The Edmonton Elks have fired head coach and general manager Chris Jones following an 0-5 start to the 2024 season. Assistant general manager Geroy Simon has been named interim general manager, while offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jarious Jackson is now the interim head coach.
“Chris worked extremely hard to improve our football team over the last several seasons and we thank him for that,” said team president and CEO Rick LeLacheur in a statement. “There’s no question we’re a better team today than we were the previous two seasons, but ultimately this is a results-based business and the wins haven’t materialized.
“It’s always difficult to make changes of this significance during the season, but we owe it to everyone within the organization and to all our fans to hold people accountable when we fall short. There’s plenty of season remaining and we expect to see Geroy and Jarious help our players reach their full potential.”
Jones was hired as the head coach and general manager of the Elks in December 2021 after serving as the defensive coordinator of the Toronto Argonauts. He went 8-33 at the helm, his second stint with the team.
The 56-year-old native of South Pittsburg, Tenn. is 61-70 all-time as a CFL head coach, winning a Grey Cup with Edmonton in 2015. He was named the CFL’s Coach of the Year in 2018 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders before departing for a coaching role with the Cleveland Browns.
The Edmonton Elks (0-5) will visit the Ottawa Redblacks (3-2) on Friday, July 19 with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. EDT.
