UNDATED (AP) — Back-to-back winning seasons were not enough for Brian Flores to keep his job as coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have fired Flores in a somewhat surprising move that came less than 24 hours after the team finished a 9-8 season.
Flores went 24-25 in his three seasons in Miami, not making the playoffs in any of those seasons, but finishing this year with eight wins in the final nine games. Miami started 0-7 in his first season, 1-3 last season and 1-7 this season. But it always found ways to get better as the season went along, going 20-8 in games played in November, December and January under Flores.
In other NFL news:
— The Chicago Bears have fired general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy, hoping new leadership in the front office and on the sideline will lift a struggling franchise. Nagy’s fate seemed sealed as Bears struggled through a 6-11 season that ended with a loss at Minnesota on Sunday. Nagy went 34-31 in four seasons.
— The Minnesota Vikings have fired general manager Rick Spielman and coach Mike Zimmer. The move comes after a second straight absence from the playoffs. Owner Mark Wilf said the Vikings will first choose a new general manager who will have input into the head coach hire.
— Dave Gettleman is retiring as the general manager of the New York Giants after four losing seasons and ending this season with a record of 4-and-13. Coach Joe Judge’s future with the Giants also is in question. He’ll meet with ownership this week.
— The Jacksonville Jaguars’ 3-and-14 record this season earned them the top spot in April’s NFL draft, the second consecutive year they will pick first. The tentative order of the first round, not including teams in the playoffs, was announced Monday by the NFL.
— Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Geno Smith has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence following the team’s season-ending victory in Arizona. Smith just completed his third season with the Seahawks and had the most extensive playing time of his tenure in Seattle. He appeared in four games and started three when Russell Wilson was out due to finger surgery.
