KC Chiefs: Five Worst Head Coaches In History
Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
It’s not breaking news if someone says the KC Chiefs have historically had some really bad Head Coaches, but who is the worst? The Dallas Texans/ Kansas City Chiefs have had 13 head coaches from 1960 to the present day, starting with Hank Stram and currently with Andy Reid.
While its safe to say neither of those coaches will be anywhere near the five worst coaches in the history of the Chiefs, there have been a lot of bad coaches between those two guys.
#5. Herman Edwards
Edwards was a tough one to put on the list of worst head coaches because he did lead the KC Chiefs to a playoff appearance in 2006, which was his first season at the helm, but it could be argued that the Chiefs made the playoffs despite of him, instead of because of him.
The 2006 season started with Trent Green as the starting quarterback, but Green suffered a concussion in the first game of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals that would see him miss several weeks. The offense was then turned over to back-up quarterback Damon Huard and running back Larry Johnson.
Huard and the Chiefs got their first win in the third week of the season against the San Francisco 49ers with a final score of 41-0, and they didn’t stop there. By the time Green was healthy enough to play again the Chiefs were 5-3 and Huard was having a Pro Bowl caliber season with 11 touchdowns to only one interception, and the second best quarterback rating in the NFL at 98.0, behind only Peyton Manning.
Edwards made the decision that despite Huard’s outstanding performance midway through the season, that Green deserved the starting job. So Huard was demoted to the back-up and Green took over the starting job once again.
Green never seemed like he had fully recovered from his concussion, throwing only seven touchdowns to nine interceptions, and leading the Chiefs to a 4-4 record in the second half of the season, which left the Chiefs at 9-7 on the season with a chance to limp into the playoffs. Green’s poor play also led Edwards to put the offense on the back of Larry Johnson. Johnson finished the season with the most rushing attempts in a single season in NFL history.
The Denver Broncos lost to the San Francisco 49ers in overtime in the final week of the season which made the Chiefs the sixth seed in the AFC due to tie breakers. The Chiefs were dismantled by the Indianapolis Colts 23-8 in the first round of the playoffs and ultimately went home empty-handed.
Everything was downhill from that moment forward for Edwards and the Chiefs. The 2007 season was full of position and coaching controversies, starting at the quarterback position. Huard started the season but was unable to find the success that he did in the first half of the 2006 season, and was replaced by Edwards draft choice Brodie Croyle. Larry Johnson was injured and replaced by Priest Holmes, who decided to come out of retirement to play, but was unable to regain his form.
The kicker position was a carousel a majority of the season starting with another of Edwards draft picks in Justin Medlock, who was replaced by Dave Rayner after the first game of the season. Rayner was then replaced by John Carney, and Carney finished the season.
Following a 4-12 2007 season, Edwards fired a majority of his coaching staff including offensive coordinator Mike Solari, the offensive line coach, receivers coach, and running back coach. Edwards hired Chan Gailey prior to the 2008 season to replace Solari as the offensive coordinator.
Despite getting a vote of confidence from KC Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, Edwards continued the downward spiral in 2008. The Chiefs traded away star defensive end Jared Allen, and went into the season with one of the youngest teams in the NFL. The inexperience showed as the Chiefs finished 2008 with a 2-14 record, and Edwards was fired as the head coach of the KC Chiefs on January 23rd, 2009.
Edwards finished his KC Chiefs head coaching career with a 15-33 record.
Next: 4th Worst Coach