Browns fire coach Jackson after 2-5-1 start

Hue Jackson’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns is finally over. The team fired its embattled coach Monday, ending a run of futility nearly unmatched in NFL history.

Jackson, who went 3-36-1 in two-plus seasons, was dismissed along with offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was named interim coach and running backs coach Freddie Kitchens was promoted to offensive coordinator. Haley was in his first season on Jackson’s staff after spending the previous six in Pittsburgh.

Jackson’s firing came a day after the Browns (2-5-1) lost their 25th straight road game — 20 of them coming with Jackson in charge. The Browns, who have not made the playoffs since 2002 amid a slew of coaching changes, have lost three straight games after a promising start. They tied Pittsburgh in Week 1, but lost 33-18 on Sunday to the Steelers.

Jackson is the sixth straight Cleveland coach to be fired following the team’s second game against Pittsburgh. Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski and Mike Pettine all met the same demise.

The Browns host the Chiefs (7-1) on Sunday.

Williams went 17-31 in three seasons as Buffalo’s coach from 2001-03 but is perhaps best known for being suspended by the NFL for the 2012 season for his role in the “Bountygate” scandal with the New Orleans Saints.

Colts: Adam Vinatieri has made plenty of tougher kicks in his career. The two last-second field goals to win Super Bowls, a 45-yarder in the snow to win a playoff game and 46 field goals from at least 50 yards in the regular season and postseason.

Vinatieri’s 25-yarder at the end of the second quarter in Indianapolis’ 42-28 victory over Oakland on Sunday will surely be one he never forgets. With that kick, Vinatieri passed Morten Andersen to become the NFL’s all-time leading scorer. He added three extra points in the fourth quarter to give him 2,550 for his career.

Vinatieri, 45, wasn’t sure the record would come this week after re-injuring his right groin last week. He was limited in practice last week but was healthy enough to play the game. He made an extra point and a 26-yard field goal in the first quarter to tie Andersen’s record before hitting the kick at the end of the half that made him No. 1 by himself.

Titans: Added fullback Jalston Fowler and waived linebacker Robert Spillane.

Bills: A person familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press that free agent Terrelle Pryor visited with the receiver- and QB-needy Bills. Pryor has been used as mostly as a receiver at the NFL level but also has experience at quarterback.

Cowboys: Fired offensive line coach Paul Alexander less than halfway into his first season with the team. QB Dak Prescott has been sacked 23 times this season.