The Rams, losers of six of the last seven games and now 4-7 on the year, have five more games left in 2016. Those could also be the final five games of coach Jeff Fisher’s time with the team.
Rams COO Kevin Demoff, in response to an email from PFT, reiterated after Sunday’s 49-21 loss to the Saints that there is no update regarding Fisher’s contract status.
Fisher signed a five-year deal prior to the 2012 season. ESPN reported on multiple occasions before the 2016 campaign began that Fisher was expected to sign an extension. Despite speculation in some circles that a secret deal has been reached and that the coach and the team are simply waiting to announce it, there has been no tangible evidence that Fisher has a new contract.
Aiding Fisher’s case for a new deal is the performance of rookie quarterback Jared Goff, who has largely looked the part in his first two career starts. A change in coaches could result in a coach who doesn’t believe in Goff; the challenge during the interview process would be to ensure that the candidate means it when he says the is his guy, because they all will say that Goff is his guy in order to get the job. The safest approach in that regard would be to keep the coach in place who traded up to get Goff.
Fisher generated records of 7-8-1, 7-9, 6-10, and 7-8 in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. The Rams last went to the playoffs in 2004. They’ll spend two more years at the Coliseum before moving in to their new stadium in Inglewood.
