fisher was hired as the head coach of the Rams in 2012 and coached the team during their last four years inSt. Louis. He remained the head coach of the Rams during the franchise's return to Los Angeles in 2016 but was fired near the end of the season.[1]
Fisher's most successful season was in1999, when he led the Titans to the franchise's first (and only)Super Bowl appearance inXXXIV, which ended in close defeat by the Rams for their first Super Bowl title. However, despite compiling a winning record as a head coach, Fisher's career has been noted for an overall lack of success, having only attained six winning seasons and postseason appearances in over two decades in the NFL. He is tied withDan Reeves andBill Belichick for the most regular-season losses in NFL history at 165, but has the third-most total losses at 171, behind Reeves at 174 and Belichick at 178.[2]
A native ofSouthern California, Fisher played Pop Warner football as a member of the Reseda Rams and was two-way starter on their championship team in 1972. He then starred as a high schoolAll-Americanwide receiver atTaft High School inWoodland Hills.[3]
Fisher went on to start for theUSC Trojans, under coachJohn Robinson. During his collegiate career (1977–80), Fisher played alongside such defensive stars asRonnie Lott,Dennis Smith, andJoey Browner. Fisher's USC teammates also included star centerBruce Matthews, whom he would later coach with the Oilers and Titans. Fisher and the Trojans won a national championship during the 1978 season, and in 1980, he was honored as aPac-10 All-Academic selection.[4]
Fisher was drafted in the seventh round of the1981 NFL draft by theChicago Bears.[4] He appeared in 49 games as a cornerback and return specialist in his five seasons with the Bears.[5]
Fisher had a key performance in the Bears'1981 Week 14 contest against theMinnesota Vikings. Entering the game, the 7–6 Vikings were fighting for theNFC Central title while the Bears were 3–10. In the fourth quarter, Fisher made a leaping interception at the line of scrimmage and then clinched Chicago's win by recovering a free kick after an intentional safety by the Bears, sealing a 10–9 win.
In1983, Fisher suffered a broken leg on a punt return[6] when he was tackled by thenPhiladelphia Eagles linebackerBill Cowher. Coincidentally, the two would become rivals as head coaches beginning in theAFC Central in 1995; Fisher's Oilers/Titans squads had an 11–7 record against Cowher'sPittsburgh Steelers. In1984, Fisher set a Bears franchise record with eight punt returns in a single game against theDetroit Lions, helping him tieLew Barnes's club record of 57 returns in a single season.[7] Fisher earned aSuper Bowl ring after Chicago's1985 Super Bowl season, despite spending the year on injured reserve with an ankle injury that prematurely ended his playing career. Fisher stayed with the Bears as a defensive assistant while on injured reserve for the season.[8]
In1985, Fisher used his time on the Bears' injured reserve to assist defensive coordinatorBuddy Ryan.[9] After the Bears wonSuper Bowl XX that season,[10] Ryan was hired as head coach of thePhiladelphia Eagles and Fisher joined him as a defensive backs coach.[9] In1988, Fisher was promoted todefensive coordinator at age 30, the youngest such coach in the NFL.[9] The1989 Eagles defense led theNFL in interceptions (30) and sacks (62). The1990 squad led the league in rushing defense and finished second in sacks.
In1991, Fisher was hired as defensive coordinator for theLos Angeles Rams, which reunited him with his college coachJohn Robinson. For the next two seasons, Fisher served as the defensive backs coach for theSan Francisco 49ers. These years as an assistant toGeorge Seifert placed Fisher in theBill Walshcoaching tree. On February 9, 1994, Fisher again became a defensive coordinator, this time for theHouston Oilers underJack Pardee. Fisher had succeeded Ryan, who left the post to become the head coach of theArizona Cardinals.
On November 14,1994, Pardee was fired, and Fisher was promoted to replace him for the last six games of the season.[11] The Oilers retained Fisher as head coach, and the Oilers drafted quarterbackSteve McNair in the1995 NFL draft.[12] The new coach did not disappoint, leading the team to a 7–9 record in1995, tied for second place in the division.[13] The following year, the Oilers addedHeisman Trophy winnerEddie George, and they achieved an 8–8 record.[14] However, an inability to get a new stadium deal inHouston caused ownerBud Adams to relocate the team toTennessee for the1997 season.[15][16]
In the team's first two seasons in Tennessee, the Oilers compiled a record of 16–16.[17][18] In 1998, the team's home games moved from Memphis to Nashville.[19]
In the1999 season, the newly renamedTennessee Titans finished with a 13–3 regular season record, going all the way toSuper Bowl XXXIV, in part due to theMusic City Miracle.[20] In the Super Bowl, the Titans lost to theSt. Louis Rams by a score of 23–16; on the game's final play, wide receiverKevin Dyson was tackled one yard short of the end zone with no time remaining, in what became known as "One Yard Short".[21] The Titans achieved the same record the next year, but were defeated in the AFC playoffs by theBaltimore Ravens, who would go on to winSuper Bowl XXXV.[22]
The2001 season was a disappointing one for the Titans, as they could only muster a 7–9 showing.[23] The beginning of the next season proved to be even worse, with the franchise starting off with a 1–4 record. Following one home loss, ownerBud Adams made the comment to reporters that perhaps the Titans "were getting outcoached." This provided a spark the team needed, and they finished the 2002 season with an 11–5 record and made it to theAFC Championship Game.[24]
The2003 season saw more success, with yet another trip to the playoffs and McNair tying for the LeagueMVP award (withPeyton Manning).[25] Again, they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions, theNew England Patriots, but the team's progress did not go unnoticed. The2004 season, however, was plagued by injuries from the start, and the Titans finished at 5–11.[26] Following the season, many veteran players (such asSamari Rolle andDerrick Mason) were cut in an effort to comply with the strictsalary cap. The relative youth of the team resulted in a disappointing2005 season as well. Before the 2005 season, Fisher hiredNorm Chow out of USC to be hisoffensive coordinator.[27]
In2006, the Titans finished a better-than-expected 8–8.[27] QuarterbackSteve McNair was traded to the Ravens andVince Young was selected third overall in the2006 NFL draft, but began the season as backup toBilly Volek andKerry Collins. The season began slowly at 0–3, before Volek was replaced by Collins and, later, Young. The team ultimately started 2–7, but following a 27–26 loss to the Ravens and McNair, the Titans erupted to win six straight games under Young, including a 24-point rally to beat theNew York Giants.[28] With this promising record, the Titans exercised their right to extend his contract by a year, keeping him as the head coach through the2007 NFL season.
In 2007, Fisher led the Titans to a 10–6 record and made the AFC playoffs as the #6-seed, but they lost in the opening round to theSan Diego Chargers.[29]
In2008, Fisher led the Titans to a 10–0 undefeated streak only to be upset byBrett Favre and theNew York Jets midway through the 2008 season. The Titans finished 13–3 and secured the #1 seed in the AFC, but lost in the Divisional Round to the Ravens.[30]
In2009, the Titans lost in overtime to thePittsburgh Steelers in the season-opening game. The loss began a six-game slide that reached its nadir in a 59–0 slaughter by the Patriots.[31] Collins, at the public recommendation of Adams, was benched and replaced by Young;[32] the Titans responded by winning eight of their next 10 games, highlighted by a dramatic comeback victory over theArizona Cardinals, a season-ending comeback against theSeattle Seahawks, and a hard-fought overtime win over theMiami Dolphins.[31] Highlighting this season was the play of running backChris Johnson; in his second year of professional football (he was selected 24th in the2008 NFL draft), Johnson brokeMarshall Faulk's NFL record for total yards from scrimmage with 2,509 and became the sixth back in NFL history to rush over 2,000 yards.[33]
In2010, relations between Fisher and Young became increasingly strained. In a home game against theWashington Redskins, Young was removed following an injury to his thumb and subsequently not allowed to re-enter the game.[34] In disgust, Young began removing his equipment while still on the sidelines, eventually throwing his shoulder pads into the stands. Young walked off of the field as the contest continued and he never appeared in another game for the Titans, as he was released at the end of the season.[35]
Initially, it appeared that Fisher's tenure with the Titans would survive this situation; however, on January 27, 2011, almost four weeks after the end of the 2010 regular season, it was formally announced that Fisher and the Titans had mutually agreed to part ways following a buyout of the one remaining season on Fisher's contract.[36] At more than 16 full seasons, Fisher had been the longest-tenured NFL head coach with one team among active head coaches.[37][38]
After a season off in 2011, Fisher agreed to become the head coach of theSt. Louis Rams on January 13, 2012.[39]
In Fisher's first season in St. Louis, the team finished with a 7–8–1 record, a five-win improvement from the previous year.[40] In 2013, the Rams finished with a 7–9 record.[41]
During the 2014 season, the Rams went 6–10.[42] It was the team's worst record under Fisher, and also Fisher's fourth consecutive losing season as a head coach. During the team's final season in St. Louis in 2015, they finished with a 7–9 record.[43]
Prior to the 2016 season, Fisher gave a speech onHard Knocks in which he said that he would not be "7–9 or 8–8 or 9–7, OK? Or 10–6 for that matter. This team's too talented. I'm not going to settle for that. I know what I'm doing." Fisher had previously been ridiculed for often finishing the season 7–9, finishing at that record four times over his 22-year career.[44] The Rams started the 2016 season with a 3–1 record but lost six of their next seven games leading up to the Rams' announcement, on December 4, that they had signed Fisher to a two-year contract extension through 2018.[45] However, just over a week later, on December 12, the Rams fired Fisher following a 42–14 loss to the eventual NFC championAtlanta Falcons in which they were held scoreless until scoring two meaningless touchdowns in the fourth quarter. This loss helped Fisher tie the record withDan Reeves for the most regular season losses of any NFL head coach of all time.[1]
On January 27, 2022, it was announced that Fisher would become the head coach and general manager of theMichigan Panthers of theUnited States Football League (USFL), becoming Fisher's first head coaching job in six years.[46]
On February 3, 2023, Fisher resigned as head coach of the Panthers after one season, citing "personal reasons". He was replaced by formerSan Francisco 49ers head coachMike Nolan.[47] Fisher went 2–8 (.200) in his tenure as Panthers head coach.
On November 1, 2023, it was revealed Fisher would serve as the Chief Advisor for theNashville Kats of theArena Football League (AFL).[48]
On May 14, 2024, Fisher assumed the position of interim commissioner of the AFL, following a series of controversies surrounding incumbent commissioner Lee Hutton.[49]
On September 6, 2024, Fisher was announced as Commissioner ofArena Football One (AF1), in addition to his roles with theNashville Kats.[50]
Fisher was co-chair of theNFL competition committee along withAtlanta Falcons PresidentRich McKay until his resignation in August 2016.
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| HOU* | 1994 | 1 | 5 | 0 | .167 | 4th in AFC Central | – | – | – | – |
| HOU | 1995 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in AFC Central | – | – | – | – |
| HOU | 1996 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4th in AFC Central | – | – | – | – |
| TNO | 1997 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in AFC Central | – | – | – | – |
| TNO | 1998 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in AFC Central | – | – | – | – |
| TEN | 1999 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 2nd in AFC Central | 3 | 1 | .750 | Lost toSt. Louis Rams inSuper Bowl XXXIV |
| TEN | 2000 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in AFC Central | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toBaltimore Ravens inAFC Divisional Game |
| TEN | 2001 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4th in AFC Central | – | – | – | – |
| TEN | 2002 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in AFC South | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toOakland Raiders inAFC Championship Game |
| TEN | 2003 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 2nd in AFC South | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toNew England Patriots inAFC Divisional Game |
| TEN | 2004 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 3rd in AFC South | – | – | – | – |
| TEN | 2005 | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 3rd in AFC South | – | – | – | – |
| TEN | 2006 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in AFC South | – | – | – | – |
| TEN | 2007 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3rd in AFC South | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toSan Diego Chargers inAFC Wild Card Game |
| TEN | 2008 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in AFC South | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toBaltimore Ravens inAFC Divisional Game |
| TEN | 2009 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in AFC South | – | – | – | – |
| TEN | 2010 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4th in AFC South | – | – | – | – |
| HOU / TEN total | 142 | 120 | 0 | .542 | 5 | 6 | .455 | |||
| STL | 2012 | 7 | 8 | 1 | .469 | 3rd inNFC West | – | – | – | – |
| STL | 2013 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4th in NFC West | – | – | – | – |
| STL | 2014 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4th in NFC West | – | – | – | – |
| STL | 2015 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in NFC West | – | – | – | – |
| LA | 2016 | 4 | 9 | 0 | .308 | Fired | – | – | – | – |
| STL / LAR total | 31 | 45 | 1 | .414 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |||
| Total[51] | 173 | 165 | 1 | .512 | 5 | 6 | .455 | |||
* – Interim head coach
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| MICH | 2022 | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | 3rd in North Division | – | – | – | Did not qualify |
Fisher has three children.[52] One son, Brandon, played linebacker at theUniversity of Montana and was a defensive backs coach for the Rams on his father's staff, before assuming the role of defensive coordinator atTennessee State University.[53] Another son, Trent, was a defensive back atAuburn University.
Media related toJeff Fisher at Wikimedia Commons
