Fisher then held several coaching positions for various teams before becoming the head coach of the Titans towards the end of the 1994 season during their tenure as the Houston Oilers and was the team's first coach when they relocated to Tennessee. 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 in St. 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 in 1999, when he led the Titans to the franchise's first (and only) Super Bowl appearance in XXXIV, which ended in close defeat by the St. Louis 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 with Dan Reeves & Bill 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]
Fisher went on to start at USC, under coach John Robinson. During his collegiate career (1977–80), Fisher played alongside such defensive stars as Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith, and Joey Browner. Fisher's USC teammates also included star offensive lineman Bruce 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 a Pac-10 All-Academic selection.[4]
Fisher was drafted in the seventh round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.[4] He appeared in 49 games as a defensive back and return specialist in his five seasons with the Bears.[5]
Fisher had a key performance in the Bears' 1981 Week 14 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. Entering the game, the 7–6 Vikings were fighting for the NFC 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.
In 1983, Fisher suffered a broken leg on a punt return[6] when he was tackled by then Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Bill Cowher. Coincidentally, the two would become rivals as head coaches beginning in the AFC Central in 1995; Fisher's Oilers/Titans squads had an 11–7 record against Cowher's Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1984, Fisher set a Bears franchise record with eight punt returns in a single game against Detroit, helping him tie Lew Barnes's club record of 57 returns in a single season.[7] Fisher earned a Super Bowl ring after Chicago's 1985 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]
Early coaching career
In 1985, Fisher used his time on the Bears' injured reserve to assist defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan.[9] After the Bears won Super Bowl XX that season,[10] Ryan was hired as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Fisher joined him as a defensive backs coach.[9] In 1988, Fisher was promoted to defensive coordinator at age 30, the youngest such coach in the NFL.[9] The 1989 Eagles defense led the NFL in interceptions (30) and sacks (62). The 1990 squad led the league in rushing defense and finished second in sacks.
In 1991, Fisher was hired as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, which reunited him with his college coach John Robinson. For the next two seasons, Fisher served as the defensive backs coach for the San Francisco 49ers. These years as an assistant to George Seifert placed Fisher in the Bill Walshcoaching tree. On February 9, 1994, Fisher again became a defensive coordinator, this time for the Houston Oilers under Jack Pardee. Fisher had succeeded Ryan, who left the post to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.
Head coach
Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans (1994–2010)
Fisher in 2010
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 quarterback Steve McNair in the 1995 NFL Draft.[12] The new coach did not disappoint, leading the team to a 7–9 record in 1995, tied for second place in the division.[13] The following year, the Oilers added Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George, and they achieved an 8–8 record.[14] However, an inability to get a new stadium deal in Houston caused owner Bud Adams to relocate the team to Tennessee for the 1997 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 the 1999 season, the newly renamed Tennessee Titans finished with a 13–3 regular season record, going all the way to Super Bowl XXXIV, in part due to the Music City Miracle.[20] In the Super Bowl, the Titans lost to the St. Louis Rams by a score of 23–16; on the game's final play, wide receiver Kevin Dyson was tackled one yard short of the end zone with no time remaining, in what became known as "The Tackle".[21] The Titans achieved the same record the next year, but were defeated in the AFC playoffs by the Baltimore Ravens, who would go on to win Super Bowl XXXV.[22]
The 2001 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, owner Bud 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 the AFC Championship Game.[24]
The 2003 season saw more success, with yet another trip to the playoffs and McNair tying for the League MVP award (with Peyton Manning).[25] Again, they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots, but the team's progress did not go unnoticed. The 2004 season, however, was plagued by injuries from the start, and the Titans finished at 5–11.[26] Following the season, many veteran players (such as Samari Rolle and Derrick Mason) were cut in an effort to comply with the strict salary cap. The relative youth of the team resulted in a disappointing 2005 season as well. Before the 2005 season, Fisher hired Norm Chow out of USC to be his offensive coordinator.[27]
In 2006, the Titans finished a better-than-expected 8–8.[27] Quarterback Steve McNair was traded to the Baltimore Ravens and Vince Young was drafted, but began the season as backup to Billy Volek and Kerry Collins. The season began slowly at 0–3 before Volek was replaced by Kerry Collins and, later, Young. The team ultimately started 2–7, but following a 27–26 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and McNair, the Titans erupted to win six straight games under Young, including a 24-point rally to beat the New 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 the 2007 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 the San Diego Chargers.[29]
Fisher in November 2008
In 2008, Fisher led the Titans to a 10–0 undefeated streak only to be upset by Brett Favre and the New 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 Baltimore Ravens.[30]
In 2009, the Titans lost in overtime to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season-opening game. The loss began a six-game slide that reached its nadir in a 59–0 slaughter by the New England Patriots.[31] Collins, at the public recommendation of Titans owner Bud 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 the Arizona Cardinals, a season-ending comeback against the Seattle Seahawks, and a hard-fought overtime win over the Miami Dolphins.[31] Highlighting this season was the play of running back Chris Johnson; in his second year of professional football (he was drafted 24th in the 2008 NFL Draft), Johnson broke Marshall 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]
In 2010, relations between Fisher and Vince Young became increasingly strained. In a home game against the Washington 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]
St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams (2012–2016)
Fisher in 2013
After a season off in 2011, Fisher agreed to become the head coach of the St. 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]
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 on Hard 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 3–1 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 champion Atlanta Falcons in which they were held scoreless until scoring two meaningless touchdowns in the fourth quarter. This loss helped Fisher tie the record with Dan Reeves for the most regular season losses of any NFL Coach of all time.[1]
Michigan Panthers
On January 27, 2022, it was announced that Fisher would become the head coach and general manager of the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League, 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 former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan.[47] Fisher went 2–8 (.200) in his tenure as Panthers head coach.
Fisher has three children.[49] One son, Brandon, played linebacker for the University of Montana and was a defensive backs coach for the Rams on his father's staff. Another son, Trent, was a defensive back at Auburn University.
Super Bowl XXXIV was an American football game played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 30, 2000, to determine the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1999 season. The National Football Conference (NFC) champion St. Louis Rams defeated the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Tennessee Titans 23–16 to claim their first Super Bowl win and first NFL championship since 1951. It is the most recent NFL championship in which both teams were seeking their first Super Bowl title.
John Perry Pardee was an American professional football player and head coach. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). As a coach, he is the only head coach to helm a team in college football, the NFL, the United States Football League (USFL), the World Football League (WFL), and the Canadian Football League (CFL). Pardee was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1986.
William Laird Cowher is an American sports analyst, former football player and coach. Following a six-year playing career as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL), he served as a head coach in the NFL for 15 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He began his coaching career as an assistant under Marty Schottenheimer for the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs, serving as the latter's defensive coordinator from 1989 to 1991. In 1992, Cowher was named head coach of the Steelers, whom he led until his retirement following the 2006 season. After retiring, he joined The NFL Today as a studio analyst.
Charles Douglas Cecil is an American football coach and former player in the National Football League (NFL). He is currently the safeties coach at the University of Arizona in Tucson, his alma mater. He previously served as a defensive assistant for the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams. Cecil also spent two seasons (1999–2000) as a television analyst for University of Arizona football games. As a player, he was a Pro Bowl safety.
Michael George Vrabel is an American football coach and former linebacker. He currently serves as a Coaching and Personnel Consultant for the Cleveland Browns.
Jeffrey Marc Zgonina is an American football defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys. A former defensive tackle, he played college football at Purdue and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL Draft.
Jerry Don Gray is an American football coach and former player who is the assistant head coach/defense for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Gray played college football at the University of Texas at Austin, where he garnered All-American honors. Thereafter, he played professionally for the Los Angeles Rams, Houston Oilers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.
David Patrick Ragone is an American football coach and former player who currently serves as quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and previously served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans.
Steven Wayne Jackson is a former American football defensive back for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans who is the secondary & safeties coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by Houston in the third round in the 1991 NFL Draft. In 1999, the Titans made it to Super Bowl XXXIV in which Jackson appeared as a substitute; however, they lost to the Kurt Warner-led St. Louis Rams. In 2022, twenty-two years later, Jackson coached the Cincinnati Bengals secondary/cornerbacks in Super Bowl LVI, also losing to Los Angeles Rams.
Bradley D. Hopkins is an American former professional football player who was a left tackle for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), all of them with the Houston Oilers / Tennessee Titans organization. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Bruce Rankin Matthews is an American former professional football player who played as a guard, center, offensive tackle, and long snapper in the National Football League (NFL) for 19 seasons, from 1983 to 2001. He spent his entire career playing for the Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans franchise. Highly versatile, Matthews played every position on the offensive line throughout his NFL career, starting in 99 games as a left guard, 87 as a center, 67 as a right guard, 22 as a right tackle, 17 as a left tackle, and was the long snapper on field goals, PATs, and punts. Having never missed a game due to injury, Matthews' 293 NFL games started is the third most of all time, behind quarterbacks Brett Favre and Tom Brady.
Cortland Temujin Finnegan is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Samford Bulldogs, and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Finnegan also played for the St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. He was a Pro Bowler in 2008.
Henry Ford is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. Ford played most of his career for the Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans, and played one year for the New Orleans Saints. Ford was drafted in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Oilers out of the University of Arkansas. In 1999, the Titans made it to Super Bowl XXXIV in which Ford appeared as a substitute, however they lost to the Kurt Warner-led St. Louis Rams.
Douglass Clayton Colman is an American football coach, former player and son of former NFL player Wayne Charles Colman. He was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons with the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns after playing college football at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Steven Douglas Brown is a former American football cornerback and coach who was most recently the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). Brown played his entire pro football career with the Houston Oilers from 1983 to 1990. He played college football at Oregon.
Frank Bush is a former American football linebacker and coach who is the linebackers coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the fifth round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina State.
Jurrell Juel Casey is an American former professional football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans, and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft.
Robert Quinn is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at North Carolina, and was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the 14th pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.
Milton Jackson was an American football coach for 26 seasons. He had different coaching positions for the California Golden Bears, Oregon Ducks, UCLA Bruins, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Oilers, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, and Baltimore Ravens. Also, he was drafted in the 7th round (170), by the San Francisco 49ers but did not play for them. Instead, he played for the San Jose Apaches, and Sacramento Capitols.
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