Tuesday 13 December 2016 11:03, UK
The Los Angeles Rams announced on Monday that they had parted company with head coach Jeff Fisher, following the 42-14 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Despite announcing Fisher's two-year contract extension just over a week ago, owner Stan Kroenke decided that the time was right for the 4-9 Rams to go in a new direction.
"I have great respect for Jeff as a coach, person, father and friend," Kroenke said, in a statement.
"However, this is the right time to make a change, as our performance has not lived up to my or our fans' expectations."
Fisher had five losing seasons in charge of the Rams, posting a 31-45-1 record. His 165 losses throughout a 21-year career tie for the most defeats of any head coach in NFL history.
The organisation must now make a decision on their next head coach, an attractive opportunity for several candidates. With a brand new stadium complex due to open next season, the Rams are hoping to grow their fan base with an entertaining, attacking style of play.
It is likely they will appoint an offensively-minded head coach, who can work with 2016 number one draft pick Jared Goff, as well as getting the best out of running back Todd Gurley and wide receiver Tavon Austin.
The Rams saw what damage a Shanahan-led offence can do first hand on Sunday, when the Falcons put 42 points up in the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Shanahan began his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004, before moving to Houston two years later. He worked as a coach to the wide receivers and then the quarterbacks, before becoming offensive coordinator in 2008.
As well as the Texans, Shanahan has been OC with the Redskins and Browns, before taking charge of Atlanta's attack at the start of last year. The Falcons' offence leads the league in scoring, which may be enough to tempt Kroenke, whose Rams sit in last place, averaging less than 15 points per game.
One of the most highly-rated coordinators in the NFL, McDaniels should be credited with the consistent success New England manages to produce. He has the advantage of the greatest quarterback of all time at his disposal, but McDaniels regularly dials up innovative plays to confuse opposition defences.
McDaniels has been credited for the 3-1 winning start this season, using back-up quarterbacks Jimmy Garroppolo and Jacoby Brissett during Brady's four-game suspension.
However, there is history between McDaniels and the Rams following an unsuccessful spell as OC with the team in 2011, where they managed an average of just 12.1 points per game.
The four-time Super Bowl winner has said that he would relish another chance as a head coach. His time with the Denver Broncos ended in disappointment halfway through his second season, after posting an 11-19 record. Could Los Angeles be the opportunity to set the record straight?
Despite his relative inexperience, Cooter has become a front runner for 2017 jobs. His success with Matthew Stafford this year - the quarterback is having his best-ever season - will certainly have Los Angeles interested in his services.
Detroit have produced over 300 yards of offence in eight games this season, and currently occupy the NFC's number two seed.
Cooter has shown creativity in his schemes, as well as an astute ability to assess game management situations. He has drawn praise from around the NFL for his understanding and play-book intelligence, which may be enough for Kroenke to take a risk on the 32-year-old.
This would be a coup for Kroenke and the Rams, and because of that, Harbaugh remains the bookmakers' outsider. He made it to the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, before leaving to coach his alma mater in 2015.
With the college season already over, rumours are bound to fly about Harbaugh's availability. He would be an expensive option, but having built a brand new NFL complex in Los Angeles, Kroenke has proven money should not stand in the way of success.
He turned the 49ers around, inheriting a 6-10 side and producing three winning seasons before an 8-8 campaign. The 49ers haven't had a successful year since Harbaugh's departure, which is perhaps testament to his effectiveness as a head coach.
With a vast amount of head coaching experience in the NFL, Tom Coughlin remains an option for Rams. He parted company with the New York Giants at the end of the 2015 season, following a 10-year stint which yielded two Super Bowl victories.
Since finishing with the Giants, Coughlin has been working for the NFL, advising on football operations to improve the game. He has remarked on several occasions that he would relish a return to coaching.
At 70 years old, Coughlin would easily be the oldest head coach in the league (the next is Pete Carroll at 64). This may put the Rams off, as they are looking for their coach of the future.
