Caldwell fired as Colts' coach

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Jim Caldwell was fired Tuesday as coach of the Indianapolis Colts after a season in which the team finished tied for the worst record in the NFL.

Caldwell took over the Colts' head coaching position after the retirement of Tony Dungy following the 2008 season. Caldwell had been the team's quarterback coach and assistant head coach at the time.

His head coaching career started with a 14-game winning streak and a 13-game losing streak to open this past season apparently had much to do with ending it.

In three seasons with Caldwell as head coach Indianapolis went 26-22, a record distorted by 2011's 2-14 mark. The Colts were 14-2 and went to the Super Bowl in Caldwell's first year and were 10-6 in 2010.

The loss of quarterback Peyton Manning, who missed the entire season because of neck surgery, hampered the Colts in 2011. They lost their first 13 games and wound up tied with St. Louis for the worst in the league. Indianapolis, however, will have the first pick in the 2012 NFL draft.