The Philadelphia Eagles fired coach Andy Reid after 14 seasons, the team announced Monday.
“Andy Reid won the most games of any head coach in Eagles history and he is someone I respect greatly and will remain friends with for many years to come,” owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “But, it is time for the Eagles to move in a new direction. Coach Reid leaves us with a winning tradition that we can build upon. And we are very excited about the future.”
Lurie will address the media at a 1 p.m. ET news conference.
Sunday’s loss to the Giants dropped the Eagles to 4-12 this season.
Reid was due to make $6 million in 2013, the final year of his contract.
Sources told ESPN on Sunday that Reid already was preparing to coach elsewhere next season in case he is no longer with the Eagles. He has been calling around the league trying to put together a coaching staff, so when he was fired he would be ready to resume coaching for another franchise next season, sources said.
Some around the league have wondered whether Reid would be a good fit back in California, where he grew up, but the San Diego Chargers are planning to go in a different direction, according to league sources.
Although he is not expected to be a candidate with the Chargers, Reid could wind up as a candidate in Jacksonville if the Jaguars fire Mike Mularkey or in Arizona if the Cardinals part ways with coach Ken Whisenhunt.
Reid Was Eagles’ Best
Andy Reid was the winningest coach in Eagles franchise history. Since Reid’s arrival in Philadelphia in 1999, the Eagles have recorded 130 regular-season wins, the NFL’s sixth-highest total in that span. Philadelphia also had 10 postseason wins, the third-most since 1999, and claimed six division titles, also the third-most, under Reid.
Most Wins By Eagles Coach
Coach W-L
Andy Reid 130-93-1
Greasy Neale 63-43-5
Dick Vermeil 54-47
Buddy Ryan 43-35-1
The 54-year-old Reid, who was hired to coach the Eagles in 1999, is 130-93-1 in 14 seasons with the franchise.
Under Reid, the Eagles made nine playoff appearances, won six division titles, played in five NFC Championship Games and lost one Super Bowl.
It had been a difficult year for Reid. He endured a devastating loss weeks before the season opener when his oldest son, Garrett, died at training camp after a long battle with drug addiction.
In October, Reid fired close friend and longtime assistant Juan Castillo, who was in his second season as defensive coordinator after coaching the offensive line for 13 years. He later fired defensive-line coach Jim Washburn.
After beating the defending Super Bowl champion Giants on Sept. 30, the Eagles lost eight straight games — their worst losing streak in 42 years.
Reid took over a 3-13 team in 1999, drafted Donovan McNabb with the No. 2 overall pick and quickly turned the franchise into a title contender.
He cemented Philadelphia as a football town — though the Eagles have never won the NFL title — and led the team to an unmatched level of success. But the team hasn’t won a playoff game since 2008 and after last season’s 8-8 finish, Lurie said he was looking for improvement this year.
Instead, it was even worse.
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