Jaguars Fire Head Coach Jack Del Rio

Jack Del Rio has been fired as the coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to team sources.

The Jaguars, who are 3-8 heading into a Monday night game with the San Diego Chargers, plan to announce the move at noon ET Tuesday.


Del Rio was the second head coach in the team’s short history, replacing Tom Coughlin in 2003. He finishes his Jacksonville career with a 68-70 record, last leading the Jaguars to a winning record in 2007 when the team was 11-5. His teams were 1-2 in postseason play.

Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is the leading candidate to take over the team on an interim basis.

Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver retained Del Rio after last season when Jacksonville finished 8-8, but made it clear that the coach needed to make the postseason in 2011 to keep his job.

“If we’re not in the playoffs, it’s pretty apparent we’ll have a different coach,” Weaver said in January.

Del Rio released longtime starting quarterback David Garrard just days before this season opened. Rookie Blaine Gabbert replaced Luke McCown as the team’s starting quarterback in Week 3 but was benched during Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans.

On Monday, Del Rio said Gabbert would keep his starting job despite the benching.

WRITTEN BY Chris Mortensen is ESPN’s senior NFL analyst & FULL STORY HERE