Martz tells newspaper Lions have fired him

1/3/2008

DETROIT - The Detroit Lions fired Mike Martz yesterday, according to published reports, ending his fractious two-year tenure as the team's offensive coordinator.

Martz will be replaced by Jim Colletto, who will retain his position as offensive line coach while calling offensive plays. Receivers coach Kippy Brown will serve as "co-coordinator," the Detroit Free Press, Booth Newspapers and ESPN.com reported.

A message seeking comment was left with Martz's agent, Bob LaMonte. The Lions had no comment on the reports.

Martz confirmed his firing to the Free Press.

"We fell short of what we wanted to do offensively, and I regret that," he told the newspaper.

During two losing seasons in Detroit, Martz was unable to replicate the success he had during the "Greatest Show on Turf" years in St. Louis.

Martz coached the Rams from 2000-2005, including a Super Bowl loss in 2001. He used the same offense in Detroit, but it didn't translate into many wins.

The Rams fired Martz on Jan. 2, 2006, the day after St. Louis finished 6-10. He sat out the last 11 games recovering from endocarditis, a bacterial infection of a heart valve.

Martz led St. Louis to the playoffs in four of his five full seasons, including a Super Bowl after the 2001 season, and helped the franchise win the 2000 Super Bowl as offensive coordinator.