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Herm Edwards Fired, Shanahan next?

Posted on January 23, 2009

ESPN is reporting that former Denver Bronco coach Mike Shanahan is close to a deal with the Chiefs.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Herm Edwards has been fired as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Edwards led the team during its worst two-year span in team history, has been fired, going 6-26. He goes out with a three-year regular-season record of 15-33 and with one year remaining on a four-year, $12 million contract.

Edwards had been waiting to learn his fate since president and general manager Carl Peterson abruptly resigned on Dec. 15. When Scott Pioli was introduced as Peterson’s successor on Jan. 13, he was noncommittal and said only that he intended to speak with Edwards.

herm-edwards-fired(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

—CHIEFS PRESS RELEASE—

HERM EDWARDS RELIEVED OF DUTIES AS CHIEFS HEAD COACH

The Kansas City Chiefs today announced that head coach Herm Edwards has been relieved of his duties effective immediately.

“On behalf of my family, I want to thank Herm for his service to the Chiefs,” Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt said. “After careful deliberation over the last week, Scott and I decided that it was in the best interests of the Chiefs to move forward in a different direction.

“This was not an easy decision. Herm is an outstanding football coach and a man of integrity. We appreciate his leadership over the past three seasons, and we wish him all the best in the future.”

General Manager Scott Pioli reiterated Hunt’s sentiments.

“Since my arrival last week, Herm and I have had several conversations as part of my overall evaluation of the football operation. After careful consideration, Clark and I felt that it was best to make a change. What I conveyed last week in the press conference I still believe to be true – Herm is a great man and a tremendous football coach. He respects the game and the league, and he is passionate about his players and his craft.

“Over the course of this last week, I have also spent time meeting and visiting with most of the assistant coaches, and I will continue to do so over the next several days. All of the coaches from last year’s staff, with the exception of one, are under contract through the 2009 season.”

Hunt said the search for the 11th head coach in Chiefs history is underway.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Hunt Family for the opportunity to spend nine seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs,” Edwards stated. “There is not a more gracious family in all of professional sports than the Hunts. To the players and coaches who worked so hard for our team, I appreciate their efforts. This is going to be a very good football team. I respect the tough decision that was made to move in a new direction. I wish the players and the organization the very best as they move forward.”

Edwards was named the 10th head coach in Chiefs history on January 9, 2006. He finished his tenure in Kansas City with a 15-33 regular season record and was 0-1 in the postseason. Edwards guided Kansas City to a 9-7 record to qualify for the playoffs in his first season with the club in 2006.

Edwards arrived in Kansas City after a five-year stint as the head coach of the N.Y. Jets (2001-05). He compiled a 39-41 regular season record in five seasons as the head coach of the Jets and was 2-3 in the playoffs. Including a 2-4 postseason mark, he owns an overall 56-77 (.421) record as an NFL head coach.

herm-edwards-fired2

Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter are going head to head on this one with conflicting reports.

Per ESPN’s Chris Mortensen:
The Chiefs have been in negotiations to land Mike Shanahan as their next coach and a deal is near, league sources told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network says it’s not Shanahan:
Despite reports running rampant that Kansas City is negotiating with former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan they are not, sources said Friday.

The Chiefs never have made any contact with Shahanan, never. And there have been no contract negotiations.

Schefter is a former Denver beat writer so this is something to keep an eye on.

Schefter says the Chiefs have Bill Cowher at the top of the list:
One NFL source said a name near or at the top of the Chiefs’ list is former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who has been adamant that he will not coach this season. Still, the source said the Chiefs are interested in Cowher, though it’s uncertain whether they would be able to entice him to come out of retirement.

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt:
“On behalf of my family, I want to thank Herm for his service to the Chiefs,” Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt said. “After careful deliberation over the last week, Scott and I decided that it was in the best interests of the Chiefs to move forward in a different direction.

“This was not an easy decision. Herm is an outstanding football coach and a man of integrity. We appreciate his leadership over the past three seasons, and we wish him all the best in the future.”

GM Scott Pioli:
“Since my arrival last week, Herm and I have had several conversations as part of my overall evaluation of the football operation. After careful consideration, Clark and I felt that it was best to make a change. What I conveyed last week in the press conference I still believe to be true – Herm is a great man and a tremendous football coach. He respects the game and the league, and he is passionate about his players and his craft.

“Over the course of this last week, I have also spent time meeting and visiting with most of the assistant coaches, and I will continue to do so over the next several days. All of the coaches from last year’s staff, with the exception of one, are under contract through the 2009 season.”

Herm Edwards:
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Hunt Family for the opportunity to spend nine seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs,” Edwards stated. “There is not a more gracious family in all of professional sports than the Hunts. To the players and coaches who worked so hard for our team, I appreciate their efforts. This is going to be a very good football team. I respect the tough decision that was made to move in a new direction. I wish the players and the organization the very best as they move forward.”

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