Reports: Chiefs hire Haley as head coach has 1 comments

Feb 6th 2009, 16:10 | FFN-Score: 1 points

The Kansas City Chiefs have hired Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley to be their next head coach, according to several media reports.

Haley, who will turn 42 on Feb. 28, recently helped lead Arizona to Super Bowl XLIII, where it nearly won its first NFL title since 1947 but suffered a last-minute 27-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, for whom Haley was a ball boy in his youth.

The Chiefs would become the ninth team to replace its head coach, and Haley would be one of seven rookie head coaches to enter the 2009 season. Kansas City recently fired Herm Edwards, who went 15-33 in three seasons with the Chiefs, including losses in 21 of his last 23 games.

Haley and new Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli worked together for the New York Jets in the late 1990s when Haley was an offensive assistant and a wide receivers coach. Haley later coached the wide receivers for Chicago and Dallas. After a successful stint as Dallas' passing game coordinator in 2006, he joined Arizona in 2007 as offensive coordinator.

In 2007, Arizona was fifth in the NFL in passing offense and second in red-zone scoring percentage. In 2008, the Cardinals improved from 12th to fifth in total offense, and to second in passing offense. Larry Fitzgerald set NFL postseason receiving records for receptions (30), yards (546) and touchdowns (seven).

The Chiefs had no comment. It is not known if they have scheduled a press gathering for any major announcements.