Source: Reid, Chiefs close to a deal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Andy Reid was in deep negotiations with the Kansas City Chiefs to become their next coach, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The two sides were working out the details and Reid had cancelled plans to interview for other openings, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations.
The Philadelphia Eagles fired Reid on Monday, the same day the Chiefs parted ways with coach Romeo Crennel.
The Chiefs have a connection with Reid through team president Mark Donovan, who spent six years as the Eagles’ senior vice president of business operations before joining Kansas City. Several members of the Chiefs met with Reid, who has also been linked to openings in Arizona and San Diego, for close to nine hours on Wednesday.
Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt began his search for Crennel’s replacement in Atlanta, where he interviewed offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter on Tuesday. One day later, Falcons coach Mike Smith said that Koetter had signed a new contract and would not be pursuing a head coaching job.
Hunt told the AP this week that he would lead the search for the Chiefs’ next coach, not embattled general manager Scott Pioli. Hunt said he had “the appropriate resources available to help me in the process,” but would not say who is assisting him. It’s unclear whether Pioli would be retained if Reid becomes the Chiefs’ coach.
Hunt’s decision to spearhead the coaching search coincides with his decision to take greater control of football operations. Pioli had been responsible for all personnel moves since he was hired in 2009, including the hiring and firing of the head coach.
The opening in Kansas City is attractive on several levels: The Chiefs had five Pro Bowl players despite their 2-14 record, they have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft for the first time in franchise history, and it appears that Hunt is willing to give his next coach more authority to make personnel decisions than in years past.
The Eagles were just 12-20 the past two seasons, but Reid’s overall record of 130-93-1 represents the most wins in franchise history. He also has experience turning around a program — the Eagles were just 3-13 the year before he arrived, and two years later they finished 11-5 and second in the NFC East.
That was the first of five straight years in which the Eagles won at least 11 games, and included a trip to the Super Bowl after the 2004 season.
AP Sports Writer John Wawrow contributed to this report.