Because of a scheduling quirk precipitated by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the San Diego Chargers will technically conclude their season with a bye. And after three straight non-winning seasons, head coach Mike Riley will end his tenure with a bye-bye.

Three league sources familiar with the situation confirmed for ESPN.com that Riley will be fired next week, possibly as early as Monday, the day after San Diego plays its final game of the season, a home contest against the Seattle Seahawks. The postponement of the NFL's Sept. 16 contests, which were moved to Jan. 6, means that the Chargers finish their schedule a week ahead of every other league team.

One assistant coach told ESPN.com that, while the staff has received no official notice yet, "we all know what's coming and have for some time now."

The departure of Riley, 48, will come as no surprise. ESPN.com reported two weeks ago that club officials had already decided his fate and that, barring a dramatic change of heart, Riley would be fired shortly after the end of the season. He was nearly dismissed after the 2000 season, when the Chargers posted a dismal 1-15 mark, but team president Dean Spanos decided continuity might be more important and retained him.

Riley has two seasons, worth a total of $1.5 million in salaries, remaining on a five-year contract.

Despite his denials, Riley twice attempted to exit the Chargers to pursue college head coach jobs in the last two years. In 2000, he was a candidate for the vacancy at Southern California, but San Diego officials denied him permission to speak to the school. Earlier this year, he leaked word through intermediaries that he was interested in the San Diego State opening, but then backed off when Chargers brass reminded him of a $750,000 loan responsibility he had to the team.

Both the flirtations with college openings irked team officials but sources agreed they played no role in the decision to dismiss Riley next week. Ironically, it is believed that Riley will become a candidate for the vacancy at Indiana University once his dismissal is official.

"You see, that old saying about nice guys finishing last, it's true," said one Chargers offensive veteran earlier this week. "I guess they also finish unemployed, too, huh?"

Indeed, Riley is one of the league's most affable head coaches, and his college coaching style was a refreshing departure for San Diego players when he was hired in 1999. But his record of 14-33 simply was not satisfactory and, after a surprising 5-2 start this season, San Diego has now lost eight consecutive games.

Only eight head coaches in NFL history had poorer winning percentages than Riley's .298 mark in their first three years and survived into a fourth campaign. San Diego was 8-8 in his first year but has won just six times in the past 31 outings.

Riley's status was tenuous from the outset of this season, because the Spanos family hired former Buffalo Bills general John Butler in the same capacity, and it was believed the entire staff was under heavy scrutiny from him this year. The Chargers in Butler's first season were very active in free agency this summer, but even the new additions could not help reverse their fortunes.

Butler has declined through the season to address Riley's status. Riley said last week he hoped to return for the 2002 season.

It is believed that current Chargers offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who has three years left on his contract, will not be considered as a successor to Riley and he might not be retained. None of the other assistants have time remaining on their contracts.

A high-ranking source in the organization said the team's priority is to hire a sideline boss with prior NFL head coaching experience, but conceded that might prove a difficult task. Former Dallas and Miami coach Jimmy Johnson is a confidant of Spanos and has served as an unofficial consultant to the team in the past, but is not likely to end his retirement to return to the league. The club will also consider current league coordinators and some high-profile coaches from the college ranks.

The conventional wisdom is that Butler will now turn to a more defensive-oriented coach, and some names with past Buffalo connections to the general manager have been rumored among the candidates he might consider. The list of possibilities could include former Bills assistant and current New York Jets defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell and current Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. Although there are reports Butler would consider former Buffalo and Denver head coach Wade Phillips, sources said he probably will not be a viable candidate for the job.

The name of former Buffalo head coach Marv Levy, inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer but now 76 years old, has even been raised. There is speculation as well that Minnesota coach Dennis Green, who owns a home in San Diego, would be interested if he is not retained by the Vikings or opts to leave the team following the season.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.