Oakland Raiders fire coach Hue Jackson after one season | NFL

By The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Reggie McKenzie made clear on his first day as Raiders general manager there is a new regime in Oakland.

Soon after signing his contract to be the first general manager since longtime owner Al Davis' death, McKenzie fired coach Hue Jackson.

"There comes a time when change is necessary," former Oakland linebacker McKenzie, 48, said Tuesday. "For the Raiders, the time is now.

"The Raiders' organization, with respect and deference for all its tradition and history, is about to embark on a new era."

The era will begin without Jackson, 46, who was fired after going 8-8 in his first season as coach. McKenzie wanted to bring in his "own guy" to rebuild the organization.

Owner Mark Davis said McKenzie will decide on the new coach and the personnel decisions, with the coach reporting to the general manager.

Davis' father, Al, died of heart failure Oct. 8. Mark Davis said it is imperative the team gets a new stadium; he has had discussions with groups in Los Angeles about possibly returning the franchise to Southern California.

"The timetable is yesterday. So that's where it is. We've got to get a stadium," Davis said. "We've got to get that done. It's such a competitive business. It really is competitive. We can't compete for a lot of the players that other teams can, at times."

League commissioner Roger Goodell has said there will be no relocations to Los Angeles in 2012, but he hasn't ruled out one after that. The Raiders played in Southern California from 1982 to 1994.

Mularkey leaves Falcons for Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars hired Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey as coach, a move they hope will help improve the league's worst offense.

The Florida Times-Union first reported the hire.

Mularkey's Falcons were shut down in a 24-2 wild-card playoff loss to the New York Giants on Sunday. But his long relationship with Jaguars general manager Gene Smith made him a front-runner from the beginning of the search.

Mularkey, 50, was 14-18 as Buffalo's coach; he was fired after the 2005 season. The Jaguars finished 5-11 this season; they fired coach Jack Del Rio in November after a 3-8 start.

Notes

• Veteran receiver Derrick Mason has decided to retire after 15 seasons and pursue a career in broadcasting.

Mason, 37, was a two-time Pro Bowl selection. He caught 943 passes for 12,061 yards and 66 touchdowns in his career. He spent the first eight seasons with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans and played six seasons for the Baltimore Ravens before being cut last summer.

Mason caught 19 passes for 170 yards this season with the New York Jets and Houston. The Texans released him last month.

• Police have recovered the body of Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin's son from an icy Wisconsin river and said they were trying to figure out how he died.

Michael T. Philbin, 21, disappeared early Sunday and was reported missing that night. His body was recovered from the Fox River by divers Monday. Oshkosh Police Chief Scott Greuel waited a day to release the name out of respect for the family's privacy.

"We love Michael so much and will miss him dearly," Joe Philbin said in statement released by the team. "He loved his family, friends and life. His memory will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew him."

News of Philbin's death comes as the Packers prepare to host the New York Giants in an NFC playoff game Sunday. It was unclear whether Joe Philbin will continue to work with the team this week.