Chiefs Fire Todd Haley

Added on Dec 12, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

After compiling a paltry 221 yards of offense in a 37-10 pummeling at the hands of the Jets, the Kansas City Chiefs’ braintrust have seen enough. Head coach Todd Haley got an early Christmas gift today in the form of a pink slip. A year ago Haley was prepping his team for a playoff run. Now, he’s out of a job. The NFL is nothing if not a fickle mistress.

Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt unfurled the normal string of platitudes when delivering the news this morning.

“This was a difficult decision but one that we feel is best for the future of the Chiefs,” Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement. “Although there have been bright spots at different points this season, we have not made meaningful progress and we felt that it was necessary to make a change. We appreciate Todd’s contributions during his time with the club, and we wish him well in the future.”

The wheels of the 2011 season came off early for Haley. Promising second-year tight end Tony Moeaki was lost for the season in early September, emerging safety Eric Berry tore an ACL in Week 1 and stud running back Jamaal Charles suffered the same injury in Week 2.

An 0-3 start gave way to a four-game winning streak highlighted by a 28-0 shutout in Oakland. Then in Week 10, quarterback Matt Cassel broke his hand and was placed on injured reserve. At 5-8, the Chiefs boast the 31st ranked offense and haven’t scored more than ten points in a game since Week 8.

Haley went 19-27 in two-plus seasons and won the AFC West in 2010. His decision to play the majority of his starters in the September 2nd preseason finale which led to Moeaki’s season-ending knee injury was met with heated criticism. His surly attitude on and off the field also rubbed some people the wrong way. His final indignity was being penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct late in yesterday’s loss to the Jets.

Source: NFL.com