Dolphins hire Philbin as head coach

Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin has become the Miami Dolphins’ seventh head coach in the past eight years.

The Dolphins announced the hiring Friday night and plan a news conference today.

Philbin landed his first head-coaching job less than two weeks after his son drowned in a Wisconsin river. Philbin spent a week away from the Packers, then rejoined the team last Sunday for its divisional playoff loss to the New York Giants.

Philbin has been with Green Bay since 2003, serving as offensive coordinator since 2007. Coach Mike McCarthy called the plays, but Philbin put together the game plan.

The Dolphins’ top choice, Jeff Fisher, turned them down a week ago to become coach of the St. Louis Rams.

Rams to play in London for next three years

The St. Louis Rams took the first step to becoming Britain’s “home” team, agreeing to play a regular-season NFL game in London in each of the next three seasons.

The Rams and New England Patriots meet at Wembley on Oct. 28.

Extra security for NFC championship

The San Francisco 49ers and the NFL have adopted extraordinary security measures for Sunday’s NFC championship against the New York Giants after New Orleans Saints fans complained of harassment by unruly 49ers faithful last week.

Undercover police will be dressed in Giants’ garb and on the lookout for nasty fans. Giants ticketholders will be handed a card as they enter Candlestick Park with details on how to contact police if they feel threatened. And more security cameras and undercover police officers will be in place to identify abusive fans.

Around the league

New England quarterback Tom Brady no longer is on the injury report for the AFC championship game against Baltimore. … Lawyers for Ben Roethlisberger and a woman who accused him of raping her at a Lake Tahoe hotel-casino in 2008 have reached a settlement that ends her civil lawsuit against the Steelers quarterback. … Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is retiring.