June Jones, who coached his team to a 3-13 record and clashed with quarterback Jeff George, was fired today by the Atlanta Falcons.
Jones had two years remaining on his contract and was informed of his dismissal this morning by team president Taylor Smith."We all need to look at ourselves right now," Smith said. "In no way is June Jones the sole reason this team finished 3-13."
Jones guided the Falcons to a rare playoff berth in 1995, but the team did not come close to approaching that mark this season. Jones had a record of 19-29 in three years with the Falcons, ending his stay with a 19-17 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday.
Jones, 43, was always hesitant to criticize and his easy-going style made him popular with most players. But others felt he was too bland to inspire a franchise that has never had back-to-back winning seasons since it was founded in 1966.
The last coach in the NFL to stick with the maligned "run-and-shoot" offense, Jones endured a tumultuous season that began with a training camp holdout by George and quickly fell apart with an opening-day rout by the Carolina Panthers.
With the Falcons on their way to another loss in the third game against Philadelphia, Jones benched George. The two argued on the sideline, and George was suspended the next day.
The quarterback never played again for Atlanta. George was suspended for four games and, when efforts to work out a trade with Seattle fell apart, he was released. It was another embarrassing ordeal for one of the league's worst franchises, losing a player that had cost them two No. 1 draft picks and getting nothing in return.
Atlanta went on to lose its first eight games.