Since 2010, the Chiefs have had just three head coaches, Todd Haley (begun in 2009), Romeo Crennel, and Andy Reid. The Chiefs organization was in a very different place at the start of the decade, and with the way they are finishing the decade, there is very little to worry about. Below I will break down the Kansas City coaches over the past decade.
Todd Haley, HC from 2009-2011, Grade: C-
Todd Haley’s time as the head coach of the Chiefs gave us three completely different seasons. Scott Pioli came from New England and hired Todd Haley as head coach. Haley was coming from Arizona where he was offensive coordinator and really stood out. He helped lead the Cardinals to a Super Bowl. But in his first season he led the Chiefs to just a 4-12 record. That season he and his team struggled all around; Haley won just one out of seven challenges as HC, and his team couldn’t finish out games. His win percentage was .250 but the excuse commonly used was that it was only his first season. The following season Haley led the Chiefs to a 10-6 record (.625) and stepped up for the team. He won six out of ten challenges that season, showing the Chiefs organization and fans that he could be the leader the team desperately needed. Haley led them to a Wild Card game vs the Ravens, but the team scored in the first quarter and then never again.
Haley’s third and final season was a short and just simply okay or below average. He led them to a 5-8 (.385) record, before being relieved of his duties as head coach after week 14. Overall, he held a .422 win percentage with the Chiefs, which wasn’t necessarily terrible, but it was definitely not what the organization was looking for. Haley was meant to be an offensive coordinator, nothing higher, and he proved that with the Chiefs.
Romeo Crennel, HC from 2011-2012, Grade: F
Romeo Crennel simply just did nothing for the Chiefs as their head coach. He took over as interim head coach in 2011 after Todd Haley was fired. He finished the 2011-2012 season with two wins and one loss. This led to him being hired as the full time head coach for the Chiefs, which set up one of the worst NFL seasons in history. That season the Chiefs went 2-14 under Crennel. At the time, the Chiefs had 5 Pro Bowl players, but ranked dead last in scoring, and lost all but one game in the division. If Crennel did anything for the Chiefs, it was set up the beginning of a dynasty with Andy Reid at head coach. Other than that, Crennel’s time with the Chiefs was disastrous and a huge waste of time and talent.
Andy Reid, HC from 2013-present, Grade: B+
Andy Reid single-handedly turned around the Chiefs franchise, even during his first season as head coach. The team went from a 2-14 record under Crennel to an 11-5 record under Reid. Reid took the team to the playoffs in his first year, but eventually lost this game. While he has been the head coach for the Chiefs, he does not have a single losing season or win percentage under .500. Since his hire, the Chiefs have been to nine playoff games in just seven seasons, with the ninth game being played against the Titans on Sunday, January 19th, 2020. There is no doubt that Reid is one of the best things to happen to the Kansas City Chiefs organization and he is one of the best coaches we’ve ever seen in the NFL. He is widely regarded as one of the premier offensive minds. Reid has the chance to prove his importance this season, with another Super Bowl chance on the line. The reason I give Reid just a “B” grade is for that reason as he’s had many opportunities for more playoff wins or to go to different Super Bowls but in the end it seems like he gets out coached and mismanages challenges and the clock. Reid needs to break this ceiling and win a Super Bowl for the Chiefs and their fans, or his grade will drop from a “B” among most very quickly. He needs to show that he can finish out a season.
