KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Chiefs players have enjoyed Pro Bowl, All-Pro, All-NFL and All-AFC recognition in recent weeks.
Thursday demonstrated general manager John Dorsey also belongs in the spotlight, as the Pro Football Writers of America named Dorsey as the 2013 Executive of the Year.
Jan 14, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey (left) and chairman Clark Hunt pose for photos during the press conference announcing Dorsey’s hiring at the University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The 2013 season proved a tremendous success under Dorsey and first-year coach Andy Reid, who was named Wednesday as the AFC Coach of the Year by the Committee of 101.
Under their guidance, the Chiefs rebounded from a 2-14 record to 11-5 and a playoff berth.
The Chiefs established numerous records, including:
• Recording the single-greatest turnaround in team history.
• First team among the NFL, MBL, NBA and NHL to start a season 9-0 after finishing with the worst record in the previous year.
• Chiefs tied the 2008 Miami Dolphins and 2012 Indianapolis Colts for the most wins by a team that won two or fewer games the previous season.
• First NFL team since 1934 to start 9-0 while not allowing more than 17 points in any of the first nine games.
• The Chiefs scored 35 first-half points in Week 14 and 15, the only team in NFL history to score at least 35 points in the first half of consecutive games. The Chiefs also accomplished the feat under then-coach Dick Vermeil in Week 13 and 14 of the 2012 season.
“Every season presents you highs and lows and I’m proud of the guys that hung together and worked hard to go from 2-14 to our record this year,” Reid said during his Jan. 5 end-of-season media session when asked to reflect on the 2013 campaign. “I’m proud of that. I’m proud of John Dorsey and his crew. I’m not overlooking that.”
Meanwhile, Dorsey proved his keen eye in locating and securing talent since his hiring on Jan. 14, 2013.
In his first season as Kansas City’s general manager, Dorsey orchestrated the March 13, 2013 offseason trade that brought quarterback Alex Smith from the San Francisco 49ers to the Chiefs.
Notable free-agent signings, all of whom made contributions throughout the season, under Dorsey’s watch included defensive end Mike DeVito, cornerback Sean Smith, inside linebacker Akeem Jordan, tight end Anthony Fasano, wide receiver Donnie Avery and offensive lineman Geoff Scwartz.
And in what many have labeled the “Second Draft,” Dorsey brought aboard seven players on Sept. 1, 2013, a day after the Chiefs waived six players to get to a 53-man roster before the start of the regular season.
The players signed were cornerback Marcus Cooper, tight end Sean McGrath, linebacker James-Michael Johnson, wide receiver Chad Hall, defensive lineman Jaye Howard, linebacker Dezman Moses and cornerback Ron Parker.
Dorsey also filled the front office with talent, hiring Chris Ballard as the team’s director of player personnel, Will Lewis as director of pro scouting and Marvin Allen as director of college scouting
While the 2013 season came to a disappointing end in a 45-44 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs, Dorsey said in a Jan. 10 on-air interview with Sports Radio 810 WBH the Chiefs look forward to the future.
“To me, I’ve always believed, my gosh, if you can win six more games in the National Football League from what your record was the year before, that’s hard stuff to do,” Dorsey said. “And to do what we did as an organization through the leadership in Andy (Reid), through the coaching staff and what the players believed in, those are all positive traits. Now we have to go back, analyze what happened, build off of that and let’s move ahead to ‘14.”
Thursday’s announcement marks the second time a Chiefs front office executive has been recognized as PFWA’s Executive of the Year, which began in 1993. Former Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli received the recognition in 2010.
The PFWA on Thursday also announced Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera as Coach of the Year.
Ken Whisenhunt, recently named the Tennessee Titans head coach, took home Assistant Coach of the Year for his work with the San Diego Chargers.
