The Carolina Panthers have fired general manager Marty Hurney, the team announced Monday morning.
Hurney has been the general manager with the team since 2002, but his seat has become hotter since the 2010 season when the Panthers went 2-14.
From 2002-2009, the Panthers had three playoff appearances, including two NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl appearance. But since 2010, the team has had the fewest wins in the NFL with nine.
"This was an extremely difficult decision," said team owner/founder Jerry Richardson in a statement. "Marty made every effort to bring success to the Panthers and took the team to a Super Bowl and two NFC championship games. Unfortunately, we have not enjoyed the success we hoped for in recent years. I have the greatest respect and admiration for Marty and will always appreciate the way he tirelessly served the organization."
The Panthers stand at 1-5 this season after falling at home to the Dallas Cowboys, 19-14, on Sunday. The team has lost four games this season by five points or less.
"I am very fortunate to have been a part of one of the best organizations in the NFL since 1998," Hurney said in a statement. "As general manager I will always regret not helping us win the Super Bowl or having back-to-back winning seasons. I hope this change starts accomplishing the direction to those goals.
"I understand this decision by Mr. Richardson and will always have an extremely close relationship with him. I consider him the best owner in the NFL. I am responsible for everybody in coaching, the players, the scouts and everybody in football operations. After six weeks, we are 1-5 coming off a 6-10 season."
In an interview with the Charlotte Observer earlier this month when the Panthers were 1-4, Hurney told columnist Tom Sorensen that he's the person responsible for the product on the field.
“I’m a better general manager today than when we went to the Super Bowl or we went to the NFL championship or we went 12-4,” says Hurney. “I know more. But the bottom line is the record is not good enough, it’s unacceptable.”
Hurney has been working without a contract so the team is under not obligation to pay him a buyout. A Panthers spokesman said there is no news conference scheduled at this time.
Head coach Ron Rivera's weekly noon press conference will likely be pushed back.
