National Football League

Report: Chargers set to fire Turner

Published Dec. 3, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

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Chargers head coach Norv Turner will almost certainly be fired at the end of the season, with general manager A.J. Smith likely to follow him out of the exit door, the San Diego Union Tribune reported.

Chargers president Dean Spanos feels he has "no choice" but to dismiss Turner with the Chargers, currently mired in a six-game losing streak, set to miss the playoffs once again.

According to sources close to the team, he was still deciding on Smith's position, the newspaper reported.

League sources suggested pressure from the fan base almost certainly will seal Smith's fate, with only a miracle run to the playoffs likely to stave off the wholesale change at the top.

"The decisions are not made," one team source said, "but everything is lined up."

Turner was understood to have been told last month that he quickly needed positive results to save his job.

But November only added four more defeats, to leave San Diego fourth in the AFC West standings.

Firing Smith would cost the Chargers $6 million over the next three years, the newspaper said.