DENVER — Broncos Coach Gary Kubiak informed his players after their victory over Oakland on Sunday that he’s stepping away from the game and the team he loves. He said the grind of coaching was taking too big of a toll on his health.
The Broncos beat the Raiders 24-6, a bittersweet capstone to a disappointing season that began with expectations of repeating as Super Bowl champs and ended without a trip to the playoffs.
Kubiak, 55, leaves with two years left on his contract and a 24-11 record in Denver, including a 24-10 win over Carolina in the Super Bowl. Including his eight seasons with Houston, his career record is 87-77.
After an Oct. 9 loss, Kubiak was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a complex migraine, then missed Denver’s next game. It was his second major health scare. While with the Texans in 2013, he collapsed on the field and was diagnosed with a mini-stroke.
49ERS: Coach Chip Kelly and General Manager Trent Baalke were fired after the 49ers tied a franchise record for losses in a season.
Kelly said after San Francisco’s 25-23 loss to Seattle that he would meet with CEO Jed York. About two hours after the game, the team issued a press release announcing that both Kelly and Baalke were being let go.
ESPN reported Saturday night that both Baalke and Kelly were expected to be fired.
“I control what I can control,” Kelly said. “All we can control is how we coach our players and what we do with them. If that’s good enough, it’s good enough. It it’s not good enough, so be it.”
Baalke helped build the roster that made three straight trips to the NFC title game from 2011-13 and one Super Bowl appearance. But the team has had declining win totals the last three seasons, including a record 13-game losing streak this year.
CHARGERS: San Diego fired Mike McCoy following a second straight last-place finish in the AFC West and a third straight season out of the playoffs.
The team announced McCoy’s firing about an hour after the Chargers lost 37-27 to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was 27-37 in four seasons.
JETS: Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan will get another chance in 2017.
The Jets announced after a 30-10 win over the Buffalo Bills that their coach and general manager will return next season.
Team owner Woody Johnson did not speak to reporters after the game. A team spokesman said Johnson would speak to the media “in the coming weeks.”
Bowles is 15-17 in his two-year tenure with New York, which hired him in January 2015 after firing Rex Ryan. He has been the subject of increased criticism by some fans and media in recent weeks because of a few ugly losses and questions about his in-game management and handling of the locker room.
Maccagnan is also in his second season with the Jets.
BILLS: Interim coach Anthony Lynn is the clear favorite to take over the job permanently, two people with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
One person referred to Lynn’s succession to replace Rex Ryan as being “the working plan.” Another person said the final decision on General Manager Doug Whaley’s recommendation rests solely with owners Terry and Kim Pegula.
Lynn was promoted from offensive coordinator after Ryan was fired Tuesday.
RAVENS: Wide receiver Steve Smith officially announced his retirement after catching three passes for 34 yards during Baltimore’s 27-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Smith, 37, was emotional before the game and again after it, but he had no regrets about his decision to move on with his life.
“I enjoyed it, but it’s over,” said Smith , who finishes tied for fourth in NFL history with 51 games of 100 yards receiving. “I know it’s my time. Some people say can I play another year? I probably could. But what I would lose, I’m not willing to risk.”
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