John Fox will not return next season as the Carolina Panthers' head coach, the NFL team announced Friday. Fox's contract will expire after the Panthers' game Sunday against the host Atlanta Falcons.
“I told John today that I appreciate everything he has done for us over the last nine years, but as happens in this business, it is time for both sides to move in different directions,” Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said.
Fox's impending departure was no secret. Richardson declined to extend Fox's contract after Carolina's blowout loss to Arizona in the playoffs following the 2008 season. It was the beginning of the end for the franchise's winningest coach, whose contract expires Feb. 1.
Fox, who became the Panthers' head coach in 2002, should be somewhat of a hot coaching prospect because of his success over the years. He also could find a lot of interest from teams who are looking for a defensive coordinator.
And while Fox inherited a 1-15 team in 2002 and had it in the Super Bowl two years later, his tenure will end with the worst season of his 21-year NFL coaching career. The Panthers (2-13) have already locked up the league's worst record and No. 1 pick in April's draft.
''I'm not really in a reflective mood at this stage,'' Fox said, ''but I'll be able to walk out with my head high and be able to look in the mirror.''
Fox's finale could get ugly.
The overmatched Panthers, who have the league's worst offense and managed only 119 yards in a 27-3 loss to Pittsburgh last week, have the unenviable task of facing Atlanta on Sunday. The Falcons (12-3) are coming off a loss to New Orleans and need a win to clinch the NFC South and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
In typical Fox fashion, he seized on Minnesota's upset of Philadelphia on Tuesday night as a motivational tool in a team meeting Wednesday morning.
''It's been difficult to come in and practice every week, but with coach Fox, he motivates you to come in and practice,'' cornerback Richard Marshall said. ''He motivates you to come in and play hard, play full speed for him. That's something that you can respect.''
Several players said Fox was tough but also a player's coach. That bond was evident when Fox got emotional as players presented him with the game ball after the Panthers beat Arizona in their final home game Dec. 19.
''Beating the Cardinals at home was a huge game for us, his last home game,'' said left tackle Jordan Gross, Carolina's only Pro Bowl selection. ''This game is big. It means a lot to the Falcons and it means a lot to us.
''We haven't had a lot of games that had a lot of weight on them, and this is one that does. So it'll be fun to go out there and give it our best and, if we win, send out Fox on a high note.''
Fox, 55, lost a heartbreaker to New England in the Super Bowl, reached another NFC Championship Game and had another playoff team. But Fox was never able to string together consecutive winning seasons and now has presided over a horrible final campaign in which he has had a clear rift with management.
The first signs came in April when Fox didn't appear with general manager Marty Hurney to speak with reporters after the draft. Fox later said safety Chris Harris was traded because the team had ''a budget.'' As the season spiraled out of control, Fox referred questions to the ''personnel department.''
''When you're in this business and you have things go the way they have, of course there are going to be differences of opinion,'' linebacker Thomas Davis said. ''Coach Fox is a guy that definitely wants to win football games and he's all about winning. As a player, you want a coach who's like that.
''Unfortunately for us it didn't happen this year. We didn't get a lot of wins and we're sitting with the No. 1 pick in the draft right now. So the personnel department, they have a lot of decisions they have to make. That's the nature of this business.''
The Associated Press contributed to this report
“I told John today that I appreciate everything he has done for us over the last nine years, but as happens in this business, it is time for both sides to move in different directions,” Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said.
Fox's impending departure was no secret. Richardson declined to extend Fox's contract after Carolina's blowout loss to Arizona in the playoffs following the 2008 season. It was the beginning of the end for the franchise's winningest coach, whose contract expires Feb. 1.
Fox, who became the Panthers' head coach in 2002, should be somewhat of a hot coaching prospect because of his success over the years. He also could find a lot of interest from teams who are looking for a defensive coordinator.
And while Fox inherited a 1-15 team in 2002 and had it in the Super Bowl two years later, his tenure will end with the worst season of his 21-year NFL coaching career. The Panthers (2-13) have already locked up the league's worst record and No. 1 pick in April's draft.
''I'm not really in a reflective mood at this stage,'' Fox said, ''but I'll be able to walk out with my head high and be able to look in the mirror.''
Fox's finale could get ugly.
The overmatched Panthers, who have the league's worst offense and managed only 119 yards in a 27-3 loss to Pittsburgh last week, have the unenviable task of facing Atlanta on Sunday. The Falcons (12-3) are coming off a loss to New Orleans and need a win to clinch the NFC South and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
In typical Fox fashion, he seized on Minnesota's upset of Philadelphia on Tuesday night as a motivational tool in a team meeting Wednesday morning.
''It's been difficult to come in and practice every week, but with coach Fox, he motivates you to come in and practice,'' cornerback Richard Marshall said. ''He motivates you to come in and play hard, play full speed for him. That's something that you can respect.''
Several players said Fox was tough but also a player's coach. That bond was evident when Fox got emotional as players presented him with the game ball after the Panthers beat Arizona in their final home game Dec. 19.
''Beating the Cardinals at home was a huge game for us, his last home game,'' said left tackle Jordan Gross, Carolina's only Pro Bowl selection. ''This game is big. It means a lot to the Falcons and it means a lot to us.
''We haven't had a lot of games that had a lot of weight on them, and this is one that does. So it'll be fun to go out there and give it our best and, if we win, send out Fox on a high note.''
Fox, 55, lost a heartbreaker to New England in the Super Bowl, reached another NFC Championship Game and had another playoff team. But Fox was never able to string together consecutive winning seasons and now has presided over a horrible final campaign in which he has had a clear rift with management.
The first signs came in April when Fox didn't appear with general manager Marty Hurney to speak with reporters after the draft. Fox later said safety Chris Harris was traded because the team had ''a budget.'' As the season spiraled out of control, Fox referred questions to the ''personnel department.''
''When you're in this business and you have things go the way they have, of course there are going to be differences of opinion,'' linebacker Thomas Davis said. ''Coach Fox is a guy that definitely wants to win football games and he's all about winning. As a player, you want a coach who's like that.
''Unfortunately for us it didn't happen this year. We didn't get a lot of wins and we're sitting with the No. 1 pick in the draft right now. So the personnel department, they have a lot of decisions they have to make. That's the nature of this business.''
The Associated Press contributed to this report
