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Kansas City Chiefs: Five Best Head Coaches of All-Time

By Leigh Oleszczak

Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid looks on from the sidelines against the New England Patriots during the first half in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid looks on from the sidelines against the New England Patriots during the first half in the AFC Divisional round playoff game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kansas City Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil in 2005 (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil in 2005 (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Fourth Best Head Coach in Chiefs History – Dick Vermeil (2001-2005)

After Gunther Cunningham was fired in 2000, the KC Chiefs needed a new man to lead the team. Fortunately for them, Dick Vermeil was more than willing to come to Kansas City.

Vermeil had initially retired after winning the Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams, but decided to come out of retirement and coach the Chiefs. His first season didn’t go too well, as Kansas City finished the season with a 6-10 record, their worst since the 1980s.

The next season, the team improved to 8-8 and it showed that Vermeil was leading the Chiefs in the right direction.

2003, one of the best seasons in Chiefs history, was Vermeil’s best in Kansas City. He, along with quarterback Trent Green, running back Priest Holmes, and a tremendous offensive line, ran all the way to a 9-0 record and finished the year 13-3. They earned the top spot in the AFC playoffs that year.

What hurt Vermeil during his time coaching the Chiefs was that he never had much of a defense. That was their downfall in the 2003 playoffs and was so bad that year that the organization brought back Cunningham as their defensive coordinator the following season.

Even though Vermeil only led the Chiefs to that one playoff game (the infamous “No Punt Game”), he ended his Chiefs career with a record of 44-36. He also was the coach of one of the best teams in KC Chiefs history and that certainly counts for something.

Vermeil retired from coaching after the 2005 season (for good this time).

Career Overview (Chiefs only)

  • 2003 NFL Coach of the Year
  • Overall record: 44-36
  • Division Titles: 1 (2003)
  • Playoff Record: 0-1
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