Gary Kubiak fired by Houston Texans

Jim Corbett | USA TODAY Sports

The 2014 season starts now for the Houston Texans.

Saying "this string of losses is unacceptable," Texans owner Bob McNair fired coach Gary Kubiak on Friday, one day after the underachieving 2-11 Texans lost 27-20 to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will serve as interim head coach.

"The last straw was losing. We have a lot better talent than Jacksonville,'' McNair said. "We are so disappointed and shocked by what has happened. … Gary accepted it and understands the situation."

McNair said that he decided to fire the 52-year-old Kubiak while flying back Thursday night.

A search for Kubiak's replacement has already begun, and McNair said Phillips will be considered for the job. Another potential candidate could be former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, a Texas native.

The Texans also fired special teams coordinator Joe Marciano and promoted his assistant, Bob Ligashesky.

In a statement Friday afternoon, Kubiak said:

"I want to thank Bob McNair and his family for giving me my first head coaching opportunity in the National Football League. Bob has treated me with the utmost class and respect throughout my career with the Texans. I am appreciative of him for bringing me back to Houston to coach my hometown team.

"I want to thank the players and coaches for all the work they have put in during my years with the Texans. Though we came up short this season, the work, effort and sacrifice they gave me and this organization over the last eight seasons is not to be taken for granted. I want to wish them all the best.

"I want to thank the people in the organization for their support over all the years. We could not have achieved our goals without their tireless work and commitment to our team.

"Lastly, my family and I want to thank the city of Houston for their support of the football team and our family. We had a great run here and we will never forget our back-to-back AFC South Championships. Coming back home was a dream come true for all of us. This will always be our home. Thank you."

The Texans entered this season with legitimate Super Bowl expectations but have failed miserably, losing 11 consecutive games. During Week 9 Kubiak suffered a mini-stroke and missed two games before returning.

Now, the team is without a clearcut answer at quarterback. Thursday night's loss to Jacksonville was sealed by quarterback Matt Schaub's 10th interception after Kubiak benched starter Case Keenum in a bid to spark his team.

"I truly felt that (Kubiak) would be with us until it was time to retire," McNair said. "But we have to do what's best for the organization. We're here to have a winning culture, and this year does not contribute to that.''

Kubiak was 61-63 with just two wild-card playoff appearances during his eight-season tenure since replacing Dom Capers in 2006.

"This has been a very disappointing year for the Texans organization,'' McNair said. "We started out with such high hopes, we started out with the best roster we've ever started a year with. … And to have this string of losses that we've sustained is just totally unacceptable. It's not what this organization is about. It's about winning and accountability."