OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Brian Billick never came close to

duplicating the success he enjoyed early in his career as head

coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and it finally cost him his job.

Billick was fired Monday, less than 24 hours after his team

concluded a season of high expectations with a disappointing 5-11

record. His entire staff, including defensive coordinator Rex Ryan,

also was dismissed.

"I believed that it was time for a change, I believed that we

have the nucleus of a team that can get back to the Super Bowl, and

we felt that in the next five years we had a better chance with a

new coach than leaving Brian in that position," said owner Steve

Bisciotti, who made the decision after consulting with team

president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome.

Billick won the 2001 Super Bowl in his second season with the

Ravens, but since Bisciotti took over full ownership in 2004,

Baltimore was 33-33. That included two losing seasons and only one

playoff appearance, a one-and-out performance in 2006.

"It's a gut feeling. I have one job here, and that's to have a

leader that I think gives us the best chance," Bisciotti said.

"We have been losing more than winning lately."

Billick led the Ravens to a franchise-best 13-3 record in 2006.

But Baltimore lost a team-record nine consecutive games this season

before ending the skid Sunday with a 27-21 win over Pittsburgh.

Baltimore offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel didn't have to

worry about losing his job; he already had agreed to become head

coach at his alma mater, UCLA. He remained with the Ravens for

their final game, and was surprised that Billick was let go.

"I left believing that the Raven thing was going to turn

around," Neuheisel said Monday. "We had a tough season two years

ago and came back and finished 13-3."

Bisciotti said he made the decision to fire Billick hours before

kickoff, and carried out the move Monday morning in a meeting at

the team's practice facility.

"He had to make a hard decision, and he did what he believes is

best for the Ravens," Billick said in a statement. "We are

friends and will remain friends."

Billick had three years left on a contract that pays $5 million

per season. Bisciotti determined a few weeks ago that he would give

Billick a chance to right things in 2008, but changed his mind

after talking with Cass, Newsome and other NFL owners.

"We believe that we will be better with fresh blood or we

wouldn't have made this decision," Bisciotti said. "We obviously

wouldn't fire Brian if we thought we were where we needed to be."

Ryan will be considered for the head coaching job, but Newsome

said he will "be calling and talking to a lot of people."

Billick's nine seasons with Baltimore was tied with

Philadelphia's Andy Reid as the third-longest current run with the

same team and behind Tennessee's Jeff Fisher and Denver's Mike Shanahan. He took the Ravens to the playoffs in 2000, 2001, 2003

and 2006 and finished with an 80-64 record.