Rich Kotite went out as the New York Jets' coach Friday in a manner that was as confusing as the team's play during his two years as head man - he fired himself.
"I was not fired, I am not quitting," Kotite, 4-27 as the team's coach, said in announcing that he was stepping down after Sunday's game against Miami.The move came after a meeting Thursday with Leon Hess, the team's owner, and Steve Gutman, its president.
But it was called by Kotite, who didn't want to drag out the inevitable into Christmas week. And it was Kotite as the de facto general manager who made the decision that a change was necessary.
"When you're 3-13 and 1-14, that just doesn't cut it," Kotite said.
"We've been everything but respectable. A change has to be made. I hold myself accountable. . . It hasn't worked.
"If you take emotion out of this and I did, it's clear that the head coach should step down."
Kotite's departure was hardly unexpected given this season's 1-14 record, worst in the Jets' long history of losing. Ten days ago, after a 34-10 loss at New England, he acknowledged the inevitable by citing the team's record.
In some ways, dismissal day was like a celebration.
"Rich Kotite is the Rock of Gibraltar," Hess said in a statement released by the team.