DENVER, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- The Denver Broncos have fired Coach Josh McDaniels in the midst of a losing season marred by an illegal taping scandal, team owner Pat Bowlen announced Monday.
McDaniels lost his job after guiding the squad to a 3-9 record so far year.
Running backs coach Eric Studesville was tapped as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
"My decision to relieve Josh McDaniels as head coach was not taken lightly," Bowlen said in a statement. "I will always be appreciative of his passion, enthusiasm and hard work, and I thank him for his efforts. In the end, I was not satisfied with the results and the direction this team was headed."
The move came after the Broncos lost Sunday for seventh time in eight games, 10-6 to the Kansas City Chiefs, and also follows an incident in which both McDaniels and the team paid $50,000 fines last month for the illegal taping of an opponent's practice.
Bowlen said the NFL found a Broncos employee had videotaped a portion of the San Francisco 49ers' Oct. 30 'walkthrough' practice at Wembley Stadium in London, a day before the two teams played each other there.
In a written apology, McDaniels said he did not view the 6-minute tape. But he admitted he erred by failing to disclose the incident to the league office.
McDaniels compiled a 11-17 record in less than two seasons at the Broncos' helm.
