By The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Vikings fired coach Mike Tice after Sunday’s victory over Chicago.

Owner Zygi Wilf announced he would not renew Tice’s contract in a statement less than an hour after the Vikings’ 34-10 win over the Bears in the regular season finale. Tice, who finished his fourth full season with a 32-32 overall record, had already addressed the media before the move was made public. The announcement came via press release after most players had left the Metrodome.

“I don’t know who was more shaken by it, him or me,” Tice said of what he called an emotional meeting with Wilf.

The timing of the move and the means by which it was delivered stunned the few players still at the Dome.

“It’s the owner’s decision,” said quarterback Brad Johnson, as he left the stadium with his family. “It’s a tough business, and I appreciate Mike and the way he treated me and the way he treated the team. I wish him greatness.”

Vermeil vows that he’s out of football for good

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With trademark tears in his eyes, Dick Vermeil said this is really it – a third retirement means he’s out of football.

Honest.

Unlike his other two retirements, there’ll be no returning to the profession he loves so dearly, Vermeil tearfully told a news conference Sunday after his Kansas City Chiefs beat Cincinnati 37-3.

He had told the team and staff the night before that he would step down after five years with the Chiefs and 15 years in the NFL. His retirement did not come as a surprise.

Nevertheless, he teared up and had to pause several times after the game Sunday while thanking Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt and team president Carl Peterson for giving him an opportunity.

“I didn’t get you to a Super Bowl, Lamar,” he told the owner, who sat a few feet away and also appeared to be tight-lipped. “But you’ll get there some day, and I’ll go with you.”

Vermeil said he had no plans for the future.

“I haven’t even thought about it,” he said. “I haven’t even thought about calling a moving van.”

When he looks back at a lifetime of coaching, Vermeil said he will remember the people.

He’ll think about the fresh-faced high school kids where it all began in San Jose and San Mateo, Calif. He’ll recall the youngsters at UCLA he took to the Rose Bowl and led to an upset of then-No. 1 Ohio State in 1976.

Texans to fire Capers, keep general manager

HOUSTON – The Houston Texans will fire coach Dom Capers, but will retain general manager Charley Casserly, a person close to the organization told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The Texans plan to make the announcement Monday, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The team lost Sunday to the San Francisco 49ers to finish the season 2-14, the worst record in the NFL and the worst record in the Texans’ four-season history.

The firing would make the second time Capers, 55, has been released from an expansion team in its fourth season. He was let go by the Carolina Panthers in 1998. Capers’ plan for bringing along the Texans slowly and building for future success worked well until this season. The Texans won seven games last season after winning five in 2003 and four in their first season.

Houston opened this season 0-6 before beating Cleveland and then losing six more. The Texans got a win over the Arizona Cardinals and then lost their last two games. They own the top pick in April’s draft.