Chiefs Hire Pioli as New GM

Chiefs Hire Pioli as New GM
January 13th, 2009 @ 6:37 pm; ChiefsWarpath.com
1,177 Views l 40 Comments

[Yahoo Sports] Scott Pioli, who helped build and lead a dynasty in New England, is now in charge of a Kansas City franchise which hasn’t won a playoff game in 14 years.

The 43-year-old Pioli will be introduced on Wednesday as Chiefs general manager, replacing Carl Peterson.

“He will have complete charge of football operations,” Ryan Petkoff, a spokesman for Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, told The Associated Press. “He will report only to Clark.”

The fate of coach Herm Edwards and his staff was not immediately known.

Pioli, who became vice president of player personnel for the Patriots in 2002 and spent nine years working with head coach Bill Belichick, also interviewed for the general manager vacancy this month in Cleveland.

He inherits a young team coming off a 2-14 season, but is stepping into a situation that seems ripe for a quick turnaround.

The fan base is loyal, though restive, and the team will be playing next year in a virtually new stadium. Arrowhead, which opened in 1972 and is notorious for being loud and rough on visiting teams, is undergoing a $325 million renovation, which includes new luxury boxes, wider concourses and enhanced amenities in addition to new practice facilities, an enlarged indoor field and a brand new state-of-the-art headquarters building.

In addition, the Chiefs are about $32 million under the salary cap, extra money that will come in handy because KC owns the overall No. 3 pick in the draft. Besides that, there are a number of promising young players who Edwards was counting on as the foundation of his rebuilding project.

40 Comments

I have been a Chiefs fan in exile this season. And will remain so until Herm is no longer roaming the sidelines. But this move today was a huge step in bringing me back!! I mentioned this gentleman in a commentary I made on the Warpath a few years ago as a great candidate to come to the rescue of our beloved Chiefs. Great move C. Hunt!! You have now completed step one in the process and now all that is needed is the removal of the rest of the cancer. Please do not override Pioli when he wants to run Herm out! But once again, we are on the way back!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Goldzone — January 13, 2009 @ 6:46 pm

As per Nick Britt……..

ESPN’s Michael Smith and NFL Network’s Adam Schefter are reporting that it is a done deal and Scott Pioli has been seen packing up his stuff.

Smith also reports that the hiring of Pioli likely means head coach Herm Edwards will be fired. According to Smith and ESPN, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnulo is the Chiefs #1 candidate at this point, which is news to us. Expect an announcement of Herm’s firing to come tommorrow.

Thanks to Nick for the info.

Comment by Kansas City Krusher — January 13, 2009 @ 6:56 pm

YES! YES! YES! I hope your right about Spagnulo too.

Comment by Jeff in VA — January 13, 2009 @ 7:03 pm

I FEEL A SUPERBOWL COMING ON! SO MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO EVEN THE OFF SEASON WILL BE EXCITING! GO CHIEFS!

Comment by T-REX — January 13, 2009 @ 7:24 pm

I haven’t been this excited about the chiefs in very long time

Comment by zyker — January 13, 2009 @ 7:33 pm

This is very good hell it’s GREAT.

Comment by chiefs big truck — January 13, 2009 @ 7:52 pm

Yup, I heard it too. They already said that more then likely Herm Edwards and his staff are outta here and that Steve Spagnola is considered the “frontrunner” for the head coaching position in KC. I too haven’t been this excited about a front office change or coaching change since ……. well ……… NEVER!!! I’ve been a Chiefs fan since I’ve been a football fan, since 1989 when I was 11 years old. I think Clark Hunt is doing an awesome job so far and with the supposed $32 mill. under the cap they say were at or projected to be. That leaves plenty of money to sign all the new draft picks and maybe sign a few young free agents that might be enticed NOW to play in Kansas City with King Carl and Herm gone. What a glorious day for all of us!!! WOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Comment by Marques — January 13, 2009 @ 8:39 pm

Ok first off let me say im excited as well.
Having said that lets not go the way of herm bashing all day long.
Yea he may have not been a successful head coach in kansas city but he still lost his job.
Im sure a few of you worked at a job where it didnt work out for you and a million people were not praising that you got fired.
Second lets not crown the chiefs the super bowl champs quite yet. Lets see what pioli does in the next few months.
Again do not take my comments for not being a fan.
I believe that change was the only thing that would fix this.
Lets just not jump off the deep end either.

Comment by GoogleyMoogley — January 13, 2009 @ 8:56 pm

HELL YES

maybe he can bring Brady down here lol

Comment by chefs — January 13, 2009 @ 9:11 pm

I JUST JERKED OFF IN YOUR FRENCH TOAST!!!!

Comment by Huh? — January 13, 2009 @ 9:33 pm

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Herm Edwards — January 13, 2009 @ 9:34 pm

The greatest day of my life… Thank God.

Comment by Chris — January 13, 2009 @ 9:48 pm

It would be extreme detriment to the franchise if we bought or traded for any new England qb. I’m satisfied with getting pioli but he is only one piece of the puzzle. Loving defense I would be enthralled with the choice of spagnulo. Hopefully he could find a use for dorsey who is an unnatural fit for DT but a great fit for DE in a 3-4. I could see my earlier prediction of germ as db coach and Gunther as linebacker coach but both for only one year to keep coaching their young talent. Who knows but I now have more trust in Hunt and am now willing to renew my season tickets. I hope to see 79000 in September.

Comment by ChiefJT — January 13, 2009 @ 9:53 pm

Think god for Pioli!!!!!!!! bring on king Cower…..

Comment by vince — January 13, 2009 @ 10:05 pm

It’s about time. And i’ve said i wanted to keep Edwards, but with the canidates i’ve seen being thrown around, to hell with Herm, bring on Spagnuolo

Comment by Travito — January 13, 2009 @ 10:19 pm

this is a great day for Chiefs nation! He will lead us to the promised land!

Comment by reedeasy77 — January 13, 2009 @ 11:04 pm

GOOD THINGS ARE IN STORE FOR K.C. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE HOW THINGS SHAPE UP HERE IN THE FUTURE. GO CHIEFS

Comment by calichiefsfan74 — January 14, 2009 @ 12:09 am

F you Hermeroid. We are “over it”. No need to get a box, Pioli is gonna give you his right after he unpacks. What a joke of a coach you were from day 1. Now, as I see it you have 2 choices, you can either get a job with the Raiders, or you can start practicing saying “Would you like fries with that”.

Comment by Rob — January 14, 2009 @ 12:13 am

Easy there guys. I’m happy about Pioli too, but jesus, chill, the guys not gonna push a button and put kc in the super bowl. I’m happy carls gone and herm as well, and it is a reason for optimism. I’m just afraid that because what herm has dessimated may be too much for pioli to fix just like that. Carl and Herm hands down ruined the Chiefs, but I’m afraid this change may cause “over-optimism,” which will only lead to greater disappointment for our fanbase next year. Realistically, will we win more than two games next season? no question. Go to the playoffs? doubtful. Go to the SUPER BOWL. no. Hang in there fans, better days ahead. Just dont get too caught up in the hype. There is too much to fix to expect this man to accomplish in one offseason.

Comment by Jeff — January 14, 2009 @ 12:14 am

——————————————————————————–

yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i want to be fierd no i don’t like the chiefs i think they suck your favorite coach Herm Edwards

Comment by Herm Edwards â€” January 13, 2009 @ 9:34 pm

this is what he said not me GO KC SUPERBOWL I SMELL ONE NEXT YEAR

Comment by Michael Diedrich — January 14, 2009 @ 1:08 am

Hopefully he will be holding that same trophy up for the Chiefs.

Comment by JRock in Texas — January 14, 2009 @ 1:18 am

Finally!!! Now we will be able to see Herm on the Coors light comercials.

Comment by chiefsfan88 — January 14, 2009 @ 1:59 am

I too, am very happy and excited, the one thing I am most anticipating seeing is the news conference. I want to see Tony Gonzales sitting up there with him, onboard knowing Herm Edwards is gone, and then I will be really excited!

I want to see Tony retire a Chief, and I want Herm Edwards gone. I would not mind if the Chiefs kept him on in a defensive capacity, or kicked him up to the front office somewhere. I like the guy’s attitude, everything he stands for the way he carries himself, I just don’t like him as a head coach and I never have, whether it was in New York or in Kansas City!

Comment by Mike Noonan — January 14, 2009 @ 7:26 am

Ok now

Kirk Ferentz as the Head Coach
And then a Quarterback to lead the team

Comment by kcchiefs19692003 — January 14, 2009 @ 7:36 am

The Chiefs should be able to get more than 2 wins

Comment by Justin Layton — January 14, 2009 @ 11:25 am

Let’s sign a veteran on defense such as Peppers or Haynesworth, Suggs, or if available Ray Lewis. That defense needs veteran leadership. Despite Cassel being a good QB I do not want to sign him unless he becomes an outright free agent and doesn’t get franchised. We need LB’s a DE and a playmaking WR to go with Bowe. I like Bradley but only enough to be our number 3. But if we stockpiled talent elsewhere I could live with him at number 2. We must get back to the formula that had us as the winningest team in the 90′s and that’s Defense. So let’s sign Spag or a qualified defensive mind to be our head coach. I don’t think Herm is absolutely horrible but I want a coach that is not afraid to get in a player’s face. And a coach that will actually coach during the game. Not just pat guys on the back all game long. A coach that will hold his players accountable after all a lot of these players are one to two years removed from college.

Comment by Nate — January 14, 2009 @ 11:47 am

Do you guys think that LJ will be back and starting week #1. We need to just get him focused so that we do not need to pick up any running backs. I hope Pioli signs Julius Peppers as our end and drafts M. Crabtree to play next to D.Bowe. If we are going to play in the spread that could be awesome. Or pick up Suggs or draft Curry LB out of Wake Forest.

Comment by Chief Brad — January 14, 2009 @ 11:50 am

we will have to let Pioli and the new coach, evaluate the talent that we now have and trust in his decisions as to which direction we will need to go. That is if he is the talent guru that he is said to be. I for one will give him that trust for now. One thing for sure is, he has his work cut out for him. As soon as herm is gone, chiefs stuff will get unpacked again!! GO CHIEFS!!

Comment by Dennis — January 14, 2009 @ 12:50 pm

Well we have to wait and see the direction that Pioli wants to go with all of this.

As GM he is going to have alot of say in the future of this franchise and where it goes from here. In one hand he may evaluate the talents that we have set in place already, then get the right coach to coach that particular talent set and then set out to draft around that.

But also keep in mind there is a chance that alot of this rebuilding that we have been doing over the past couple of years could all have been for nothing if he comes in with an image of what he wants and us not fitting it, so he could start cutting guys and bumping guys down the depth chart into backup roles and trying to make underacheivers sign lesser contracts and cause possible disputes.

Im all for the future of the Chiefs, but I really would say dont get incredibly excited for next year. As we saw with the Falcons this year, there is a chance that we will be a very good competetive team. But I think that next year we will look exactly like what we are, and that is a team that is still in a bit of a rebuilding phase.

Comment by pentekno2 — January 14, 2009 @ 1:35 pm

A few of you are saying to others on here “don’t get so worked up, I don’t think we will be going to the Super Bowl next season”.

Nobody is saying that, they are simply saying we could be headed in that direction. That’s what I think too.

Also for the guy that said “we need Tony G. to retire as a Chief.”
Even if Tony goes to another team he will still retire as a Chief. He even said this year when the trade rumors were going on that he will always be a Chief.

For example: Derrick Alexander was a WR for the Chiefs for a number of years and then went to the Vikings at the end of his career, but he still retired as a Chief. I would think that Kennison will do the same when he is done playing in St. Louis.

By the way, getting Pioli is AWESOME! I am definitely for getting Steve Spagnoula. Defensive minded coaches are the best. I know Herm is defensive minded, but he just couldn’t cut it.

I agree Nate, that was my problem with Herm too. The opposing team’s RB would get through 7 or 8 tackles and Herm wouldn’t jump down our players throat or yell at them. DO SOMETHING HERM! instead he would just nod his head no and have a smirk on his face.

Comment by Chief Tom — January 14, 2009 @ 2:19 pm

Its like I said a few months ago, our problems started with ownership! Lamar (love the guy) just couldn’t or wouldn’t see that CP had to go. Clark comes in and I think believed all along that it was time to fix this team and make a real run at a championship. Pioli is a great hire, and I think we will see a Super Bowl win it just might take a few more years. But this team is finally on the right path, and we will see some a$$ kickin soon on the field.

Comment by Michael Raite — January 14, 2009 @ 2:53 pm

OK HERM BLOWS A$$!!! IF SCOTT KEEPS HIM THAT WILL SHOW YOU HOW MUCH OF A P*$$Y HE (COULD BE) SIT TIGHT CHIEFS FANS THIS COULD GET INTERESTING!!! CAN YOU SAY MATT CASSELL

Comment by jimcarey69 — January 14, 2009 @ 4:23 pm

Wow just what i thought
Come this guy here already is calling out pioli. Nice genious. No matt cassell is not coming to the chiefs. He is going to sit on the bench backing up tom brady for the franchise tag of 14 million and eat his cheetos.
Jimcarey69 i hope one day you lose your job and everyone in the building says you suck A$$. Herm may not have been a good head coach but hes still a person.

Comment by GoogleyMoogley — January 14, 2009 @ 6:27 pm

I still think Herm will be around for one more year. Clark likes him. I hope I’m wrong. Pioli was only one piece of the New England success. They do have a great coach and great QB. I hope he can find that kind of talent for us. We need both. KC has been longing for a great QB since Lenny retired.

Comment by Jeff in VA — January 14, 2009 @ 6:30 pm

so what’s gonna happen, is herm gonna stay another year and get 4 wins and then lobby for another because we’re rebuilding and then another and pretty soon you have carl peterson with his five year plan and it’s 20 years later. herm is not an nfl coach and no matter how nice a guy he is or how well respected he is in the league, this is a business and empty seats at arrowhead should have sent a strong message to clark hunt. too many great football minds out there to be hermcuffed for any more time at all.

Comment by mark f. — January 14, 2009 @ 10:26 pm

I will be disappointed if he decides to keep Herm, but I will not say Pioli was a bad choice. I think Pioli is just buying some time to look around, after all the man just got hired 2 days ago!

Comment by Chief Tom — January 15, 2009 @ 2:32 am

Here we go boys and girls. ’09 is looking great thus far. I’m just glad we’ve got someone in our organization who has won consistently and is accustomed to it. Hopefully it rubs off on everyone else sooner than later. Hallelujah chiefs nation!!!

Comment by dbowe82 — January 15, 2009 @ 10:26 am

Thank you Lord for hiring Pioli!!!!!!!!!!……He is the “Main Ingredient” to rebuilding this franchise and sending the Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory. Great times are ahead for the CHIEFS NATION.