Mike Singletary Fired as 49ers Head Coach Following Week 16 Loss at St. Louis

After failing to live up to the lofty expectations set by the preseason predictions, San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary has been fired.

Singletary's firing was announced by the team after the Niners dropped a 25-17 decision in St. Louis on Sunday evening. San Francisco had posted a disappointing 5-10 record on the year under Singletary, after they were predicted to win the NFC West in the preseason polls.

Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was named interim head coach for the team's final game of the season at home against the Cardinals. Singletary fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye three weeks into the 2010 season.

Singletary, a 10-time Pro Bowl selection during his playing career with the Bears, was named interim head coach of the 49ers in October of 2008 when Mike Nolan was fired. He was named to the full-time position in December of that year, when he signed a four-year, $10 million contract.

San Francisco started the 2010 season on a disappointing note, as they failed to record a win until Week 6 against Oakland. Singletary posted an 18-22 overall record with the Niners.

The last straw may have come on Sunday when the coach got into a heated argument with quarterback Troy Smith, a feud that was caught on camera.

"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."