Dave McGinnis, Gregg Williams and Dick Jauron learned Monday just how precarious NFL head-coaching positions are.
All three were fired on the day after disappointing seasons ended with losing records. McGinnis was released by the Arizona Cardinals after going 4-12. The Buffalo Bills let go of Williams after a 6-10 record, while the Chicago Bears dismissed Jauron, who finished 7-9.
Left dangling was Oakland's Bill Callahan, less than one year after he led the Raiders to the Super Bowl. And Washington's Steve Spurrier had not committed to returning to the Redskins, even though owner Daniel Snyder said he expects his coach to be back.
McGinnis, 16-32 in three full seasons in Arizona, went from the thrill of a last-second victory over Minnesota, preventing the Vikings from making the playoffs, to the anguish of being unemployed hours later. His entire staff was released.
The Cardinals were 0-8 on the road, which didn't help McGinnis, who was extremely popular with his players.
"He's the best coach and one of the best people I've ever been around," offensive tackle L.J. Shelton said.
Williams' Bills fell from an encouraging 8-8 last season to 6-10. He was 17-31 in three seasons and finished his stint in Buffalo with a 31-0 loss at New England.
Bills president Tom Donahoe hired Williams to replace Wade Phillips as his first major move in Buffalo. But Williams never turned the Bills into winners.
"We have regressed, and I didn't have confidence we could turn that around," Donahoe said.
"We weren't able to do as well as I thought this year, but Tom has put the team in the right position," Williams said.
Jauron took the Bears to the next level in 2001, when they were 13-3 and won the NFC Central. But that was Chicago's only winning record with Jauron, and the Bears lost in the first round of the playoffs to Philadelphia.
Otherwise, Jauron was 22-43, including the playoff defeat.
"Simply put, expectations weren't met," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "Looking at Dick's overall career record, I just didn't feel that the hope we need to move on to the next level was there."
Angelo, who was hired after Jauron was in place as coach, and CEO Ted Phillips had their contracts extended through the 2008 season Monday.
Among the candidates for the many openings are offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel of New England; defensive coordinator Lovie Smith of St. Louis; offensive coordinator Brad Childress of Philadelphia; and former head coaches Tom Coughlin and Dennis Green.
The NFL has in place guidelines for teams to interview minority coaches, and the Giants plan to speak with Crennel and Smith, who are black. They already interviewed Coughlin, a former assistant in New York who was fired after the 2002 season as coach of the Jaguars.
Atlanta also will interview Crennel and Smith, as well as San Francisco defensive coordinator Jim Mora Jr.
Turmoil continues for Raiders
ALAMEDA, Calif. - Beleaguered Oakland coach Bill Callahan summed up the season in three minutes, then marched out of the room without fielding questions.
The Raiders finished 4-12 with a 21-14 loss to San Diego. This from a team that only a season ago made it to the Super Bowl under the then rookie coach.
Oakland posted its worst record since 1997 and had the biggest collapse by a team that reached the Super Bowl the previous year.
"I addressed the team (Monday morning) and thanked them all for their efforts and contributions this season," Callahan said.
The players seemed just as eager to get away as Callahan. Jerry Rice rolled down his car window, smiled and waved as he pulled away from team headquarters. Charles Woodson made time to express his frustrations with Callahan, who deactivated Woodson and running back Charlie Garner before Sunday's game for missing curfew.
Callahan said Woodson and Garner missed a 9 p.m. meeting and an 11 p.m. curfew Saturday. They were still missing when a second bed check was conducted at 12:30 a.m. Sunday. "The bottom line is, we're all accountable," Callahan said.
Callahan's decision so angered veteran cornerback Terrance Shaw that Shaw said he turned to his fellow defensive backs and asked: "We're a group. One die, we all die. What do you all want to do?" Shaw and the other Raider defenders opted against a boycott, though it would be difficult to tell from the way Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson shredded them for 243 yards.
Woodson, a four-time Pro Bowl cornerback who could become a free agent, has been one of Callahan's most outspoken critics.
"He's really made this thing personal," Woodson said. "When things get personal, it's not a good situation to be around people that it's personal with. I won't play for him."
Callahan defended his decision not to play Garner and Woodson, citing his suspending center Barret Robbins for the Super Bowl against Tampa Bay after he disappeared the day before and missed team meetings.
Woodson claims Callahan acted out of resentment. Woodson said he and Garner didn't find out about their deactivation until they started suiting up a couple of hours before kickoff and were called into the coach's office.
Woodson said he walked out on the coach while Callahan was speaking. He and Garner flew home and skipped the game. "Why?" he said. "I didn't give him a chance to finish what he was saying because I knew he was doing it out of spite.
"Hey, man, this is where I plan on being," next season, Woodson said. "I don't plan on Callahan being here."
No more GM for Wannstedt
DAVIE - Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt received a reprieve. And an extension. And a demotion.
Team owner Wayne Huizenga settled on the curious mix to resolve the status of his embattled coach.
Wannstedt gave up some responsibility over personnel decisions in exchange for a two-year contract extension through 2006. Miami will hire a general manager who will have final authority over the draft and free-agent signings.
Wannstedt is 41-23 with Miami, including 10-6 this season. But the Dolphins have missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1988-89, which prompted speculation Huizenga might fire Wannstedt.
"It's a seven-days-a-week, 52-weeks-a-year job nowadays," Wannstedt said after meeting several hours with Huizenga. "It was a time thing that affects you as much as anything. This will help where I can spend a little more time with the football part of it."
Candidates for the GM job include Dolphins senior vice president Rick Spielman, their personnel boss for four seasons while reporting to Wannstedt; former New Orleans GM Randy Mueller, who traded Ricky Williams to Miami in 2002; and the Bucs' director of player personnel, Tim Ruskell.
