In the 1970s, Penn State recruited Matt Millen to play defensive tackle for the Nittany Lions, and under the tutelage of Joe Paterno, he earned the accolade of All-American athlete – a title that is highly coveted in collegiate sports.

Thirty years later, the 50-year-old four-time Super Bowl champion went on to become the president of the Detroit Lions, and fans of the team expected great things – but ended up with one of the worst records in National Football League history.

For years, rabid fans have been calling for Millen’s head on a silver platter, and now, they have finally gotten their wish – figuratively speaking, of course.

Bloomberg reports:

Matt Millen has been fired as president of the Detroit Lions after seven years…

 

Millen learned of the firing last night and was packing his office and telling employees this morning, the News Corp. unit reported without saying where it got the information. Lions spokesman Matt Barnhart didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

 

The firing comes two days after Lions Vice Chairman William Clay Ford Jr. told reporters that Millen should leave his post. The Lions have the worst record in the 32-team league since Millen took over as president in 2001, and fans have staged protests against him and petitioned for his removal.

Ouch – somewhere JoePa, the winningest coach in collegiate history, is shaking his head over his fallen, underperforming pupil.

Where will the now-defunct president end up next? No one knows, but the odds of someone else hiring him in the NFL are slim to none.
 

In other words, NCAA teams better watch out!