Jeff Fisher Got a Contract Extension

Believe it or not, Jeff Fisher has gone 7-9 just four times as a head coach — once with the Houston Oilers in 1995, then with the Tennessee Titans in 2001, then with the St. Louis Rams in both 2013 and 2015. He has an overall record 173-163-1, and he is presently 4-7 as coach of the Los Angeles Rams.

Things could be worse, so the Rams decided to give Fisher a contract extension.

Sources: #Rams coach Jeff Fisher has, in fact, signed a contract extension. The long-discussed deal is believed to be for 2 years.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 4, 2016

Precisely why the Rams did this is unclear, since it sounds like they have half a mind to just fire him at the end of the season anyway.

A contract extension does not give Jeff Fisher any more job security. Rams must win and play well down stretch or his job will be in danger.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 4, 2016

But the situation with Fisher and the Rams is more complicated than most. Fisher’s agent is Marvin Demoff. Marvin Demoff’s son is Kevin Demoff, chief operating officer for … the Los Angeles Rams.

So you can see what might be going on here.

As Rams COO @Kdemoff told me last week, ownwrship views Jeff Fisher's value as more than wins and losses.
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) December 4, 2016

In the piece referred to in Wyche’s tweet, Demoff says it isn’t fair to judge Fisher on his record, and that he’s a good leader. That, of course, doesn’t really mean anything. It’s what you say when your fans want you to fire the coach, but you’re planning on giving the guy an extension and you need some kind of justification for it. Rams Wire predicted this exact outcome earlier this week.

The Rams would have to rally to finish 7-9 this year, but Jared Goff is playing now so anything is possible.