Kansas CITY, MO. (AP) -- Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs have
reached an agreement for him to become the team's new coach,
FOXSports.com has learned.
Reid has arrived in Kansas City and the Chiefs are close to making the
announcement later today.
Reid's deal Friday came hours after the Chiefs announced they had
parted with general manager Scott Pioli after four tumultuous seasons.
Reid would be inheriting a team that was 2-14 and matched the worst
finish in franchise history, but that also had five players voted to
the Pro Bowl.
It's expected that Reid would pursue longtime Packers personnel man
John Dorsey, one of his close confidants, to work with him as general
manager.
The two sides spent much of Thursday in negotiations for Reid to become
the Chiefs' coach, a person familiar with the situation told The
Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity
because he wasn't authorized to discuss the situation.
The discussions followed nine hours of talks Wednesday that went well
enough that Reid canceled plans to interview for other openings, the
person told the AP.
The Philadelphia Eagles fired Reid after 14 seasons on Monday, the same
day the Chiefs parted ways with coach Romeo Crennel after the worst
season in franchise history.
The search for Crennel's replacement has been led by Chiefs chairman
Clark Hunt, who intends to take on more responsibility in the
day-to-day operation of the franchise. Also on hand was team president
Mark Donovan, who has a connection to Reid after spending six seasons
as the Eagles' senior vice president of business operations.
Reid had been linked to the opening in Arizona before the Chiefs put on
the press.
The Cardinals now intend to interview former Chiefs coach Todd Haley, a
person familiar with their plans told the AP. Haley led the Chiefs to
the AFC West title in 2010, but was fired in December 2011 and spent
this past season as the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.
The opening in Kansas City is attractive on several levels: The Chiefs
had five Pro Bowl players and two others chosen as alternates, despite
their 2-14 record, and they have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft for
the first time in franchise history.
That selection could help the Chiefs fill a gaping void at quarterback.
Matt Cassel was benched midway through the season and Brady Quinn, who
was playing on a one-year deal, struggled as his replacement. Reid has
had success at developing quarterbacks in the past, working with
Donovan McNabb - whom he helped draft with the No. 2 pick - during his
time in Philadelphia and Brett Favre earlier in his career in Green Bay.
''What I am confident in is we'll have dramatically better play from
the quarterback position in 2013,'' Hunt said. ''I don't know whether
it'll be the ultimate, long-term solution or not. We'll just have to
see how it plays out.''
Reid's 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. The
franchise was just 3-13 the year before he arrived, and two years later
it went to the playoffs at 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.
''He had the love and respect of every individual in this
organization,'' Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said upon firing him. ''This
man is amazing to work with, smart and dedicated, and the record will
speak for itself.''
The past couple of years have been difficult for Reid, whose oldest
son, Garrett, died at training camp after a long battle with drug
addiction. Reid fired close friend and longtime assistant Juan castillo
in October and later fired defensive line coach Jim Washburn.
Now, Reid is about to get a fresh start.
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