Norv Turner and A.J. Smith Are Now Officially Done in San Diego [Update: Ken Whisenhunt Also Fired in Arizona]
By Jason Lisk
[EARLIER: Lovie Smith fired as coach of the Bears.]
In other news, Turner took over a team in 2007 that had finished 14-2 the previous season. He was in San Diego for six years, and the team perpetually underachieved, missing the playoffs each of the last three years despite entering as favorites until Manning joined the division this year.
[EARLIER: Pat Shurmur fired as coach of the Browns.]
It’s fitting that on a day when a coach got fired while finishing 10-6 (Lovie Smith) after his team started 7-1 but missed the playoffs, the last coach to pull that off also got fired–twelve more seasons of coaching later.
Norv Turner has four playoff appearances in fifteen years as a head coach, and ranks 23rd all-time in games coached. He is the only coach in the top 30 to have a losing record. I agree with Rivers, though. Turner should get a fairer shake. He should finish top ten in games coached all time if there is any justice in this world.
UPDATE: Meanwhile, a coach who has made a Super Bowl appearance, Ken Whisenhunt, was also let go in Arizona when his offense set back football for a century.
Related: San Diego Chargers 2012 NFL Preview (as told through pictures of Norv Turner)
[photo via USA Today Sports Images]