Mularkey fired as Jaguars coach

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Mike Mularkey was fired Thursday after one season as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL team said.

The move comes one day short of the first anniversary of Mularkey being hired to coach the Jaguars

Mularkey was let go by General Manager David Caldwell, who was hired Tuesday

"I informed Mike today that he will not return as head coach of the Jaguars," Caldwell said in a release on the team website. "I know Mike well and do not want anyone to misinterpret the rationale behind my decision. Mike is an excellent coach and I am sure he will succeed in his next stop in the NFL.

"However, I must do what I believe is best for the Jacksonville Jaguars and immediately explore every avenue possible to turn our football team around. For that to happen as seamlessly as we want, and as quickly as our fans deserve, I feel it is in everyone's best interests for an immediate and clean restart."

The Jaguars lost their last five games and 11 of their last 12 in finishing 2012 with a 2-14 record. That tied the Kansas City Chiefs as the worst record in the NFL this season. Because of tiebreaking procedures, however, Kansas City will have the first overall pick in the NFL draft with Jacksonville going second.

Mularkey, 51, was hired Jan. 11, 2012, to lead the Jaguars. It was his second head coaching position. He guided the Buffalo Bills to a combined 14-18 record over the 2004 and '05 seasons.