[Kansas City.com] After two months of speculation and a wild Thursday in New York, the Chiefs are on the verge of getting their man.

Herman Edwards cleaned out his office Thursday and was waiting to speak to Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson later in the night, a source close to the situation said. Edwards’ five-year run with the New York Jets is over, one day after the Chiefs were negotiating to bring him to Kansas City, nearly one week after coach Dick Vermeil announced his retirement.

The Jets canceled Edwards’ season-ending news conference Thursday, and TV trucks were camped outside the team training complex at Hofstra University. Edwards was nowhere to be found.

On Thursday afternoon, Peterson was in Indianapolis interviewing Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks. Peterson, known as one of the toughest negotiators in the NFL, may have been creating leverage for his discussions with the Jets. In a span of about 24 hours, negotiations heated up, apparently cooled down, then resumed late Thursday.

Edwards was the buzz of New York radio on Thursday as Jets fans speculated over how the Chiefs could steal away him for middle-round draft picks.

He reportedly wanted a contract extension from owner Woody Johnson and is in the bottom rung of the pay scale among NFL head coaches. Edwards is believed to make about $2 million a year.

In the days since Vermeil’s New Year’s Eve announcement, the Chiefs have interviewed three known candidates – Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel, Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders and Meeks.

But by late Thursday, it was obvious the Chiefs had their man in sight. He’s an old friend, much like the Vermeil hire in 2001.