2009 Kansas City Chiefs season
Encyclopedia
The 2009
Kansas City Chiefs
season was the franchise's 50th season, and first with head coach Todd Haley
at the helm. It was also the first season with Scott Pioli
as the team's general manager. The Chiefs attempted to improve on their 2–14 record from 2008
with the third overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft
. In 2009, the Chiefs also honored the induction of Derrick Thomas
, the team's former linebacker from 1989 to 1999, into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
. Thomas' jersey number 58 was officially retired by the franchise after having been unissued since Thomas' death in 2000.
The fate of head coach Herman Edwards and his staff remained uncertain after the end of the 2008 season in which the Chiefs finished with a franchise-worst 2–14 record. The team was 6–26 in the past two years under Edwards, who had one year left on a four-year, $12 million contract and was lobbying to be allowed another year to get his rebuilding movement off the ground. Team owner Clark Hunt
voiced his support of Edwards, but he had also said the new general manager Scott Pioli
would have "significant input" into the decision on whether to retain him. On January 23, the Chiefs fired Edwards, and on February 5, Todd Haley
was hired as the 11th head coach in Chiefs franchise history and signed a four-year contract.
For the 2009 season under the Pioli/Haley regime, the Chiefs switched from a 4–3 defense to a 3–4 defensive strategy.
Although finishing the regular season last in the AFC West
with a record of 4–12, the Chiefs doubled their win record from the previous season.
, will wear "throwback" uniforms to celebrate the AFL's 50th anniversary and the 1962 Dallas Texans
team that won the AFL Championship. The Chiefs "throwback" look will feature helmets with gray facemasks and a Texas
-shaped decal with a gold star showing the location of the city of Dallas, Texas
. From 1960 to 1962, the team was known as the Dallas Texans and played at the Cotton Bowl
alongside the NFL's Dallas Cowboys
. Jerseys for the club’s "throwback" games will include a patch that honors the AFL’s 50th anniversary. Kansas City will wear these replica uniforms when they host the Dallas Cowboys at Arrowhead Stadium and against two AFC West opponents yet to be determined (one home date and one away date).
The team's decision to wear the Texans' helmets started a controversy with some Chiefs fans who believed the team needed to honor the franchise's years in Kansas City, not Dallas. A petition by Sports Radio 810 WHB
in Kansas City states that "the Chiefs have a responsibility to help promote the state and region that have supported them financially through stadium taxes, ticket sales, parking fees, concessions and merchandise sales for 47 years."
Following the resignation of Carl Peterson
, the Chiefs' general manager, chief executive officer, and team president, a search for the team's new general manager began. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt
said he intended to split the three jobs that Peterson held for nearly 20 years, looking for "a shrewd evaluator of football talent" at the general manager's position. Possible candidates included former Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer
, Indianapolis Colts
vice president of football operations Chris Polian
, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
director of pro personnel Mark Dominik
, former Denver Broncos
general manager Ted Sundquist
, former Tennessee Titans
general manager Floyd Reese
, San Diego Chargers
director of player personnel Jimmy Raye III, Baltimore Ravens
director of college scouting Eric DeCosta
, and New England Patriots
vice president of football operations Scott Pioli
. Hunt said he would hire a new person to overlook football operations and a second person to be in charge of the team's business operations. That job, team president, was given to longtime team executive vice president Denny Thum
.
Pioli reportedly sought "total control" of an organization and was also pursued by the Cleveland Browns
to be their new general manager. Pioli's supposed intentions of "total control" could have possibly eliminated him from the Chiefs' job. Hunt had kept his search almost entirely leak-proof, instructing subordinates that only he is to speak to the situation. Hunt also intended to be thorough and patient in his search for the Chiefs' new general manager. Pioli was reportedly the Chiefs' number one candidate and on January 13 the Chiefs hired Pioli as general manager. The official statement from the Chiefs said that Pioli would "have final say over all football operations and report directly to (Clark) Hunt." The Chiefs introduced Pioli the following day at team headquarters in Kansas City.
would not return for a fourth season as Chiefs head coach. The Kansas City Star reported that according to two coaches, Edwards and his staff could have been dismissed as soon as Wednesday, January 14, the day when Pioli was introduced in Kansas City. At his press conference, Pioli did not rule out Edwards being retained as the team's head coach. Hunt said publicly that he wanted Edwards to return in 2009, but Pioli would have "significant input" in the final decision.
Several candidates were mentioned as possible replacements for Edwards even before he had been fired. The most notable names mentioned were Todd Haley
, the offensive coordinator of the 2008 NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals
, New York Giants
defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo
, and Mike Shanahan
, the former head coach of the Chiefs' rival Raiders and Broncos franchises. Other possible candidates included Jon Gruden
, Leslie Frazier
, Winston Moss
, Kirk Ferentz
, Jason Garrett
, and even Scott Pioli's father-in-law, Bill Parcells
.
Edwards was fired on January 23, and ESPN
's Chris Mortensen
reported later that evening that the Chiefs were targeting Mike Shanahan to become the next head coach. Mortensen initially reported that the Chiefs were negotiating on a contract with Shanahan. The report was later denied by Shanahan himself.
After a long period in which Haley was considered the front-runner for the head coaching position, there was concern as to whether the Chiefs would violate the Rooney Rule
by immediately hiring Haley. The Rooney Rule, named after Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney
, specifies that NFL teams must give fair interviews to minority candidates whenever a head coaching position comes open. Some minority coaches were reportedly turning down offers from the Chiefs since Haley was the presumed target for the coaching vacancy. The Chiefs negotiated with Haley following the Cardinals' loss in Super Bowl XLIII
, and Haley accepted the coaching position on February 5. Haley was introduced as head coach the following day.
Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham
was hired by the Detroit Lions
for the same position. Cunningham had been the defensive coordinator for the Chiefs from 1995 to 1998 and 2004 to 2008. He also served as the team's head coach from 1999 to 2000. The Chiefs also lost secondary coach David Gibbs
to the Houston Texans
and Mike Priefer to the Denver Broncos
. Once Todd Haley was hired, the Chiefs fired tight ends coach Jon Embree
, defensive assistant/assistant linebacker coach Michael Ketchum, running backs coach Curtis Modkins
, offensive assistant/quality control coach Kevin Patullo, and wide receivers coach Eric Price
.
, Gary Gibbs
(linebackers), Steve Hoffman (special teams), Bill Muir
(offensive line), Clancy Pendergast
(defensive coordinator), Pat Perles, Dedric Ward
(wide receivers), Ronnie Bradford
(defensive assistant), Nick Sirianni (offensive quality control coach), and Maurice Carthon
(assistant head coach). From Herman Edwards' staff, Chan Gailey
was retained as offensive coordinator, and Bob Bicknell
switched from offensive line to tight ends coach, and Joe D'Alessandris was retained as assistant offensive line coach. The Chiefs also relieved duties of several scouts and player personnel assistants once the 2009 NFL Draft
concluded.
Initially there were doubts as to whether Chan Gailey would retained under Todd Haley's coaching staff, being that Haley had just concluded a successful stint as offensive coordinator at Arizona. After the Chiefs lost their first three pre-season games, Gailey was relieved of duties and Haley is expected to assume offensive playcalling duties.
, RB Larry Johnson voiced his intention to seek a trade in the offseason. Johnson was involved in legal troubles in 2008 and his production on the field declined. As a result of his legal troubles, in March 2009 Johnson pleaded guilty to the two incidents that occurred in 2008 and was sentenced to two years probation
. Johnson served suspensions from the NFL in 2008 and is not expected to receive further punishment from the charges.
OL Brian Waters
had issues with Todd Haley shortly after Haley's hiring, saying the coach had been disrespectful of him during a meeting, then that new general manager Scott Pioli refused to meet with him privately. Waters later told the Kansas City Star that he wanted to be traded and did not attend any of the team's voluntary offseason workouts. Newly acquired LB Mike Vrabel
also did not attend offseason workouts citing his rights with the league's collective bargaining
agreement.
TE Tony Gonzalez reiterated his intentions for a trade in March 2009 after a failed attempt in October 2008. He was eventually traded in April to the Atlanta Falcons
.
Gonzalez lobbied for the Chiefs to keep Tyler Thigpen
as the team's starting quarterback when Gonzalez was still with the team and when Matt Cassel was not yet on the Chiefs roster. Though he appeared to be the Chiefs' lone quarterback who would remain in their plans for 2009, especially after Damon Huard
was released Thigpen was not considered a lock for the starting job. Thigpen competed with Matt Cassel for the starting quarterback position.
In February, the Chiefs released LB Donnie Edwards
, QB Damon Huard
, TE Michael Merritt, and CB Patrick Surtain
. In March, QB Quinn Gray
was released. and in April WR Will Franklin
, OT Andrew Carnahan
, LB Curtis Gatewood
, and WR Kevin Robinson
were released.
On April 23 the Chiefs traded TE Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a second round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. In 2008 Gonzalez asked Chiefs management for a trade but negotiations failed and new general manager Scott Pioli
reitereated that Gonzalez was initially not offered in trades for the 2009 season but agreed when the Falcons offered a second-round pick. Gonzalez had sought a trade in the 2008 season but several attempts failed.
At the conclusion of the preseason, the Chiefs released 13 players to reach the 53-player limit. Permanently released were S Bernard Pollard
, WR Ashley Lelie
, WR Taurus Johnson
, DT Derek Lokey
, S Ricky Price
, and LB Zach Thomas
. CB Jackie Bates
, TE Tom Crabtree
, DE Dion Gales
, DE Bobby Greenwood
, G Darryl Harris
, RB Javarris Williams
and WR Rodney Wright were added to the practice squad.
After the first regular season game, the Chiefs waived LB Turk McBride
. After the third game, the Chiefs traded QB Tyler Thigpen
to the Miami Dolphins
for an undisclosed draft pick.
In March, the Chiefs signed LB Darrell Robertson
, WR C. J. Jones
, CB Travis Daniels
, LB Corey Mays
, WR Bobby Engram
, LB Monty Beisel
, WR Terrance Copper
. and OL Mike Goff
.
In April, the Chiefs signed WR Rodney Wright, LS Tanner Purdum
, LB Zach Thomas
, TE Sean Ryan, TE Tony Curtis, and C Eric Ghiaciuc
.
In June, the Chiefs signed FS Mike Brown.
In August, the Chiefs signed WR Amani Toomer
but he was later released at the end of the pre-season.
In September, the Chiefs signed WR Bobby Wade
.
In November, the Chiefs signed WR Chris Chambers
.
On the first day of free agency (February 27), the Chiefs acquired LB Mike Vrabel
from the Patriots for an undisclosed draft pick. The Boston Globe speculated that it would be part of a bigger trade involving QB Matt Cassel
. The next day, the Chiefs confirmed the acquisition of both Vrabel and Cassel from New England in exchange for their second round draft selection in the 2009 NFL Draft
(#34 overall).
Reactions to the trade were mixed and it was called "monumentally lopsided" with the Chiefs "clearly (getting) the better end of the deal." Don Banks
of Sports Illustrated
called the Chiefs the "big winners" of the first weekend of NFL free agency and the Patriots' compensation "laughably low," but the best they could get in return. The trade was done mainly because the Patriots could not keep two quarterbacks on their roster that took up $29.2 million of salary cap space, so it was not a matter of if the Patriots would trade Cassel, but when. The Patriots also have Tom Brady
under contract, who is recovering from a knee-injury sufffered in a 2008 game against the Chiefs.
On July 15 the Chiefs signed Cassel to six-year contract extension worth a total of $63 million.
. After selecting a league-high 13 players in the 2008 Draft, the Chiefs were scheduled to make their standard seven selections pending trades prior to trading away their second round draft pick to New England for Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel, leaving them with just six choices. The Chiefs were later awarded the 256th and final selection in the 2009 NFL Draft
, making them effectively choose "Mr. Irrelevant
." The player chosen was K Ryan Succop
, who was the Chiefs' first "Mr. Irrelevant" since the 1970 NFL Draft
when DB Rayford Jenkins was chosen by the team from Alcorn A&M
.
The Chiefs selected defensive end Tyson Jackson
third overall. Jackson was the third consecutive first round pick by the Chiefs to have played collegiately for the LSU Tigers
. All terms of the contracts for the 2009 draft picks were undisclosed, but ESPN reported that Jackson signed a five-year contract worth $57 million, with $31 million guaranteed.
Notes:
to the Houston Texans
, Minnesota Vikings
, Seattle Seahawks
, and St. Louis Rams
(for the Missouri Governor's Cup
). In the Chiefs' game against the Seahawks, QB Matt Cassel suffered a sprained Medial collateral ligament
(MCL), leaving his status as starting quarterback for opening day in doubt. The offense for the Chiefs struggled in all four games, scoring only 42 points in four games and the offensive line suffered numerous breakdowns which led to Cassel's injury. The offensive struggles led to offensive coordinator Chan Gailey
's firing and head coach Todd Haley
assuming playcalling duties.
against the Baltimore Ravens
. Due to his injured knee, quarterback Matt Cassel
was unable to play, so Brodie Croyle
got the start. Despite completing 16-of-24 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, the Chiefs lost to the Ravens 38–24, and Croyle fell to 0–9 as a starter.
Kansas City trailed in the first quarter as Ravens kicker Steven Hauschka
got a 44-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Joe Flacco
completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Willis McGahee
. In the second quarter, the Chiefs got on the board as safety Jon McGraw
recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown. In the third quarter, Kansas City took the lead as Croyle completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe
, yet Baltimore answered with Flacco completing a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Todd Heap
. What followed was a back-and-forth battle in the fourth quarter. Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop
got a 53-yard field goal, but the Ravens replied with fullback Le'Ron McClain
getting a 1-yard touchdown run. Kansas City would stay close as Croyle completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sean Ryan, but Baltimore would pull away as Flacco completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mark Clayton and McGahee getting a 1-yard touchdown run.
With the loss, the Chiefs began their season at 0–1.
. Kansas City would score in the first quarter as rookie kicker Ryan Succop
got a 23-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Raiders tied the game as kicker Sebastian Janikowski
made a 48-yard field goal. Oakland would take the lead in the third quarter as Janikowski nailed a 54-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs would retake the lead as quarterback Matt Cassel
completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe
. However, the Raiders sealed the win as running back Darren McFadden
got a 5-yard touchdown run.
With the loss, Kansas City fell to 0–2.
for a Week 3 interconference duel with the Philadelphia Eagles
. Kansas City would trail early in the first quarter as Eagles running back LeSean McCoy
got a 5-yard touchdown run and quarterback Kevin Kolb
got a 1-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs would get on the board with quarterback Matt Cassel
's 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mark Bradley
, but Philadelphia came right back with Kolb's 64-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeSean Jackson
and kicker David Akers
' 29-yard field goal.
Kansas City's deficit would increase as Akers nailed a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Eagles would put the game away with Kolb's 35-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brent Celek
. Afterwards, the Chiefs would end the game with Cassel's 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bobby Wade
.
With the loss, Kansas City fell to 0–3.
. Kansas City would trail in the first quarter with quarterback Eli Manning
completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Smith
. Afterwards, the Chiefs would get on the board with rookie kicker Ryan Succop
's 34-yard field goal. In the second quarter, New York would answer with Manning hooking up with Smith again on a 25-yard touchdown pass. Then, the Giants would close out the half with former Chiefs kicker Lawrence Tynes
making a 25-yard field goal.
After Tynes' 40-yard field goal in the third quarter, New York would finish their scoring in the fourth quarter with quarterback Eli Manning
's 54-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Hakeem Nicks
. Kansas City tried to rally with quarterback Matt Cassel
completing a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sean Ryan (followed by a failed 2-point conversion) and a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bobby Wade
.
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 0–4.
. After a scoreless first quarter, Kansas City got out of the gates in the second quarter as kicker Ryan Succop
made a 47-yard field goal and quarterback Matt Cassel
completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to linebacker Mike Vrabel
. Afterwards, the Cowboys closed out the opening half with a 22-yard field goal from kicker Nick Folk
.
The Chiefs went back to work in the third quarter with Succop booting a 38-yard field goal, yet Dallas began to rally with a 36-yard touchdown run from running back Tashard Choice
. Dallas would take the lead in the fourth quarter as Folk nailed a 28-yard field goal and quarterback Tony Romo
found wide receiver Miles Austin
on a 59-yard touchdown pass, yet Kansas City would tie the game as Cassel hooked up with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe
on a 16-yard touchdown pass. However, the Cowboys won it in overtime as Romo threw the game-ending 60-yard touchdown pass to Austin.
With the tough loss, the Chiefs fell to 0–5.
.
After a scoreless first quarter, Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop
booted a 39-yard field goal for the only score of the half.
In the third quarter, the Redskins took the lead with a 40-yard and a 28-yard field goal from kicker Shaun Suisham
, but Kansas City tied it up with Succop's 46-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Succop gave the Chiefs the lead with a 46-yard and a 24-yard field, but it was the defense that closed the game out for Kansas City, as DE/OLB Tamba Hali
sacked quarterback Todd Collins in his own end zone for a safety with under a minute to play.
With the win, the Chiefs improved to 1–5.
. Kansas City would find themselves trailing in the first quarter as Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers
completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Malcom Floyd
, followed by a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson
. San Diego would add onto their lead in the second quarter with a 20-yard and a 39-yard field goal from kicker Nate Kaeding
.
The Chiefs would get onto the board in the third quarter with quarterback Matt Cassel
completing a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe
, but the Chargers kept their momentum going with Rivers finding running back Darren Sproles
on a 58-yard touchdown pass. In the fourth quarter, San Diego sealed the win with Kaeding's 19-yard field goal and fullback Jacob Hester
recovering a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown.
With the loss, Kansas City went into their bye week at 1–6.
and made offensive comments about homosexuals on Twitter
and in public.
nailing a 45-yard goal, they fell behind when Rashad Jennings
ran from the 28-yard line to the end zone for a touchdown. In the second quarter Ryan Succop
made a 21-yard field goal, and then the Jaguars scored when David Garrard
completed a 61-yard touchdown pass to Mike Sims-Walker. The only score in the third quarter was when Josh Scobee
hit a 27-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter the Chiefs fell further behind when Maurice Jones-Drew
got a 10-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs tried to come back with Matt Cassel
completing a 54-yard and a 5-yard touchdown pass to Chris Chambers
(Second time round the two-point conversion was made when Matt Cassel
passed to Jamaal Charles
) but couldn't go any further thanks to the Jaguars' defense resulting in a loss.
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 1–7.
. Kansas City would trail in the first quarter as Raiders running back Justin Fargas
got a 1-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs would get on the board with rookie kicker Ryan Succop
getting a 50-yard field goal, but Oakland would strike back as kicker Sebastian Janikowski
got a 50-yard field goal. Kansas City would take the lead in the second quarter with a 44-yard touchdown run from running back Jamaal Charles
, followed by Succop nailing a 25-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, Succop would come through for the Chiefs in the fourth quarter with a 31-yard field goal.
With the win, Kansas City improved to 2–7.
in an attempt to create the biggest upset of the week and get their first back-to-back wins since 2007. Optimism grew quickly as Jamaal Charles
ran the opening kick 97 yards for a touchdown, starting the game with a 7–0 Chiefs lead.
The Steelers dominated the rest of the first half with 20:45 time of possession, going into halftime with a 17–7 lead. The Chiefs' defense began to pressure Ben Rothlisberger in the third quarter, forcing two interceptions (both by Andy Studebaker in his first NFL start). By the fourth quarter, the Chiefs tied the game up at 17–17. The fourth quarter resulted in a touchdown each, sending the game into overtime.
The Steelers won the toss in overtime, but failed to get within field goal range. Of note, Rothlisberger suffered a knee to the head concussion and was replaced by Charlie Batch
. The Chiefs took over at the 20 and, after a 61 yard catch and run by Chris Chambers
, Ryan Succop
kicked the winning 22 yard field goal. With the win, the Chiefs improved to 3–7 and snapped a 10-game home losing streak, the longest in team history.
. In the first quarter the Chiefs trailed early as QB Philip Rivers
got a 19-yard touchdown pass to TE Antonio Gates
. The Chiefs would reply to tie the game with QB Matt Cassel
making a 7-yard touchdown pass to WR Chris Chambers
, until they fell back again with RB LaDainian Tomlinson
getting a 1-yard touchdown run, then Rivers hooking up with Gates again on a 15-yard touchdown pass, then DB Paul Oliver
returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown.
In the third quarter the Chiefs' struggle continued as RB LaDainian Tomlinson
got a 3-yard touchdown run. They tried to come back with RB Jamaal Charles
getting a 2-yard touchdown run, but the Chargers would pull away with kicker Nate Kaeding
making a 55-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter the problem got worse when a penalty on Matt Cassel
was enforced in the end zone for a safety, giving the Chargers 2 points. The final score was made when Kaeding booted a 23-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 3–8.
face mask call. The end result was a Kyle Orton
to Daniel Graham
touchdown pass.
The Chiefs offense responded by putting together a relatively long series that began at the KC 31 and lasted 20 plays, ending in a 22 yard Ryan Succop
field goal. After a couple possession changes, the Broncos answered with a series that included three Correll Buckhalter
rushes for over 10 yards, ending in a Knowshon Moreno
rushing touchdown. The Chiefs would respond before the half with another field goal.
The second began with the Chiefs failing to convert on fourth down and the Broncos scoring on each of their first three possessions. Before the end of the quarter, Matt Cassel
was replaced by Brodie Croyle
. After the Chiefs lost a Jamal Charles fumble for a touchdown, they recovered a Kyle Orton fumble and eventually turned it into a Jamal Charles rushing touchdown. The Broncos immediately responded with yet another touchdown.
With the loss, the Chiefs fall to 3–9.
2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
season was the franchise's 50th season, and first with head coach Todd Haley
Todd Haley
Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.-Early...
at the helm. It was also the first season with Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli is a professional American football executive, currently serving as the general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Pioli was previously a front office executive for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and New England Patriots...
as the team's general manager. The Chiefs attempted to improve on their 2–14 record from 2008
2008 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2008 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 49th season, and third with head coach Herman Edwards at the helm. The Chiefs failed to improve on their 4-12 record from 2007 with the youngest team in the NFL as part of their "youth movement." The season turned out to be the worst in the...
with the third overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. In 2009, the Chiefs also honored the induction of Derrick Thomas
Derrick Thomas
Derrick Vincent Thomas , nicknamed D.T., was an American football linebacker and defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . He played his entire 11-year career for the Chiefs after being drafted fourth overall in the 1989 NFL Draft...
, the team's former linebacker from 1989 to 1999, into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
. Thomas' jersey number 58 was officially retired by the franchise after having been unissued since Thomas' death in 2000.
The fate of head coach Herman Edwards and his staff remained uncertain after the end of the 2008 season in which the Chiefs finished with a franchise-worst 2–14 record. The team was 6–26 in the past two years under Edwards, who had one year left on a four-year, $12 million contract and was lobbying to be allowed another year to get his rebuilding movement off the ground. Team owner Clark Hunt
Clark Hunt
Clark Knobel Hunt is Chairman and CEO of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs and a founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer. Hunt also serves as Chairman of Hunt Sports Group, where he oversees the operations of FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew of MLS He is the son of Lamar Hunt...
voiced his support of Edwards, but he had also said the new general manager Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli is a professional American football executive, currently serving as the general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Pioli was previously a front office executive for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and New England Patriots...
would have "significant input" into the decision on whether to retain him. On January 23, the Chiefs fired Edwards, and on February 5, Todd Haley
Todd Haley
Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.-Early...
was hired as the 11th head coach in Chiefs franchise history and signed a four-year contract.
For the 2009 season under the Pioli/Haley regime, the Chiefs switched from a 4–3 defense to a 3–4 defensive strategy.
Although finishing the regular season last in the AFC West
AFC West
The AFC West is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference, currently comprising the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oakland Raiders.-History:...
with a record of 4–12, the Chiefs doubled their win record from the previous season.
Preseason
| Week | Date | Kickoff (CDT Central Time zone In North America, the Central Time Zone refers to national time zones which observe standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC , and daylight saving, or summer time by subtracting five hours... ) |
Opponent | Results | Game Site | TV (Kansas City affiliate in parenthesis) |
NFL Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final score | Team record | |||||||
| 1 | August 15 | 7:00 PM | Houston Texans 2009 Houston Texans season The 2009 Houston Texans season is the 8th season for the team in the National Football League. The Texans improved upon their 8–8 record in 2008, claimed their first winning season in franchise history, and 4 straight heartbreaking division losses came back to haunt them, as they narrowly missed... |
L 16–10 | |
Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.... |
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of... (KCTV KCTV KCTV channel 5 is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area that is licensed to the Missouri side. Owned by the Meredith Corporation, the station is sister to MyNetworkTV affiliate KSMO-TV and the two share facilities on Shawnee Mission Parkway KCTV channel 5 is... ) |
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| 2 | August 21 | 7:00 PM | at Minnesota Vikings 2009 Minnesota Vikings season The 2009 Minnesota Vikings season was the franchise's 49th season in the NFL. The Vikings improved upon their 10–6 record and defended their NFC North title from 2008; it was the first time that they had retained a divisional title since they won six NFC Central titles in a row between 1973 and 1978... |
L 17–13 | |
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University... |
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| 3 | August 29 | 7:00 PM | Seattle Seahawks 2009 Seattle Seahawks season The 2009 Seattle Seahawks season was the 34th season for the team in the National Football League. The Seahawks improved in Jim Mora's first season as their head coach, after a disappointing 4–12 record and a 3rd place finish in what was Mike Holmgren's final season coaching the team... |
L 14–10 | |
Arrowhead Stadium | |
|
| 4 | September 3 | 7:00 PM | at St. Louis Rams 2009 St. Louis Rams season The 2009 St. Louis Rams season is the 72nd season for the St. Louis Rams, and the 15th in St. Louis. Due to the Rams winning only against the Detroit Lions, they finished with the NFL's worst record at 1–15, earning the first overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft in Steve Spagnuolo's first season... |
L 17–9 | |
Edward Jones Dome Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome (more formally known as the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center, and previously known as The Trans World Dome (from 1995–2001) is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and home of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. It was... |
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Regular season
| Week | Date | Kickoff (CT Central Time zone In North America, the Central Time Zone refers to national time zones which observe standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC , and daylight saving, or summer time by subtracting five hours... ) |
Opponent | Results | Game Site | TV (Kansas City affiliate in parenthesis) |
NFL Recap | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final score | Team record | ||||||||
| 1 | September 13 | 12:00 PM | at Baltimore Ravens 2009 Baltimore Ravens season The 2009 Baltimore Ravens season is the franchise's 14th season as a team in the National Football League . The franchise entered the season off an 11–5 record in their previous season, a playoff berth, but a loss in the American Football Conference Championship game against the eventual Super... |
L 38–24 | 0–1 | M&T Bank Stadium M&T Bank Stadium M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. The stadium is immediately adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles. Served by the Hamburg Street station of... |
CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of... (KCTV KCTV KCTV channel 5 is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area that is licensed to the Missouri side. Owned by the Meredith Corporation, the station is sister to MyNetworkTV affiliate KSMO-TV and the two share facilities on Shawnee Mission Parkway KCTV channel 5 is... ) |
Recap | |
| 2 | September 20 | 12:00 PM | Oakland Raiders 2009 Oakland Raiders season The 2009 Oakland Raiders season is the 50th season for the original American Football League team, and its 40th in the NFL. On September 6, 2009, The Raiders traded a 2011 draft pick to the New England Patriots for 5x Pro Bowl Defensive Lineman Richard Seymour. With their loss to Dallas on November... |
L 13–10 | 0–2 | Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.... |
CBS (KCTV) | Recap | |
| 3 | September 27 | 12:00 PM | at Philadelphia Eagles 2009 Philadelphia Eagles season The 2009 Philadelphia Eagles season was the 77th season for the team in the National Football League. After advancing to their fifth NFC Championship game in eight years, the Eagles improved upon their 9–6–1 record and second-place finish in the NFC East in their 2008 campaign... |
L 14–34 | 0–3 | Lincoln Financial Field Lincoln Financial Field Lincoln Financial Field is the home stadium of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. It has a seating capacity of 68,532 . It is located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue between 11th and 10th streets, also aside I-95 as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex... |
CBS(KCTV) | Recap | |
| 4 | October 4 | 12:00 PM | New York Giants 2009 New York Giants season The 2009 New York Giants season was the 85th season for the team in the National Football League. It was the team's final season in Giants Stadium; In 2010, the Giants moved into New Meadowlands Stadium. The Giants hoped to improve upon their 12–4 record, avenge their divisional round loss to the... |
L 16–27 | 0–4 | Arrowhead Stadium | Fox Fox Broadcasting Company Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the... (WDAF WDAF-TV WDAF-TV, virtual channel 4.1, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas designated market area. The station is owned by Local TV LLC, the media arm of private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners. Its studios and transmitter are located in the Signal Hill... ) |
Recap | |
| 5 | October 11 | 12:00 PM | Dallas Cowboys 2009 Dallas Cowboys season The 2009 Dallas Cowboys season is the 50th season for the team in the National Football League. It is the team's first season playing at Cowboys Stadium. Their victory over the Oakland Raiders on November 26 extended their Thanksgiving winning streak to four in a row and also ended a three game... † |
L 26–20 (OT) | 0–5 | Arrowhead Stadium | Fox (WDAF) | Recap | |
| 6 | October 18 | 12:00 PM | at Washington Redskins 2009 Washington Redskins season The 2009 Washington Redskins season is the 77th season for the team in the National Football League. They failed to improve upon their 8–8 record from 2008, which resulted in Jim Zorn being fired after two seasons.-Movement:... |
W 14–6 | 1–5 | FedEx Field | CBS (KCTV) | Recap | |
| 7 | October 25 | 12:00 PM | San Diego Chargers 2009 San Diego Chargers season The 2009 San Diego Chargers season was the 50th season for the original American Football League team, and its 40th in the NFL. The Chargers improved upon their regular season record of 8–8 in 2008 and won their division for the fourth straight year and fifth time in six seasons... † |
L 7–37 | 1–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS (KCTV) | Recap | |
| 8 | Bye Bye (sports) A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing... |
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| 9 | November 8 | 12:00 PM | at Jacksonville Jaguars 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars season The 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the 15th season for the team in the National Football League. This was the first season for new general manager Gene Smith, who hoped to usher in a "rebuilding" era for the Jaguars franchise. The Jaguars improved upon their 5–11 record in 2008, however did... |
L 21–24 | 1–7 | Jacksonville Municipal Stadium | CBS (KCTV) | Recap | |
| 10 | November 15 | 3:05 PM | at Oakland Raiders 2009 Oakland Raiders season The 2009 Oakland Raiders season is the 50th season for the original American Football League team, and its 40th in the NFL. On September 6, 2009, The Raiders traded a 2011 draft pick to the New England Patriots for 5x Pro Bowl Defensive Lineman Richard Seymour. With their loss to Dallas on November... † |
W 16–10 | 2–7 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | CBS (KCTV) | Recap | |
| 11 | November 22 | 12:00 PM | Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season The 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 77th season in the National Football League . They were coming off a season in which they compiled a 12–4 regular season record and capped the season by winning the franchise's record sixth Super Bowl... |
W 27–24 (OT) | 3–7 | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS (KCTV) | Recap | |
| 12 | November 29 | 3:05 PM | at San Diego Chargers 2009 San Diego Chargers season The 2009 San Diego Chargers season was the 50th season for the original American Football League team, and its 40th in the NFL. The Chargers improved upon their regular season record of 8–8 in 2008 and won their division for the fourth straight year and fifth time in six seasons... |
L 43–14 | 3–8 | Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area.... |
CBS (KCTV) | Recap | |
| 13 | December 6 | 12:00 PM | Denver Broncos 2009 Denver Broncos season The 2009 Denver Broncos season was their 40th season in the NFL and 50th season overall. The Broncos matched their 8–8 regular season record from 2008 but did not make the playoffs. The Broncos welcomed many new defensive players signed during free agency, including veteran Eagles safety Brian... |
L 44–13 | 3–9 | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS (KCTV) | Recap | |
| 14 | December 13 | 12:00 PM | Buffalo Bills 2009 Buffalo Bills season The 2009 Buffalo Bills season was the 50th Professional Football season for the original American Football League team, and its 40th in the NFL... |
L 16–10 | 3–10 | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS (KCTV) | Recap | |
| 15 | December 20 | 12:00 PM | Cleveland Browns 2009 Cleveland Browns season The 2009 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 63rd season as a professional sports franchise and its 59th season as a member of the National Football League . The team placed fourth in the AFC North with a record of 5–11, improving upon its 2008 record of 4–12... |
L 41–34 | 3–11 | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS (blacked out) | Recap | |
| 16 | December 27 | 12:00 PM | at Cincinnati Bengals 2009 Cincinnati Bengals season The 2009 Cincinnati Bengals season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League and their 42nd overall. They finished the season at 10–6–0, and sweeping the entire AFC North division, they improved on their 2008 record of 4–11–1, winning the AFC North Division and making the... |
L 17–10 | 3–12 | Paul Brown Stadium Paul Brown Stadium Paul Brown Stadium is an American sports stadium located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the home venue of the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. It opened on August 19, 2000. The stadium was named after Bengals' founder Paul Brown. The stadium is located on approximately of land and... |
CBS (KCTV) | Recap | |
| 17 | January 3 | 3:15 PM | at Denver Broncos 2009 Denver Broncos season The 2009 Denver Broncos season was their 40th season in the NFL and 50th season overall. The Broncos matched their 8–8 regular season record from 2008 but did not make the playoffs. The Broncos welcomed many new defensive players signed during free agency, including veteran Eagles safety Brian... |
W 44–24 | 4–12 | INVESCO Field at Mile High INVESCO Field at Mile High Sports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001... |
CBS (KCTV) | Recap | |
| NOTES: Division games are in bold text. † These three games were among the 16 that the NFL designated as "AFL Legacy Games", in honor of the 50th anniversary of the AFL |
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AFL anniversary season
In select games, the Chiefs, as well as the other founding teams of the American Football LeagueAmerican Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
, will wear "throwback" uniforms to celebrate the AFL's 50th anniversary and the 1962 Dallas Texans
1962 Dallas Texans season
The 1962 Dallas Texans season was the final season of Lamar Hunt’s American Football League franchise before its relocation to Kansas City, Missouri from Dallas, Texas....
team that won the AFL Championship. The Chiefs "throwback" look will feature helmets with gray facemasks and a Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
-shaped decal with a gold star showing the location of the city of Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. From 1960 to 1962, the team was known as the Dallas Texans and played at the Cotton Bowl
Cotton Bowl (stadium)
The Cotton Bowl is a stadium which opened in 1929 and became known as "The House That Doak Built" due to the immense crowds that former SMU running back Doak Walker drew to the stadium during his college career in the late 1940s. Originally known as Fair Park Stadium, it is located in Fair Park,...
alongside the NFL's Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. Jerseys for the club’s "throwback" games will include a patch that honors the AFL’s 50th anniversary. Kansas City will wear these replica uniforms when they host the Dallas Cowboys at Arrowhead Stadium and against two AFC West opponents yet to be determined (one home date and one away date).
The team's decision to wear the Texans' helmets started a controversy with some Chiefs fans who believed the team needed to honor the franchise's years in Kansas City, not Dallas. A petition by Sports Radio 810 WHB
WHB
WHB is a commercial sports radio station in Kansas City, Missouri, and is known as the first full-time Top 40 station in the country...
in Kansas City states that "the Chiefs have a responsibility to help promote the state and region that have supported them financially through stadium taxes, ticket sales, parking fees, concessions and merchandise sales for 47 years."
General manager search
Carl Peterson
Carl D. Peterson grew up in Long Beach, California, and is an alumnus of UCLA. He is best known as the former president, general manager, and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
, the Chiefs' general manager, chief executive officer, and team president, a search for the team's new general manager began. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt
Clark Hunt
Clark Knobel Hunt is Chairman and CEO of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs and a founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer. Hunt also serves as Chairman of Hunt Sports Group, where he oversees the operations of FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew of MLS He is the son of Lamar Hunt...
said he intended to split the three jobs that Peterson held for nearly 20 years, looking for "a shrewd evaluator of football talent" at the general manager's position. Possible candidates included former Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
vice president of football operations Chris Polian
Chris Polian
Chris Polian is the Vice President and General Manager of the Indianapolis Colts.On November 27, he was promoted by Indianapolis Colts owners, Jim Irsay to his position. He had previously served in other roles in the Colts football operations. He concurrently extended his contract through the 2012...
, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
director of pro personnel Mark Dominik
Mark Dominik
Mark Dominik is the current general manager for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Dominik attended the University of Kansas where he was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity...
, former Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
general manager Ted Sundquist
Ted Sundquist
Carl Mathew Theodore "Ted" Sundquist II is an American football player, manager and commentator. He spent sixteen years working in the National Football League for the Denver Broncos franchise...
, former Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
general manager Floyd Reese
Floyd Reese
Floyd Reese is a senior football advisor for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. From 1994–2006 Reese held the position of general manager of the Tennessee Titans...
, San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
director of player personnel Jimmy Raye III, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
director of college scouting Eric DeCosta
Eric DeCosta
Eric DeCosta was named the Director of Player Personnel for the Baltimore Ravens on January 28, 2009...
, and New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
vice president of football operations Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli is a professional American football executive, currently serving as the general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Pioli was previously a front office executive for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and New England Patriots...
. Hunt said he would hire a new person to overlook football operations and a second person to be in charge of the team's business operations. That job, team president, was given to longtime team executive vice president Denny Thum
Denny Thum
Denny Thum is a former team executive for the Kansas City Chiefs. He served in various positions with the team from 1974 to 2010. From 2009 to 2010, he served as team president....
.
Pioli reportedly sought "total control" of an organization and was also pursued by the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
to be their new general manager. Pioli's supposed intentions of "total control" could have possibly eliminated him from the Chiefs' job. Hunt had kept his search almost entirely leak-proof, instructing subordinates that only he is to speak to the situation. Hunt also intended to be thorough and patient in his search for the Chiefs' new general manager. Pioli was reportedly the Chiefs' number one candidate and on January 13 the Chiefs hired Pioli as general manager. The official statement from the Chiefs said that Pioli would "have final say over all football operations and report directly to (Clark) Hunt." The Chiefs introduced Pioli the following day at team headquarters in Kansas City.
Hiring Todd Haley
The decision to hire Scott Pioli as general manager likely meant that head coach Herman EdwardsHerman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
would not return for a fourth season as Chiefs head coach. The Kansas City Star reported that according to two coaches, Edwards and his staff could have been dismissed as soon as Wednesday, January 14, the day when Pioli was introduced in Kansas City. At his press conference, Pioli did not rule out Edwards being retained as the team's head coach. Hunt said publicly that he wanted Edwards to return in 2009, but Pioli would have "significant input" in the final decision.
Several candidates were mentioned as possible replacements for Edwards even before he had been fired. The most notable names mentioned were Todd Haley
Todd Haley
Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.-Early...
, the offensive coordinator of the 2008 NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo
Steve Spagnuolo
Steven Christopher Spagnuolo is the current head coach of the St. Louis Rams. He was previously the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants from January 2007 to January 2009, and also served for eight years under defensive coordinator Jim Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles.-Early years:Born...
, and Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan
Michael Edward "Mike" Shanahan is the 28th and current head coach of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Shanahan also holds the title of Vice President of Football Operations with the Redskins, giving him full control over player personnel with the team. Shanahan previously...
, the former head coach of the Chiefs' rival Raiders and Broncos franchises. Other possible candidates included Jon Gruden
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...
, Leslie Frazier
Leslie Frazier
Leslie Antonio Frazier is a former cornerback/safety in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and is currently the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings.-College career:...
, Winston Moss
Winston Moss
Winston Moss is a former American football linebacker and current assistant head coach / inside linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 1987 NFL Draft...
, Kirk Ferentz
Kirk Ferentz
Kirk James Ferentz is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Iowa, a position he has held since 1999. From 1990 to 1992, Ferentz was the head football coach at the University of Maine. He has also served as an assistant coach...
, Jason Garrett
Jason Garrett
Jason Calvin Garrett is an American former National Football League player and the current head coach of the Dallas Cowboys...
, and even Scott Pioli's father-in-law, Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
.
Edwards was fired on January 23, and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Chris Mortensen
Chris Mortensen
Chris "Mort" Mortensen , an award-winning journalist, provides reports for ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio and ESPN.com...
reported later that evening that the Chiefs were targeting Mike Shanahan to become the next head coach. Mortensen initially reported that the Chiefs were negotiating on a contract with Shanahan. The report was later denied by Shanahan himself.
After a long period in which Haley was considered the front-runner for the head coaching position, there was concern as to whether the Chiefs would violate the Rooney Rule
Rooney Rule
The Rooney Rule, established in 2003, requires National Football League teams to interview minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation opportunities...
by immediately hiring Haley. The Rooney Rule, named after Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney
Dan Rooney
Daniel Milton "Dan" Rooney is the United States Ambassador to Ireland. He is chairman emeritus of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team in the National Football League , which was founded by his father, Art Rooney. Rooney was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 for his contributions...
, specifies that NFL teams must give fair interviews to minority candidates whenever a head coaching position comes open. Some minority coaches were reportedly turning down offers from the Chiefs since Haley was the presumed target for the coaching vacancy. The Chiefs negotiated with Haley following the Cardinals' loss in Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals to decide the National Football League champion for the 2008 season. The game was played on February 1, 2009,...
, and Haley accepted the coaching position on February 5. Haley was introduced as head coach the following day.
Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham
Gunther Cunningham
Gunther Cunningham is an American football defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. Cunningham has presided over some of the most successful defenses in NFL history , typically ranking at the top of the league in many statistical categories.Cunningham was born in 1946 in war-torn Munich,...
was hired by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
for the same position. Cunningham had been the defensive coordinator for the Chiefs from 1995 to 1998 and 2004 to 2008. He also served as the team's head coach from 1999 to 2000. The Chiefs also lost secondary coach David Gibbs
David Gibbs (football coach)
David Alexander Gibbs was an American football coach for the Houston Texans in the National Football League seasons of 2009 and 2010...
to the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Mike Priefer to the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Once Todd Haley was hired, the Chiefs fired tight ends coach Jon Embree
Jon Embree
Jon William Embree is an American football coach, currently the head coach of the University of Colorado Buffaloes. An assistant coach for two decades, he was most recently the tight ends coach for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League...
, defensive assistant/assistant linebacker coach Michael Ketchum, running backs coach Curtis Modkins
Curtis Modkins
Curtis Modkins is an American football coach, currently serving as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League.-Playing career:...
, offensive assistant/quality control coach Kevin Patullo, and wide receivers coach Eric Price
Eric Price
Eric Price is an American comic actor. Price is most notable for his membership in the recurring cast of comedians on sketch comedy series MADtv during its 14th Season.-Early years:...
.
Assistant coaches and administration
For Haley's new coaching staff, the Chiefs hired Joel CollierJoel Collier
Joel Collier is an American football assistant general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
, Gary Gibbs
Gary Gibbs
-External links:*...
(linebackers), Steve Hoffman (special teams), Bill Muir
Bill Muir
William "Bill" Muir is currently a member of the Kansas City Chiefs coaching staff where he is the Offensive Coordinator. He was previously the offensive line coach. Muir is also the former offensive coordinator for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As a member of head coach Jon Gruden's staff, he...
(offensive line), Clancy Pendergast
Clancy Pendergast
Clancy Pendergast is the current defensive coordinator for the University of California Golden Bears and the former defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs...
(defensive coordinator), Pat Perles, Dedric Ward
Dedric Ward
Dedric Lamar Ward is a former American football player and coach. He played Wide Receiver, having played for the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys...
(wide receivers), Ronnie Bradford
Ronnie Bradford
Ronald L. "Ronnie" Bradford is a former defensive back who played for the NFL's Denver Broncos , Arizona Cardinals , Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings. He also served as a defensive assistant coach for the Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs...
(defensive assistant), Nick Sirianni (offensive quality control coach), and Maurice Carthon
Maurice Carthon
Maurice Carthon is a National Football League coach as well as a former professional football running back.Carthon is currently an assistant head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs...
(assistant head coach). From Herman Edwards' staff, Chan Gailey
Chan Gailey
Thomas Chandler "Chan" Gailey, Jr. is an American professional and college football coach. Gailey is the current head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League ; he was formerly the head coach of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets college football...
was retained as offensive coordinator, and Bob Bicknell
Bob Bicknell
Bob Bicknell is an American football coach. He is currently the tight ends coach for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League...
switched from offensive line to tight ends coach, and Joe D'Alessandris was retained as assistant offensive line coach. The Chiefs also relieved duties of several scouts and player personnel assistants once the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
concluded.
Initially there were doubts as to whether Chan Gailey would retained under Todd Haley's coaching staff, being that Haley had just concluded a successful stint as offensive coordinator at Arizona. After the Chiefs lost their first three pre-season games, Gailey was relieved of duties and Haley is expected to assume offensive playcalling duties.
Roster changes and trade demands
Immediately following the Chiefs' 2008 season finale loss to the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, RB Larry Johnson voiced his intention to seek a trade in the offseason. Johnson was involved in legal troubles in 2008 and his production on the field declined. As a result of his legal troubles, in March 2009 Johnson pleaded guilty to the two incidents that occurred in 2008 and was sentenced to two years probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
. Johnson served suspensions from the NFL in 2008 and is not expected to receive further punishment from the charges.
OL Brian Waters
Brian Waters
Brian Demond Waters is an American football guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas...
had issues with Todd Haley shortly after Haley's hiring, saying the coach had been disrespectful of him during a meeting, then that new general manager Scott Pioli refused to meet with him privately. Waters later told the Kansas City Star that he wanted to be traded and did not attend any of the team's voluntary offseason workouts. Newly acquired LB Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel
Michael George "Mike" Vrabel is an assistant coach at Ohio State. He is a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League. Vrabel spent 14 seasons in the NFL, having played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs...
also did not attend offseason workouts citing his rights with the league's collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
agreement.
TE Tony Gonzalez reiterated his intentions for a trade in March 2009 after a failed attempt in October 2008. He was eventually traded in April to the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Gonzalez lobbied for the Chiefs to keep Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
as the team's starting quarterback when Gonzalez was still with the team and when Matt Cassel was not yet on the Chiefs roster. Though he appeared to be the Chiefs' lone quarterback who would remain in their plans for 2009, especially after Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
was released Thigpen was not considered a lock for the starting job. Thigpen competed with Matt Cassel for the starting quarterback position.
Departures
Donnie Edwards
Donnie Edwards is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
, QB Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
, TE Michael Merritt, and CB Patrick Surtain
Patrick Surtain
Patrick Frank Surtain is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
. In March, QB Quinn Gray
Quinn Gray
Quinn F. Gray, Sr. is a former American football quarterback who played for four seasons in the National Football League and one season each in the United Football League and NFL Europe. He played for the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2003, the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2005–2007, the Kansas City...
was released. and in April WR Will Franklin
Will Franklin (American football)
William Franklin is a gridiron football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, OT Andrew Carnahan
Andrew Carnahan
Andrew Carnahan is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, LB Curtis Gatewood
Curtis Gatewood
-College career:As a true freshman in 2003, Gatewood was redshirted but was named the scout team Defensive Player of the Week three times. In 2004, he played in every game as a backup linebacker and on special teams. He recorded nine tackles including multi tackle games on two occasions. As a...
, and WR Kevin Robinson
Kevin Robinson
Kevin Lee Robinson is a professional gridiron football wide receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
were released.
On April 23 the Chiefs traded TE Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a second round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. In 2008 Gonzalez asked Chiefs management for a trade but negotiations failed and new general manager Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli
Scott Pioli is a professional American football executive, currently serving as the general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Pioli was previously a front office executive for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and New England Patriots...
reitereated that Gonzalez was initially not offered in trades for the 2009 season but agreed when the Falcons offered a second-round pick. Gonzalez had sought a trade in the 2008 season but several attempts failed.
At the conclusion of the preseason, the Chiefs released 13 players to reach the 53-player limit. Permanently released were S Bernard Pollard
Bernard Pollard
Bernard Karmell Pollard is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, WR Ashley Lelie
Ashley Lelie
Ashley Jovon Lelie [] is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos 19th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
, WR Taurus Johnson
Taurus Johnson
Taurus Robert Johnson is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
, DT Derek Lokey
Derek Lokey
Derek Ray Lokey is an American football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Texas....
, S Ricky Price
Ricky Price
Ricky Earl Price is an American football safety who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and played for the Chiefs in the 2009 and 2010 season...
, and LB Zach Thomas
Zach Thomas
Zachary Michael Thomas is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Tech....
. CB Jackie Bates
Jackie Bates
Jackie Leonard Bates is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Hampton....
, TE Tom Crabtree
Tom Crabtree (American football)
Thomas Lewis Crabtree is an American football tight end for the Green Bay Packers.-Family:Married June 28th, 2009 to Chelsea Crabtree. Has a son Bryce Thomas Crabtree born October 14th, 2010...
, DE Dion Gales
Dion Gales
Dion David Gales is an American football defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League.-Professional career:Gales was promoted to the Chiefs active roster on December 12, 2009....
, DE Bobby Greenwood
Bobby Greenwood (American football)
Robert Lindsay Greenwood Jr. is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Alabama.-External links:**...
, G Darryl Harris
Darryl Harris
Darryl Deyung Harris is an American football guard for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was waived during final cuts of the 2011 preseason, and after clearing waivers, Harris was signed to the Chiefs practice squad on September 4, 2011.-External links:*...
, RB Javarris Williams
Javarris Williams
Javarris Jamiel Williams is an American football running back for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee State. He played high school football at Foster High School in...
and WR Rodney Wright were added to the practice squad.
After the first regular season game, the Chiefs waived LB Turk McBride
Turk McBride
Claude Maurice "Turk" McBride is an American football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
. After the third game, the Chiefs traded QB Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
to the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for an undisclosed draft pick.
Additions
Despite having several needs to be addressed and nearly $35 million in salary cap room, the Chiefs were criticized for being "quiet" in free-agency after the Cassel/Vrabel trade, primarily adding back-up players for depth.In March, the Chiefs signed LB Darrell Robertson
Darrell Robertson
Darrell Thomas Robertson is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
, WR C. J. Jones
C. J. Jones
Clinton "C. J." Jones is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
, CB Travis Daniels
Travis Daniels
Travis Antwon Daniels is an American football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
, LB Corey Mays
Corey Mays
Corey Lemard Mays is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Notre Dame...
, WR Bobby Engram
Bobby Engram
Simon J. "Bobby" Engram III is currently the offensive assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
, LB Monty Beisel
Monty Beisel
Monty Beisel is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
, WR Terrance Copper
Terrance Copper
Terrance Terrel Copper is an American football wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent...
. and OL Mike Goff
Mike Goff (American football)
Michael J. Goff is a retired American football guard. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa....
.
In April, the Chiefs signed WR Rodney Wright, LS Tanner Purdum
Tanner Purdum
Tanner Gregory Purdum is an American football long snapper for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as a street free agent in 2009...
, LB Zach Thomas
Zach Thomas
Zachary Michael Thomas is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Tech....
, TE Sean Ryan, TE Tony Curtis, and C Eric Ghiaciuc
Eric Ghiaciuc
Eric M. Ghiaciuc [GUY-check] is an American football offensive lineman of Romanian descent who is currently a Free Agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
.
In June, the Chiefs signed FS Mike Brown.
In August, the Chiefs signed WR Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer is a retired American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan, where he was a fan favorite.Toomer has also been a member of the Kansas...
but he was later released at the end of the pre-season.
In September, the Chiefs signed WR Bobby Wade
Bobby Wade
Robert Louis Wade, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
.
In November, the Chiefs signed WR Chris Chambers
Chris Chambers
Christopher J. "Chris" Chambers is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
.
Cassel/Vrabel trade
Mike Vrabel
Michael George "Mike" Vrabel is an assistant coach at Ohio State. He is a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League. Vrabel spent 14 seasons in the NFL, having played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs...
from the Patriots for an undisclosed draft pick. The Boston Globe speculated that it would be part of a bigger trade involving QB Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
. The next day, the Chiefs confirmed the acquisition of both Vrabel and Cassel from New England in exchange for their second round draft selection in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
(#34 overall).
Reactions to the trade were mixed and it was called "monumentally lopsided" with the Chiefs "clearly (getting) the better end of the deal." Don Banks
Don Banks
Donald Oscar Banks was an Australian composer of concert, jazz, and commercial music.He initially studied at the University of Melbourne, then moved to London where he studied with Mátyás Seiber...
of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
called the Chiefs the "big winners" of the first weekend of NFL free agency and the Patriots' compensation "laughably low," but the best they could get in return. The trade was done mainly because the Patriots could not keep two quarterbacks on their roster that took up $29.2 million of salary cap space, so it was not a matter of if the Patriots would trade Cassel, but when. The Patriots also have Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
under contract, who is recovering from a knee-injury sufffered in a 2008 game against the Chiefs.
On July 15 the Chiefs signed Cassel to six-year contract extension worth a total of $63 million.
Free agency
| Position | Player | Tag | Date signed | 2009 team | Contract (with KC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | Jason Babin Jason Babin -Houston Texans:Babin was drafted by Houston Texans in first round of 2004 NFL Draft. The Texans traded 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th round pick to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 1st and 5th pick, In order to draft Babin. He was signed to a five-year $6 million contract by Texans on June 26, 2004... |
UFA | Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
||
| LB | Rocky Boiman Rocky Boiman Rocky Michael Boiman is an American football linebacker who currently is a free agent. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.... |
UFA | Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
||
| SS | Oliver Celestin Oliver Celestin Oliver Celestin, Jr. is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Texas Southern.... |
UFA | New York Sentinels New York Sentinels The New York Sentinels and Hartford Colonials are a currently inactive professional American football team that played in the United Football League in its 2009 and 2010 seasons... (UFL) |
||
| G | Adrian Jones | UFA | Houston Texans | ||
| FS | Jon McGraw Jon McGraw Jon Michael McGraw is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League... |
UFA | March 6 | Kansas City Chiefs | N/A |
| C | Rudy Niswanger Rudy Niswanger Rudolph Nelson "Rudy" Niswanger is an American football center in the National Football League who is currently is a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2006... |
RFA | April 24 | Kansas City Chiefs | N/A |
| FS | Jarrad Page Jarrad Page Jarrad Matthew Page is an American football safety for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft... |
RFA | February 26 | Kansas City Chiefs | N/A |
| LB | Pat Thomas Pat Thomas (linebacker) Patrick Wain Thomas is an American football linebacker for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
UFA | Buffalo Bills | ||
| WR | Jeff Webb Jeff Webb Jeffrey Leon Webb is a gridiron football wide receiver for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft... |
RFA | April 20 | Kansas City Chiefs | N/A |
2009 NFL Draft
The Chiefs selected third overall in the 2009 NFL Draft2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. After selecting a league-high 13 players in the 2008 Draft, the Chiefs were scheduled to make their standard seven selections pending trades prior to trading away their second round draft pick to New England for Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel, leaving them with just six choices. The Chiefs were later awarded the 256th and final selection in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
, making them effectively choose "Mr. Irrelevant
Mr. Irrelevant
"Mr. Irrelevant" is the title bestowed each year upon the last pick of the annual National Football League draft.- Irrelevant Week :The name arose in 1976, when former Southern California and NFL receiver Paul Salata founded "Irrelevant Week" in Newport Beach, California. He announced the final...
." The player chosen was K Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended...
, who was the Chiefs' first "Mr. Irrelevant" since the 1970 NFL Draft
1970 NFL Draft
The 1970 National Football League Draft was held on January 27–28, 1970.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
when DB Rayford Jenkins was chosen by the team from Alcorn A&M
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University is an historically black university comprehensive land-grant institution in Lorman, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871-History:...
.
The Chiefs selected defensive end Tyson Jackson
Tyson Jackson
-Kansas City Chiefs:Jackson was drafted by the Chiefs, who looked to implement him as DE into their new 3-4 defense. Jackson remained unsigned at the beginning of the Chiefs' training camp session and did not travel with the team to River Falls, Wisconsin...
third overall. Jackson was the third consecutive first round pick by the Chiefs to have played collegiately for the LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
. All terms of the contracts for the 2009 draft picks were undisclosed, but ESPN reported that Jackson signed a five-year contract worth $57 million, with $31 million guaranteed.
| Round | Selection | Name | Position | College | Date signed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Tyson Jackson Tyson Jackson -Kansas City Chiefs:Jackson was drafted by the Chiefs, who looked to implement him as DE into their new 3-4 defense. Jackson remained unsigned at the beginning of the Chiefs' training camp session and did not travel with the team to River Falls, Wisconsin... |
Defensive end Defensive end Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years... |
Louisiana State LSU Tigers football The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as... |
August 7 |
| 3 | 67 | Alex Magee Alex Magee Alex Magee is an American football defensive end who is currently a Free Agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft... |
Defensive tackle | Purdue Purdue Boilermakers football The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of... |
July 30 |
| 4 | 102 | Donald Washington Donald Washington Donald David Washington III is an American football cornerback for the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Chiefs... |
Cornerback Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position... |
Ohio State Ohio State Buckeyes football The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state... |
July 30 |
| 5 | 139 | Colin Brown Colin Brown (American football) Colin Christopher Brown is an American football offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League... |
Offensive tackle | Missouri Missouri Tigers football The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996... |
June 30 |
| 6 | 175 | Quinten Lawrence Quinten Lawrence Quinten Louis Lawrence is an American football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at McNeese State... |
Wide receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
McNeese State McNeese State University McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970.... |
July 30 |
| 7 | 212 | Javarris Williams Javarris Williams Javarris Jamiel Williams is an American football running back for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee State. He played high school football at Foster High School in... |
Running back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
Tennessee State Tennessee State University Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:... |
July 23 |
| 237 | Jake O'Connell Jake O'Connell Jake Nicholas O'Connell Jake Nicholas O'Connell Jake Nicholas O'Connell (born November 6, 1985 in Naples, Florida is an American football tight end who is currently a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. He played college football at Miami University... |
Tight end Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
Miami (OH) Miami RedHawks Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, features 18 different varsity level sports teams for men and women, all of which are known as the Miami RedHawks... |
June 26 | |
| 256 Mr. Irrelevant "Mr. Irrelevant" is the title bestowed each year upon the last pick of the annual National Football League draft.- Irrelevant Week :The name arose in 1976, when former Southern California and NFL receiver Paul Salata founded "Irrelevant Week" in Newport Beach, California. He announced the final... |
Ryan Succop Ryan Succop Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended... |
Placekicker Placekicker Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points... |
South Carolina South Carolina Gamecocks football The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice... |
June 23 |
Notes:
- (Draft day trade) Obtained Carolina'sCarolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
seventh round selection (#237) via the Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In exchange, the Dolphins received the Chiefs' 2010 seventh round selection.
Final roster
| Kansas City Chiefs 2009 final roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Branden Albert Branden B. Albert III is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs 15th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.-Early years:Albert grew up in a single-parent home in Rochester, New... T Andy Alleman Andrew "Andy" Alleman is an American football guard. Alleman last played for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League in 2010. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft... G Darryl Harris Darryl Deyung Harris is an American football guard for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was waived during final cuts of the 2011 preseason, and after clearing waivers, Harris was signed to the Chiefs practice squad on September 4, 2011.-External links:*... G Rudy Niswanger Rudolph Nelson "Rudy" Niswanger is an American football center in the National Football League who is currently is a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2006... C Ryan O'Callaghan Ryan O'Callaghan is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft... T Barry Richardson (American football) Barry Devon Richardson is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson.... T Wade Smith Wade Smith is not a football player.**... G/C Brian Waters Brian Demond Waters is an American football guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas... G Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Jovan Belcher Jovan Allen Belcher is an American football linebacker with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He played collegiately with the Maine Black Bears. He played defensive end during his junior and senior years, after switching to the position from outside linebacker where he played... ILB Tamba Hali Tamba Boimah Hali is an American football outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League. He was the 20th overall pick out of Penn State in the 2006 NFL Draft... OLB David Herron David Leon Herron, Jr. is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played football at Warren G... ILB Derrick Johnson -Kansas City Chiefs:Johnson started every game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005, becoming the first Chiefs linebacker in 20 years to start all 16 games of his rookie campaign. He was subsequently awarded the Mack Lee Hill Award by the Chiefs... ILB Corey Mays Corey Lemard Mays is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Notre Dame... ILB Mike Vrabel Michael George "Mike" Vrabel is an assistant coach at Ohio State. He is a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League. Vrabel spent 14 seasons in the NFL, having played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs... OLB Pierre Walters Pierre Walters is an American football defensive end for the Spokane Shock of the Arena Football League. Previously, he was an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2009. The Chiefs cut him... OLB Demorrio Williams Demorrio Dwain Williams is an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft... ILB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Reserve Lists
Jackie Battle Jackie Battle is an American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 2007... RB (IR)  Colin Brown (American football) Colin Christopher Brown is an American football offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League... G (IR) Brad Cottam Bradley Joseph "Brad" Cottam is an American football tight end formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League.-Early years / Personal:... TE (IR) Weston Dacus Robert Weston Dacus [DAY-cus] is an American football linebacker for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Arkansas.-External links:**... ILB (IR) Devard Darling Devard Loran Darling is a Bahamian-American wide receiver of American football who is currently a member of the Houston Texans. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State University and Washington State... WR (IR) Mike Goff (American football) Michael J. Goff is a retired American football guard. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa.... G (IR) Maurice Leggett Maurice Lamar Leggett is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He entered the NFL as a free agent in May 2008. He played college football for Valdosta State University. Won the Mack Lee Hill Award as the Kansas City Chiefs top rookie for 2008. On November 25, 2009, Leggett... CB (IR) DaJuan Morgan DaJuan Jamar Morgan is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina State.Morgan has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts and New York... S (IR) Jarrad Page Jarrad Matthew Page is an American football safety for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft... FS (IR) Justin Rogers Justin Rogers is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft... ILB (IR) Dantrell Savage Dantrell Savage is a free agent American football running back who last played for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008... RB (IR) Kolby Smith -Kansas City Chiefs:His first career NFL start was on November 25, 2007 due to injuries to Larry Johnson and the retirement of Priest Holmes. He recorded his first career touchdown on that date against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.... RB (IR) Practice Squad
Rookies in italics 53 Active, 12 Inactive, 6 PS |
|||||
Staff
| Kansas City Chiefs 2009 staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
|||||
Preseason
The Chiefs conducted training camp at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls for the 19th and final consecutive year. The team will move training camp to St. Joseph, Missouri in 2010. They lost all four games in the preseasonNational Football League exhibition season
The National Football League preseason refers to the period each year during which NFL teams play several not-for-the-record exhibition games before the actual "championship" or "regular" season starts. Beginning with the featured Pro Football Hall of Fame game in early August, five weekends of...
to the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, and St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
(for the Missouri Governor's Cup
Governor's Cup (Missouri)
The Missouri Governor's Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner between the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams' annual meetings in the preseason and occasional contests in the regular season....
). In the Chiefs' game against the Seahawks, QB Matt Cassel suffered a sprained Medial collateral ligament
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
(MCL), leaving his status as starting quarterback for opening day in doubt. The offense for the Chiefs struggled in all four games, scoring only 42 points in four games and the offensive line suffered numerous breakdowns which led to Cassel's injury. The offensive struggles led to offensive coordinator Chan Gailey
Chan Gailey
Thomas Chandler "Chan" Gailey, Jr. is an American professional and college football coach. Gailey is the current head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League ; he was formerly the head coach of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets college football...
's firing and head coach Todd Haley
Todd Haley
Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.-Early...
assuming playcalling duties.
Week 1: at Baltimore Ravens
The Chiefs began their season at M&T Bank StadiumM&T Bank Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. The stadium is immediately adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles. Served by the Hamburg Street station of...
against the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. Due to his injured knee, quarterback Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
was unable to play, so Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
got the start. Despite completing 16-of-24 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, the Chiefs lost to the Ravens 38–24, and Croyle fell to 0–9 as a starter.
Kansas City trailed in the first quarter as Ravens kicker Steven Hauschka
Steven Hauschka
Steven Hauschka is an American football placekicker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
got a 44-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco
Flacco was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens 18th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, becoming the highest drafted player ever from the University of Delaware...
completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Willis McGahee
Willis McGahee
Willis Andrew McGahee III is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
. In the second quarter, the Chiefs got on the board as safety Jon McGraw
Jon McGraw
Jon Michael McGraw is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown. In the third quarter, Kansas City took the lead as Croyle completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe
Dwayne Bowe
-2007:On August 5, 2007, Bowe signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs, after holding out the first week of practice at training camp.Bowe scored his first NFL touchdown on a pass from Damon Huard in the first half of the Chiefs' game against the Chicago Bears on September 16, 2007.In his rookie...
, yet Baltimore answered with Flacco completing a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Todd Heap
Todd Heap
Todd Benjamin Heap is an American football tight end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State-Early years:At Mountain View High School, in Mesa, Arizona,...
. What followed was a back-and-forth battle in the fourth quarter. Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended...
got a 53-yard field goal, but the Ravens replied with fullback Le'Ron McClain
Le'Ron McClain
- Baltimore Ravens :McClain signed with the Ravens on July 27, 2007. He scored his first career touchdown on a Kyle Boller pass against the San Diego Chargers on November 25, 2007...
getting a 1-yard touchdown run. Kansas City would stay close as Croyle completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sean Ryan, but Baltimore would pull away as Flacco completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mark Clayton and McGahee getting a 1-yard touchdown run.
With the loss, the Chiefs began their season at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders
Hoping to rebound from their tough road loss to the Ravens, the Chiefs played their Week 2 home opener against their AFC West foe, the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Kansas City would score in the first quarter as rookie kicker Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended...
got a 23-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Raiders tied the game as kicker Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski is a left-footed Polish placekicker who plays for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders. He is nicknamed The Polish Cannon because he is considered to have one of the strongest kicking legs in the league, and leads the NFL in kickoffs for touchbacks. He lives in...
made a 48-yard field goal. Oakland would take the lead in the third quarter as Janikowski nailed a 54-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs would retake the lead as quarterback Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe
Dwayne Bowe
-2007:On August 5, 2007, Bowe signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs, after holding out the first week of practice at training camp.Bowe scored his first NFL touchdown on a pass from Damon Huard in the first half of the Chiefs' game against the Chicago Bears on September 16, 2007.In his rookie...
. However, the Raiders sealed the win as running back Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden is an American football running back who currently plays for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Arkansas from 2005 to 2007...
got a 5-yard touchdown run.
With the loss, Kansas City fell to 0–2.
Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles
Still searching for their first win of the season, the Chiefs flew to Lincoln Financial FieldLincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field is the home stadium of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. It has a seating capacity of 68,532 . It is located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue between 11th and 10th streets, also aside I-95 as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
for a Week 3 interconference duel with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Kansas City would trail early in the first quarter as Eagles running back LeSean McCoy
LeSean McCoy
-Philadelphia Eagles:McCoy was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract with the team on June 29, 2009....
got a 5-yard touchdown run and quarterback Kevin Kolb
Kevin Kolb
Kevin Benjamin Kolb is an American football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Houston....
got a 1-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs would get on the board with quarterback Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
's 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mark Bradley
Mark Bradley
Mark Anthony Bradley is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
, but Philadelphia came right back with Kolb's 64-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver DeSean Jackson
DeSean Jackson
Going to the 2008 NFL Draft Jackson was considered one of the top ten wide receivers available in a draft class littered with talented wide outs. The only knock on Jackson was his small frame, being measured at 5'9¾ " and just over 170 pounds. During the pre-draft period, Hall of Fame wide receiver...
and kicker David Akers
David Akers
David Roy Akers is a left footed American football placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Falcons in 1997. He played college football at Louisville....
' 29-yard field goal.
Kansas City's deficit would increase as Akers nailed a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Eagles would put the game away with Kolb's 35-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brent Celek
Brent Celek
Brent Steven Celek is an American football tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Cincinnati.-Early years:...
. Afterwards, the Chiefs would end the game with Cassel's 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bobby Wade
Bobby Wade
Robert Louis Wade, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
.
With the loss, Kansas City fell to 0–3.
Week 4: vs. New York Giants
After a brutal road loss to the Eagles, the Chiefs went home for a Week 4 interconference duel with the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Kansas City would trail in the first quarter with quarterback Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Smith
Steve Smith (New York Giants)
Steve Smith is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
. Afterwards, the Chiefs would get on the board with rookie kicker Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended...
's 34-yard field goal. In the second quarter, New York would answer with Manning hooking up with Smith again on a 25-yard touchdown pass. Then, the Giants would close out the half with former Chiefs kicker Lawrence Tynes
Lawrence Tynes
Lawrence James Henry Tynes is an American football placekicker for the New York Giants. He was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2001.-Early years:...
making a 25-yard field goal.
After Tynes' 40-yard field goal in the third quarter, New York would finish their scoring in the fourth quarter with quarterback Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
's 54-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Hakeem Nicks
Hakeem Nicks
-New York Giants:On August 1, 2009, Nicks signed a five-year, $12.54 million contract. The deal includes a $6.5 million signing bonus. During training camp, Nicks vied for a starting position with the Giants other receivers, most notably Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith.2009Nicks made his first career...
. Kansas City tried to rally with quarterback Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
completing a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sean Ryan (followed by a failed 2-point conversion) and a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bobby Wade
Bobby Wade
Robert Louis Wade, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
.
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 0–4.
Week 5: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Still looking to acquire their first win of the year, the Chiefs stayed at home, donned their Dallas Texans throwbacks, and played a Week 5 interconference duel with the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. After a scoreless first quarter, Kansas City got out of the gates in the second quarter as kicker Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended...
made a 47-yard field goal and quarterback Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to linebacker Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel
Michael George "Mike" Vrabel is an assistant coach at Ohio State. He is a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League. Vrabel spent 14 seasons in the NFL, having played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs...
. Afterwards, the Cowboys closed out the opening half with a 22-yard field goal from kicker Nick Folk
Nick Folk
Nicholas "Nick" Alexander Folk is an American football kicker who currently plays for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
.
The Chiefs went back to work in the third quarter with Succop booting a 38-yard field goal, yet Dallas began to rally with a 36-yard touchdown run from running back Tashard Choice
Tashard Choice
Tashard J. Choice , is an American football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He played collegiately at Georgia Tech. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.Choice began his collegiate career at The University of Oklahoma but...
. Dallas would take the lead in the fourth quarter as Folk nailed a 28-yard field goal and quarterback Tony Romo
Tony Romo
Antonio Ramiro "Tony" Romo is a professional American football quarterback in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. Romo's career passer rating - at 95.8 - ranks third-best all time. Tony Romo didn't play in the regular season in 2003, 2004, or 2005...
found wide receiver Miles Austin
Miles Austin
Miles Jonathon Austin III is an American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
on a 59-yard touchdown pass, yet Kansas City would tie the game as Cassel hooked up with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe
Dwayne Bowe
-2007:On August 5, 2007, Bowe signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs, after holding out the first week of practice at training camp.Bowe scored his first NFL touchdown on a pass from Damon Huard in the first half of the Chiefs' game against the Chicago Bears on September 16, 2007.In his rookie...
on a 16-yard touchdown pass. However, the Cowboys won it in overtime as Romo threw the game-ending 60-yard touchdown pass to Austin.
With the tough loss, the Chiefs fell to 0–5.
Week 6: at Washington Redskins
Following a tough overtime loss to the Cowboys, the Chiefs flew to Fed Ex Field for a Week 6 interconference duel with the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.
After a scoreless first quarter, Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended...
booted a 39-yard field goal for the only score of the half.
In the third quarter, the Redskins took the lead with a 40-yard and a 28-yard field goal from kicker Shaun Suisham
Shaun Suisham
Shaun Christopher Suisham is a Canadian placekicker of American football for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League . He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
, but Kansas City tied it up with Succop's 46-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Succop gave the Chiefs the lead with a 46-yard and a 24-yard field, but it was the defense that closed the game out for Kansas City, as DE/OLB Tamba Hali
Tamba Hali
Tamba Boimah Hali is an American football outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League. He was the 20th overall pick out of Penn State in the 2006 NFL Draft...
sacked quarterback Todd Collins in his own end zone for a safety with under a minute to play.
With the win, the Chiefs improved to 1–5.
Week 7: vs. San Diego Chargers
Coming off their road win over the Redskins, the Chiefs went home, donned their Dallas Texans throwbacks, and played a Week 7 AFL Legacy game with the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Kansas City would find themselves trailing in the first quarter as Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Malcom Floyd
Malcom Floyd
Malcom Floyd is an American football wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Wyoming...
, followed by a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vincent Jackson
Vincent Jackson
Vincent Jackson , nicknamed "Action Jackson", is an American football wide receiver who currently plays in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers....
. San Diego would add onto their lead in the second quarter with a 20-yard and a 39-yard field goal from kicker Nate Kaeding
Nate Kaeding
Nathaniel James Kaeding is an American football placekicker who plays for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft in the 3rd round with a pick acquired from the Phillip Rivers-Eli Manning trade. He played college football at Iowa...
.
The Chiefs would get onto the board in the third quarter with quarterback Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
completing a 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe
Dwayne Bowe
-2007:On August 5, 2007, Bowe signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs, after holding out the first week of practice at training camp.Bowe scored his first NFL touchdown on a pass from Damon Huard in the first half of the Chiefs' game against the Chicago Bears on September 16, 2007.In his rookie...
, but the Chargers kept their momentum going with Rivers finding running back Darren Sproles
Darren Sproles
Darren Lee Sproles is an American football running back of the NFL who plays for the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
on a 58-yard touchdown pass. In the fourth quarter, San Diego sealed the win with Kaeding's 19-yard field goal and fullback Jacob Hester
Jacob Hester
Jacob Troy Hester is a fullback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
recovering a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown.
With the loss, Kansas City went into their bye week at 1–6.
Suspension of Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson was suspended for two weeks after he made offensive comments about Todd HaleyTodd Haley
Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.-Early...
and made offensive comments about homosexuals on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and in public.
Week 9: at Jacksonville Jaguars
After their bye week, the Chiefs flew to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for an Intraconference Duel with the Jaguars. While the Chiefs got on the board first with Ryan SuccopRyan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended...
nailing a 45-yard goal, they fell behind when Rashad Jennings
Rashad Jennings
Rashad Jennings is an American football running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Liberty.-College career:He went to Pittsburgh in 2005 and became only the...
ran from the 28-yard line to the end zone for a touchdown. In the second quarter Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended...
made a 21-yard field goal, and then the Jaguars scored when David Garrard
David Garrard
David Douglas Garrard is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent.Garrard played college football at East Carolina. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and served as the team's starting quarterback from 2007 to 2010...
completed a 61-yard touchdown pass to Mike Sims-Walker. The only score in the third quarter was when Josh Scobee
Josh Scobee
Joshua Taylor Scobee is an American football placekicker, who currently plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League . He began his college football career as kicker for the Louisiana Tech University Bulldogs, setting several school records...
hit a 27-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter the Chiefs fell further behind when Maurice Jones-Drew
Maurice Jones-Drew
Maurice Christopher Jones-Drew is a professional American football player who currently plays running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League . He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
got a 10-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs tried to come back with Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
completing a 54-yard and a 5-yard touchdown pass to Chris Chambers
Chris Chambers
Christopher J. "Chris" Chambers is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
(Second time round the two-point conversion was made when Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
passed to Jamaal Charles
Jamaal Charles
Jamaal RaShaad Jones Charles is an American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
) but couldn't go any further thanks to the Jaguars' defense resulting in a loss.
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 1–7.
Week 10: at Oakland Raiders
Trying to snap a two-game losing streak, the Chiefs flew to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, donned their Dallas Texans throwbacks, and played a Week 10 AFC Legacy game with perennial rival, the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Kansas City would trail in the first quarter as Raiders running back Justin Fargas
Justin Fargas
Justin Fargas is an American football running back who is a Free Agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
got a 1-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs would get on the board with rookie kicker Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended...
getting a 50-yard field goal, but Oakland would strike back as kicker Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski is a left-footed Polish placekicker who plays for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders. He is nicknamed The Polish Cannon because he is considered to have one of the strongest kicking legs in the league, and leads the NFL in kickoffs for touchbacks. He lives in...
got a 50-yard field goal. Kansas City would take the lead in the second quarter with a 44-yard touchdown run from running back Jamaal Charles
Jamaal Charles
Jamaal RaShaad Jones Charles is an American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, followed by Succop nailing a 25-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, Succop would come through for the Chiefs in the fourth quarter with a 31-yard field goal.
With the win, Kansas City improved to 2–7.
Week 11: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Chiefs returned home to host the SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in an attempt to create the biggest upset of the week and get their first back-to-back wins since 2007. Optimism grew quickly as Jamaal Charles
Jamaal Charles
Jamaal RaShaad Jones Charles is an American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
ran the opening kick 97 yards for a touchdown, starting the game with a 7–0 Chiefs lead.
The Steelers dominated the rest of the first half with 20:45 time of possession, going into halftime with a 17–7 lead. The Chiefs' defense began to pressure Ben Rothlisberger in the third quarter, forcing two interceptions (both by Andy Studebaker in his first NFL start). By the fourth quarter, the Chiefs tied the game up at 17–17. The fourth quarter resulted in a touchdown each, sending the game into overtime.
The Steelers won the toss in overtime, but failed to get within field goal range. Of note, Rothlisberger suffered a knee to the head concussion and was replaced by Charlie Batch
Charlie Batch
Charles "Charlie" Batch is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
. The Chiefs took over at the 20 and, after a 61 yard catch and run by Chris Chambers
Chris Chambers
Christopher J. "Chris" Chambers is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
, Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended...
kicked the winning 22 yard field goal. With the win, the Chiefs improved to 3–7 and snapped a 10-game home losing streak, the longest in team history.
Week 12: at San Diego Chargers
Coming off their win against the Steelers, the Chiefs went on the road for an AFC West rivalry match against the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In the first quarter the Chiefs trailed early as QB Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
got a 19-yard touchdown pass to TE Antonio Gates
Antonio Gates
Antonio Gates is an American football tight end for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2003 after playing college basketball at Kent State University...
. The Chiefs would reply to tie the game with QB Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
making a 7-yard touchdown pass to WR Chris Chambers
Chris Chambers
Christopher J. "Chris" Chambers is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
, until they fell back again with RB LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.Tomlinson, often referred to by his initials, L...
getting a 1-yard touchdown run, then Rivers hooking up with Gates again on a 15-yard touchdown pass, then DB Paul Oliver
Paul Oliver (American football)
Paul J. Oliver is an American football safety for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League...
returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown.
In the third quarter the Chiefs' struggle continued as RB LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.Tomlinson, often referred to by his initials, L...
got a 3-yard touchdown run. They tried to come back with RB Jamaal Charles
Jamaal Charles
Jamaal RaShaad Jones Charles is an American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
getting a 2-yard touchdown run, but the Chargers would pull away with kicker Nate Kaeding
Nate Kaeding
Nathaniel James Kaeding is an American football placekicker who plays for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft in the 3rd round with a pick acquired from the Phillip Rivers-Eli Manning trade. He played college football at Iowa...
making a 55-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter the problem got worse when a penalty on Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
was enforced in the end zone for a safety, giving the Chargers 2 points. The final score was made when Kaeding booted a 23-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 3–8.
Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos
The Chiefs defense began the game by demonstrating how unpredictable they have been all season. After giving up three plays of 10 yards or more, Mike Brown intercepted what would likely have been a touchdown pass, giving the Chiefs offense a chance to take the field. After a short run and two incomplete passes, the Chiefs punted back to Denver. The Chiefs defense nearly forced the Broncos to a three-and-out, but the drive was kept going by a Ron EdwardsRon Edwards (American football)
Ronald H. "Ron" Edwards is an American football defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League. He started 35 consecutive regular season games at nose guard for Texas A&M University, where he recorded 121 tackles with 10 sacks and 23 stops for losses during his career...
face mask call. The end result was a Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He played college football at Purdue, where he started four straight bowl games. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
to Daniel Graham
Daniel Graham
Daniel Lawrence Grahamhttp://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrahDa00.htm is an American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
touchdown pass.
The Chiefs offense responded by putting together a relatively long series that began at the KC 31 and lasted 20 plays, ending in a 22 yard Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop
Ryan Barrow Succop is an American football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant after being selected by the Chiefs with the final pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina.-Early years:Succop attended...
field goal. After a couple possession changes, the Broncos answered with a series that included three Correll Buckhalter
Correll Buckhalter
Correll Buckhalter is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
rushes for over 10 yards, ending in a Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Moreno
Knowshon Rockwell Moreno is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was selected 12th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Broncos. He played college football at the University of Georgia.-Early years:Moreno grew up in Belford, a neighborhood in...
rushing touchdown. The Chiefs would respond before the half with another field goal.
The second began with the Chiefs failing to convert on fourth down and the Broncos scoring on each of their first three possessions. Before the end of the quarter, Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
was replaced by Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
. After the Chiefs lost a Jamal Charles fumble for a touchdown, they recovered a Kyle Orton fumble and eventually turned it into a Jamal Charles rushing touchdown. The Broncos immediately responded with yet another touchdown.
With the loss, the Chiefs fall to 3–9.