The Denver Broncos have fired coach Josh McDaniels, who went 5-17 after winning his first six games last year.
Team spokesman Patrick Smyth told The Associated Press: "We can confirm that coach Josh McDaniels has been relieved of his head coaching duties."
The team did not immediately name an interim coach.
McDaniels, 34, made a series of personnel blunders, notably trading away Peyton Hillis, who has become a power running back in Cleveland, and he also was fined $50,000 by the NFL for failing to report a subordinate who violated league rules by videotaping a San Francisco 49ers practice in London on Oct. 30.
McDaniels also dealt away Pro Bowlers Jay Cutlerand Brandon Marshall in separate deals in successive offseasons.
The firing came down after the Broncos players had dispersed for the day.
Earlier Monday, McDaniels said he was reticent to turn to rookie Tim Tebow even though the Broncos (3-9) had been eliminated from the playoff race Sunday with their seventh loss in eight games.
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen seemed to waffle last week when asked about McDaniels' job status in the wake of the video scandal.
Bowlen originally told AOL Fanhouse that McDaniels was safe as head coach and that he was "not interested in making a coaching change." However, Bowlen released a statement hours later that seemed to back off that idea.
Bowlen's statement said that while the season has been a trying and disappointing one, "Josh McDaniels is the head coach of the Broncos, and you always strive for stability at that position."
He added that with five games left, "we will continue to monitor the progress of the team and evaluate what's in the best interest of this franchise."
McDaniels is the third coach fired this season, joining Wade Phillips and Brad Childress. He has two years and nearly $7 million left on his contract, and Bowlen is still on the hook for millions more he owes Mike Shanahan, whom he fired last year.
McDaniels came to the Broncos in 2009 after spending two seasons as the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator, having been promoted from quarterbacks coach in 2006 to make him the youngest coordinator in the league at the time.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
