San Diego Chargers: Mike McCoy Almost Fired After Saints Loss
By Erik Lambert
For the longest time everybody was sure who the first NFL head coach to get fired in 2016 would be. Almost nobody thought the name Mike McCoy.
Most of the predictions hovered around Rex Ryan in Buffalo and Jeff Fisher in Los Angeles. After all neither has made the playoffs yet with their current teams. They also started out the seasons poorly. The Rams were shutout 21-0 by the lowly 49ers. Buffalo lost back-to-back heartbreakers to the Ravens and Jets. It just goes to show that things can change so fast in a matter of a few weeks in the NFL.
Then there is McCoy. After getting the Chargers to the playoffs in 2013, posting a 9-7 record in 2014, he is suddenly on the chopping block. His 4-12 season in 2015 helped to enhance those cries and a 1-3 start to 2016 isn’t helping. Like last year his roster has undergone a ridiculous string of injuries including the loss of wide receiver Keenan Allen for the season. Such things are out of a coaches’ control. Still McCoy is the man in charge and must shoulder the blame when the team loses.
Not only is there a belief he could be fired within the next couple weeks if it continues, but there are whispers it almost happened already. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has more.
"“According to sources informed of the situation, McCoy now faces a critical two-game stretch, one that could decide his future. San Diego travels to Oakland to play the Raiders on Sunday, then hosts the Broncos on Thursday. If it goes poorly, hard decisions could be made quickly.Based on the schedule (and the need to get the team ready on a short week) it’s highly unlikely a change would be made after Sunday. But two poor performances, coupled with the team already blowing fourth-quarter, double-digit leads against the Chiefs and Saints, could mean bad news for McCoy.In fact, some in the Chargers’ building thought a change would be made after the Saints loss, sources said.”"
McCoy has done everything in his power to help the Chargers win. They had a chance in every game they’ve played this season. By rights they were mere minutes away from being 4-0 had their defense been able to hold the lead. That issue was compounded by another thing out of McCoy’s control.
The contract standoff between the Chargers front office and 1st round pick Joey Bosa. Combined with the ongoing threat of a possible franchise move to a new city? It’s hard for a head coach to win with so many distractions. Yet that is where things stand. Maybe not entirely fair for Mike McCoy under the circumstances. Even so, if they came close to firing him already, odds are he’ll be out sooner than later.