ORCHARD PARK, New York, 31 January 2003 — Gregg Williams became the NFL’s third coaching casualty Monday when he was sacked by the Buffalo Bills.
Joining Williams on the NFL unemployment line were Arizona Cardinals’ coach Dave McGinnis and Chicago Bears’ Dick Jauron. All failed to guide their teams to the playoffs and were fired a day after the regular season finished Sunday.
The three sackings bring the total to four coaches who have lost their jobs, New York Giants Jim Fassel having been informed two weeks ago that he would not be returning for another season.
In three years in charge, Willaims failed to take the Bills to the playoffs compiling a 17-31 record, including a 6-10 mark this season. After a good start, the Bills stalled in the second half of the season, losing seven of their last nine games, including a humiliating 31-0 defeat by the Patriots in their season finale Saturday.
The Cardinals finished a woeful 4-12 season Sunday in spectacular fashion. They scored two touchdowns in the last two minutes, including a 28-yard touchdown grab by Nathan Poole on the game’s final play, to claim an improbable 18-17 victory over Minnesota and denying the Vikings the NFC North championship and a playoff berth.
But the dramatic win could not save McGinnis’ job. He departed with a 17-40 record in his three years in charge, failing to produce a winning season and going 7-9 in 2001 and 5-11 in 2002.
