Earlier this morning, the Kansas City Chiefs announced the firing of General Manager Scott Poili. Moments later, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen reported that they have reached an agreement with Andy Reid to become their next head coach.
From @mortreport and me: Andy Reid has reached agreement to become next HC of Chiefs, pending review of contract by each side's attorneys.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 4, 2013
It was originally expected that Reid would become the next head coach of the Arizona Cardinals who fired Ken Whisenhunt on the same day Reid was axed. Negotioations quickly broke down in Arizona and the Chiefs quickly moved in to begin talks with the ex-Eagles head coach.
Poili’s firing is an in interesting move as he was a part of the group that reached out to Reid and brought him in for an interview on Wednesday where the groundwork was laid for todays agreement. With Poili gone, Reid will be able to bring in his own staff from top to bottom without a GM already in place to oversee all personnel decisions.
According to The Kansas City Star, one of the reasons Reid took the job was because of a talk he had with former Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil who told him to take the job.
Former Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil gave Andy Reid one word of advice about taking the job in Kansas City.
“Go,” Vermeil said.
Vermeil, who lives in Philadelphia, speaks to Reid on a regular basis, including earlier this week before a contingent of Chiefs executives, led by chairman Clark Hunt, interviewed Reid for nine hours on Wednesday.
Reid will have his work cut out for him in Kansas City, who were one of the worst teams in the league this season finishing a mere 2-14 and didn’t hold a lead in a game until Week 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Reid is also adopting a team without a solid starting quarterback which could prove to be problematic considering his history for neglecting to run the ball. The Chiefs have one of the league’s more prolific young running backs in Jamaal Charles, who will need to be leaned on until the quarterback play improves.
Reid’s Eagles were 4-12 this past season and finished last in the NFC East.
