Jeff Fisher will be the next head coach of the St. Louis Rams, according to Peter King. Fisher reached his decision more than a week after interviewing with both the Dolphins and the St. Louis Rams. Since then, speculation about which team he would choose and negotiation points played out in the media, fueling a wild game speculation about where he would land with each morsel of information that found its way into the public discussion.
After years two strikes with up-and-coming coordinators, Scott Linehan and Steve Spagnuolo, the Rams sought the more experienced Fisher to help get the team on track. The Rams have not had a winning season since 2003. They haven't been to the playoffs since 2004.
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The question now is how Fisher fits into the organizational structure. In hiring Fisher, the Rams ceded significant control over the personnel side of things to him. He'll work with a relatively inexperienced GM, but the real question is how the three divisions within the organization - personnel, coaching and the financial side - will operate. In the past, Rams Park was the scene of some divisive turf wars. That improved some with the change to Billy Devaney and Steve Spagnuolo. However, the rookie head coach was given big say over the organization, even to the point of firing front office personnel that worked well beyond the on-field product.
It remains to be seen who Fisher will hire for his coaching staff, but it could include some very prominent, familiar names. Current New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been mentioned as a possibility for his defensive coordinator. Williams was Fisher's defensive coordinator in Tennessee from 1997 through 2000. His contract with the Saints is up after they finish their playoff run.