Sept. 17, 2015; Kansas City, MO: Chiefs coach Andy Reid (right) and running back coach Eric Bieniemy (left) on the sidelines against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. (Chris Neal/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs on Friday announced coaching moves, including five new roles and five additions.
Britt Reid, the son of head coach Andy Reid, was promoted from assistant defensive line coach to defensive line coach. He replaces Tommy Brasher, who will now work on special projects.
Al Harris was elevated from defensive assistant/secondary coach to secondary coach/cornerbacks. Harris’ new role will focus on the cornerback position and he will continue to work with defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas.
Corey Matthaei moves from offensive quality control coach to become the assistant quarterbacks coach and will have a role with the offensive line, while Mark DeLeone will have an expanded role as the assistant linebackers coach.
“Over the past three seasons we’ve been able to develop some very talented young coaches from within our program,” coach Andy Reid said in a statement. “Britt, Corey and Mark all started with us as quality control coaches when I first arrived here in Kansas City. Al has done a nice job making the transition from Pro Bowl player to an effective coach.
“They’ve each grown significantly and shown me with their abilities, work ethic and knowledge of the game, that they have earned their opportunities for expanded roles.”
The Chiefs decided to move Brasher to a new role after he and Reid had a meeting at the end of the 2015 season.
“Coach Brasher has been one of the best in the business for a long time,” Reid said. “After the season, we sat down together and he expressed to me that it was time for a change. He’s seen quite a bit in his 28 NFL seasons. Together we decided to put him into a special projects role, and he will continue to be a valuable asset we can use on and off the field.”
The five new hires are Joe Bleymaier as an offensive quality control coach, Taylor Embree as a defensive assistant, Mike Smith as the assistant defensive line coach, while Devin Woodhouse and Ryan Reynolds join the strength and conditioning staff.
Bleymaier joins the Chiefs after serving as an offensive quality control coach at Colorado; Embree served as a graduate assistant (offense) at UCLA; Smith served as a co-defensive coordinator/defensive line at Texas Tech; Woodhouse was a strength and conditioning intern with the Chiefs; and Reynolds served as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at UCLA.
“I see great potential in these young coaches,” Reid said of the new hires. “We feel they have the characteristics and work ethic it takes to contribute to our staff and the success of our team.”
Reid’s staff has a new look after former offensive coordinator Doug Pederson left to take over as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. Pederson then hired away two members of the Chiefs staff: Assistant offensive line coach Eugene Chung and quality control coach Dino Vasso.
To replace Pederson, the Chiefs named Brad Childress and Matt Nagy as co-offensive coordinators in January.
The Chiefs also lost Brent Salazar, who took a post with the Minnesota Vikings as the strength and conditioning coach after serving as the assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Chiefs.
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Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
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