Singletary Fired by 49ers

Mike Singletary, the former Bears Hall of Fame linebacker was fired by the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night after two disappointing seasons, including a 5-10 showing this year for a franchise that expected to win the NFC West.

The team made the announcement upon returning home late Sunday, several hours after San Francisco was eliminated from playoff contention with a 25-17 loss at St. Louis. Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was promoted to interim coach and will run the team in the season finale at home against Arizona. He was to be formally introduced in a news conference Monday.

After team president and CEO Jed York told reporters in St. Louis after the loss he would think about whether Singletary would coach the final game, Singletary then was told of his dismissal.

Singletary was 18-22 in two-plus seasons with the 49ers.

The 52-year-old Singletary, who first took over as coach on an interim basis when Mike Nolan was fired in October 2008, had two years remaining on his contract.