[Topeka Capital-Journal] Dick Vermeil on Tuesday wrote the epitaph to his five-year career in Kansas City.

“Did we do all the things we wanted to do, or were paid to get done? Not quite,” Vermeil said. “But, did we fail? No way.”

What was supposed to be a routine end-of-year press briefing Tuesday instead became Vermeil’s farewell address to the troops. Breaking into tears frequently as he addressed his coaches, some players and support staff in the banquet room at the Arrowhead Club, Vermeil closed out a remarkable 32-year coaching career — 15 as an NFL head coach — by lamenting that he wasn’t able to achieve his dream of taking the Chiefs to the Super Bowl.

“We didn’t meet our goals,” Vermeil admitted. “The main thing (the Super Bowl) didn’t become the main thing.”

“But it’s been a great career, and I’m not going to leave here hanging my head. We just didn’t quite get it done.”

Acknowledging that the Chiefs should have advanced to postseason play more than their one appearance after a 13-3 season in 2003, Vermeil called his 44-36 record with only two winning seasons in Kansas City “not good enough.”

“But with that said, I hang up my cleats knowing that even though we did not meet my own personal expectations, we did accomplish a number of worthwhile things that we should take pride in.”