The search continues for the next head coach to call Arrowhead Stadium home.
Reports around the league are fast and furious since “Black Monday,” but that’s what happens when seven teams, including the Chiefs, are in the hunt to fill head coach vacancies.
There are some things to keep in mind as the Chiefs go through this process, such as the misdirection of reports that contradict other reports. And that scenario is best captured by Cardinals beat writer Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic in a blog post, “Byproduct of coaching searches can leave a stench.”
“It’s hard to know what, or who, to believe,” Somers wrote. “Agents, teams and coaches all have their agendas. And some leak information in hopes of influencing the process. It pays to be skeptical and consider the sources and their track records for accuracy.”
Good words of advice by Somers.
In the meantime, the below will be a running list of confirmed head coach candidates scheduled to meet with the Chiefs as news breaks.
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• Dec. 31, Monday
The Chiefs fire Romeo Crennel after team finishes 2-14.
Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and special teams coach Keith Armstrong identified as the first candidates to meet with the Chiefs, Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com reports.
UPDATE: Koetter interviewed with Chiefs on Tuesday, and then signed a contract extension on Wednesday to stay in Atlanta, Marc Sessler of NFL.com reports.
• Jan. 2, Wednesday
Former Eagles coach Andy Reid met with the Chiefs on Wednesday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Reid is scheduled to be in Arizona on Thursday to interview with the Cardinals.
UPDATE 5:45 p.m. CT: Reid interviewed for almost nine hours with Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt and general manager Scott Pioli, according to Philadelphia sportscaster Jeff Skversky of WPVI-TV.
UPDATE 10:28 p.m. CT: Reid sent a Wednesday night text message to Reuben Frank of CSN-Philadelphia, saying the “interview went well.” Reid’s trip to Arizona, originally scheduled for Thursday, may be pushed to Friday, according to Frank.
Update 10:45 p.m CT: Sports anchor Howard Eskin of FOX 29 in Philadelphia gave this on-air report on Wednesday night. Note Eskin mentions Chiefs team president Mark Donovan, who served with the Eagles as senior vice president of business operations from 2003 to 2008, was a member of the Chiefs interview team.
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UPDATE 11:55 p.m. CT.: Frank followed up his earlier tweet with an article for CSN’s website. A few nuggets Frank points out in the article includes: “Reid won more playoff games during the nine-year stretch from 2000 through 2008 (10) than the Chiefs have won in their 53-year history (eight).”
• Jan 3, Thursday
Conflicting reports on Thursday morning emerge on how close the Chiefs and Andy Reid are. ESPN reports the two parties are on the “verge of a deal.”
Meanwhile, NFL reporter Mike Garafolo of USA Today says Reid “hasn’t canceled interviews” with Arizona and San Diego.
And Garafolo’s observation was followed up by Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who tweeted “KC may be the only offer.”
Re-read Kent Somers’ article, and then stay tuned.
UPDATE 12 p.m. CT: A deal between Reid and Chiefs “is now imminent,” NFL reporter Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports.
UPDATE 12:41 p.m. CT: Reid “no longer plans to visit Arizona,” Cardinals beat writer Kent Somers reports. Citing a source, Somers adds, “Close to deal with Chiefs.”
UPDATE 12:59 p.m. CT: Chiefs are “on the verge” of hiring Reid, Adam Teicher of The Kansas City Star reports while citing a source close to situation. [Analysis: This is a key consideration, as Teicher is a primary Chiefs beat reporter and his report is uniform with other team beat writers involved: Eagles beat writers close to Reid, as well as information coming from Cardinals beat writer Kent Somers.]
UPDATE 1:10 p.m. CT: Mike Garafolo of USA Today now onboard with the breaking Reid to Chiefs reports, noting in an article “it appears they [Chiefs] will land their guy” and deal is “likely to be finalized shortly.”
UPDATE 1:14 p.m. CT: I reached out to the Chiefs for a statement. When contacted, the Chiefs media relations had no official comment on the reports.
UPDATE 3:20 p.m. CT: Reid consulted with former Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil, Philadelphia sportscaster Jeff Skversky of WPVI-TV reports.
UPDATE 5:10 p.m. CT: Vermeil advised Reid to take the Chiefs job, Randy Covitz of The Kansas City Star reports.
• Jan. 4, Friday
“All signs point to Kansas City as Andy Reid’s next stop,” Eagles beat writer Jeff McClane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
UPDATE 8 a.m. CT: Reid and the Chiefs worked into early Friday morning, resolving “many key issues,” Reuben Frank of CSN-Philadelphia reports.
UPDATE 8:29 a.m. CT: The Chiefs contingent flew back to Kansas City on Friday morning without Reid, Ed Werder of ESPN reports.
UPDATE 9:05 a.m. CT: The Chiefs announce Scott Pioli is out as general manager.
UPDATE 10:03 a.m. CT: Reid has reached agreement with the Chiefs, Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN report.
UPDATE 10:13 a.m. CT: Reid sent a text message to Jeff McClane of The Philadelphia Inquirer, indicating “he has not yet signed” and “still working on an agreement.”
UPDATE: 10:24 a.m. CT: Reid is expected to be in Kansas City later Friday, sports editor Jeff Rosen of The Kansas City Star reports while citing Chiefs beat writer Adam Teicher.
UPDATE 10:24 a.m. CT: Reid’s contract is five years, Reuben Frank of CSN-Philadelphia reports.
UPDATE 10:32 a.m. CT: The Chiefs are expected to announce Reid as the new head coach today, Adam Teicher of The Kansas City Star reports. Teicher notes John Dorsey as the “most likely” general manager to replace Scott Pioli.
UPDATE 12:07 p.m. CT: Reid and his wife met with Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt and his wife in Philadelphia and will fly back together to Kansas City on a private jet, according to Howard Eskin of FOX 29 in Philadelphia.
UPDATE 1:25 p.m. CT: Reid and Hunt have landed in Kansas City, Michael Mahoney of KMBC TV reports. Mahoney’s tweet and photo of an SUV loading luggage are captured in a blog post by ArrowheadPride.com.
UPDATE 1:48 p.m. CT: Reid and Hunt arrived at the Arrowhead facilities, Adam Teicher of The Kansas City Star reports.
UPDATE 7:01 p.m. CT: Chiefs use Twitter to officially announce Reid the head coach.
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