49ers fire Singletary

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Mike Singletary has been fired as coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

Team officials announced the firing after the 49ers returned to San Francisco from St. Louis, where they'd lost 25-17 and fell to 5-10 on the season.

The Niners had been the pre-season pick to win the NFC West but the team lost its first five games this season. Singletary fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye three weeks into the season and switched starting quarterbacks several times.

Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was made interim head coach for San Francisco's season-ending game Sunday versus Arizona. Tomsula has been on the 49ers' staff for four seasons.

San Francisco was 18-22 under Singletary, a Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker from his playing days with the Chicago Bears. Singletary took over the team in October 2008.

"One of the greatest experiences of my life was having the opportunity to coach the San Francisco 49ers," Singletary said in a statement released by the team. "What made it so special were the players. They were some of the most outstanding men I have ever been around in my life."