Todd Haley
Encyclopedia
Todd Haley is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs
of the National Football League
(NFL). Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the Arizona Cardinals
' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the wide receiver
s coach for the New York Jets
, Chicago Bears
, and Dallas Cowboys
.
He is the son of Dick Haley
, formerly Director of Player Personnel for the Pittsburgh Steelers
(1971–1990) and New York Jets
(1991–2002) and also a former NFL cornerback (1959–1964).
As a youth, Haley was a ball boy for the Steelers and attended Steelers training camps with his father. Alongside his father, Haley would watch the Steelers' game and practice film. While his family was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
for his father's profession, Haley attended Upper St. Clair High School
. He went on to attend the University of Florida
and University of Miami
, playing on the two schools' respective golf squads. Haley graduated from the University of North Florida
in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in communication.
in 1995 and served as an assistant in the scouting department for two seasons. At the time, Haley's father Dick was working with the Jets as Director of Player Personnel. In 1997, he was promoted to offensive assistant/quality control coach and worked closely with then-offensive coordinator Charlie Weis
. From 1999 to 2000 Haley was the Jets' wide receivers coach, helping Keyshawn Johnson
make his second Pro Bowl
appearance. During his tenure with the Jets, Haley began his association with Scott Pioli
, who served as Director of Pro Personnel for the Jets from 1997 to 1999. Pioli later became the general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs
and hired Haley as the team's head coach in 2009.
In 2001, Haley joined the Chicago Bears
as wide receivers coach and served in the position until 2003. In 2002, he helped Marty Booker
become the first Bears Pro Bowl wide receiver since 1971.
From 2004 to 2006, Haley was the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys
. Haley helped develop quarterback Tony Romo
and the Cowboys' passing offense, which centered around wide receivers Terry Glenn
and Terrell Owens
.
In 2007, Haley joined Ken Whisenhunt
's coaching staff for the Arizona Cardinals
as the team's offensive coordinator. Haley did not start calling plays for the Cardinals until late in the season. The Cardinals finished in the top half of the NFL in multiple offensive categories.
Under Haley’s guidance, the Cardinals offense in 2008 was one of the league’s most innovative and explosive units. Arizona tied for third in the league in scoring, registering a franchise-record 427 points (26.7 ppg). The Cardinals were fourth in total offense, averaging 365.8 yards per game. Arizona was second in the league in passing offense (292.1 ypg) and ranked sixth in the NFL with 20.5 first downs per game. The Cardinals finished the season with a 9-7 record and a playoff berth after winning the NFC West Division title. The Cardinals went on to appear in their first Super Bowl
in franchise history after the team scored more than 30 points in each of its three playoff games.
In Super Bowl XLIII
, the Cardinals offense played the NFL's top-ranked Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Trailing 17–7 at halftime, the Cardinals offense fought back after a 13-point deficit and led the game 23–20 with just over two minutes remaining. The Cardinals lost 27–23 in the game's final seconds.
led longtime Kansas City Chiefs
General Manager Carl Peterson to abruptly announce his resignation the following day. This paved the way toward the hiring of General Manager Scott Pioli
on January 13, 2009. The decision to hire Pioli led to speculation that Herman Edwards
, who had been serving as the Chiefs' head coach since 2006, was not likely to return for 2009. Edwards was fired on January 23, just five days after the Arizona Cardinals
defeated the Philadelphia Eagles
in the NFC Championship Game
. Leading up to Super Bowl XLIII
, Haley was repeatedly questioned about Kansas City and the possibilities of joining his former colleague Scott Pioli
. Haley would later say that it was the day after the Super Bowl, which the Cardinals lost, that he heard his name mentioned for the Chiefs' coaching position.
In the days after the Cardinals' appearance in Super Bowl XLIII
, Haley was offered the head coaching position of the Kansas City Chiefs
. Haley accepted the position on February 6, 2009 and signed a four-year contract. For his first coaching staff, Haley hired Joel Collier
, Gary Gibbs
, Steve Hoffman
, Bill Muir
, Clancy Pendergast
, Pat Perles, and Dedric Ward
to unspecified positions on the Chiefs' 2009 coaching staff and retained Bob Bicknell
, Joe D’Alessandris, Chan Gailey
, Tim Krumrie
, Brent Salazar, and Cedric Smith from Herm Edwards' staff. Ward and Pendergast had previously served on the Cardinals' coaching staff with Haley.
Initially there were doubts as to whether Chan Gailey would be retained under Todd Haley's coaching staff, being that Haley had just concluded a successful stint as offensive coordinator at Arizona. Haley initially expressed satisfaction in working with Gailey saying, "The more I work with the guy, the more I like him..." However, after the Chiefs lost their first three pre-season games partially due to an abysmal offensive performance, Haley reportedly refused to bow to Gailey's suggestion to once again install a spread offense similar to the one installed midway through the 2008
season. Gailey was relieved of duties and Haley assumed offensive play-calling duties throughout the rest of the season.
The Chiefs lost their first five games under Haley in 2009. Haley won his first game as the Chiefs' head coach on October 18, 2009 beating the Washington Redskins 14–6.
In late October 2009 the Chiefs suspended starting running back Larry Johnson for one week in response to his public comments on Twitter
where he questioned Todd Haley's coaching abilities and for using homophobic slurs when he addressed the media. Johnson's Twitter comments were: "My father got more creditentials than most of these pro coaches" [Sic]. That was followed by: "My father played for the coach from "rememeber the titans". Our coach played golf. My father played for redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn." [Sic] When Johnson returned from his suspension, he was released.
After Haley released Johnson, he led the Chiefs to their first two-game winning streak since the 2007 season with victories against the Oakland Raiders
and Pittsburgh Steelers
on November 15 and 22. The 27–24 victory over the Steelers—the defending Super Bowl
champions—came in overtime. The Chiefs ended their season with an unlikely victory against the Denver Broncos
who were looking to clinch a Wild-Card playoff berth with a win. This was the first Kansas City win at Denver since 2000
and their first victory at Invesco Field at Mile High
which opened in 2001
. This concluded the Chiefs season with a 4-12 record, a two-win improvement from 2008.
In Haley's second season, the Chiefs won their first three games, including the season opener on Monday Night Football
against the San Diego Chargers
, and was the last undefeated team remaining in the NFL before losing at Indianapolis in Week 5. Kansas City went on to win the AFC West for the first time since 2003.
On January 9, 2011 the Kansas City Chiefs played the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs lost the game 30-7 with Matt Cassel passing for 70 yards with 3 interceptions. The only touchdown was a 41 yard touchdown run by Jamaal Charles.
On September 2, 2011 Haley elected to play his starters against the Green Bay Packers
in the final preseason game of the year. Tight end Tony Moeaki
, a crucial piece of the team's 2011 offensive plans, injured his knee at the beginning of the second quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. In a game played mostly by the Chiefs starters and the Packers backups, the Chiefs went on to lose 20-19, leading many to question Haley's decision to use his best players late into the game.
On October 31. 2011 Haley led his Kansas City Chiefs to an improbable victory in front of a raucous and rocking Arrowhead Halloween crowd on Monday Night Football, marking the first time in NFL history that a team led its division at week 8 after starting 0-3.
Haley's scruffy demeanor and attitude have ruffled feathers with team management, but his workingman-like approach to the game and no-nonsense approach with both players and the media have endeard him to the fans of Kansas City, earning him the affectionate nickname "Hat-And-Beard" for his unkempt appearance and his 'victory hat' rife with white lines of sweat from every victory Haley has been a part of since week 1 of 2010. Though he often clashes with team management and was criticized for his perceived mismanagement of offseason/preseason activites of an aberrant and strike shortened 2011 preseason, the fans of Kansas City are enthralled with him.
, then a short blowup in full view of television cameras with wide receiver Anquan Boldin
later in the game. He also had a spat with Terrell Owens
when he was the wide receivers coach in Dallas. Defending his style, Haley said "It's part of how I coach... It's part of how I motivate, and I like to think I've had some success doing it."
On October 2, 2011, in a game at Arrowhead vs. the Minnesota Vikings, after Chiefs QB Matt Cassel seemingly gave up on a screen play before it could develop and lamely spiked the ball on 3rd and 6, an infuriated Haley motioned Cassel over, where the two engaged in a heated exchange. After the televised exchange, Cassel went 15-for-22 and a 102.7 passer rating, and the Chiefs earned a victory that temporarily saved their 2011 season.
In 2006, Haley filed a 1.7 million-dollar lawsuit against McDonald's
after his wife found a dead rat in her salad. The salad was purchased at a Southlake, Texas
McDonald's restaurant while Haley was a member of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff. His wife and their live-in babysitter began to eat before noticing the rat, and were said to have become violently ill afterward. The rat was described as a "juvenile roof rat" that was 6 inches long, lying dead on its back with its mouth open. Scott Casterline, a spokesman for the Haley family, told the paper "We were forced to file a lawsuit. It was just too much pain to handle". "The Haleys filed a lawsuit for $1.7 million in damages, but the case was settled shortly before it went to trial." The case was settled out of court for a confidential sum.
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...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). Prior to joining the Chiefs, Haley served as the 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...
' offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, and was the 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...
s coach for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and 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...
.
Early years
Haley was born on February 28, 1967, in Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
He is the son of Dick Haley
Dick Haley
George Richard Haley, Jr. is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
, formerly Director of Player Personnel for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh 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...
(1971–1990) and New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1991–2002) and also a former NFL cornerback (1959–1964).
As a youth, Haley was a ball boy for the Steelers and attended Steelers training camps with his father. Alongside his father, Haley would watch the Steelers' game and practice film. While his family was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
for his father's profession, Haley attended Upper St. Clair High School
Upper St. Clair High School
Upper St. Clair High School is a public high school in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, USA, serving students in grades 9–12. The school is part of the Upper St. Clair School District. USCHS is one of three secondary schools in Pennsylvania to be recognized as a Blue Ribbon School three times...
. He went on to attend the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
and University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, playing on the two schools' respective golf squads. Haley graduated from the University of North Florida
University of North Florida
The University of North Florida is a public university located in Jacksonville, Florida. A member institution of the State University System of Florida, the university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s...
in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in communication.
Assistant coaching career, 1995–2008
Haley was hired by the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1995 and served as an assistant in the scouting department for two seasons. At the time, Haley's father Dick was working with the Jets as Director of Player Personnel. In 1997, he was promoted to offensive assistant/quality control coach and worked closely with then-offensive coordinator Charlie Weis
Charlie Weis
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Weis is an American football coach. He currently serves as offensive coordinator for the Florida Gators. For five years, from December 2004 through 2009, he was the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame...
. From 1999 to 2000 Haley was the Jets' wide receivers coach, helping Keyshawn Johnson
Keyshawn Johnson
Joseph Keyshawn Johnson is a former American football wide receiver, interior designer, business executive, author and current television broadcaster for sports channel ESPN. He retired from football on May 23, 2007 after an eleven-year career in the National Football League...
make his second Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
appearance. During his tenure with the Jets, Haley began his association 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...
, who served as Director of Pro Personnel for the Jets from 1997 to 1999. Pioli later became the general manager of the 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...
and hired Haley as the team's head coach in 2009.
In 2001, Haley joined the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as wide receivers coach and served in the position until 2003. In 2002, he helped Marty Booker
Marty Booker
Marty Montez Booker 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 third round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
become the first Bears Pro Bowl wide receiver since 1971.
From 2004 to 2006, Haley was the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator for the 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...
. Haley helped develop 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...
and the Cowboys' passing offense, which centered around wide receivers Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn
Terry Tyree Glenn is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
and Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
.
In 2007, Haley joined Ken Whisenhunt
Ken Whisenhunt
Kenneth "Ken" Moore Whisenhunt is the current head coach of the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team, leading them to the first Super Bowl in franchise history during the 2008 season...
's coaching staff for the 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...
as the team's offensive coordinator. Haley did not start calling plays for the Cardinals until late in the season. The Cardinals finished in the top half of the NFL in multiple offensive categories.
Under Haley’s guidance, the Cardinals offense in 2008 was one of the league’s most innovative and explosive units. Arizona tied for third in the league in scoring, registering a franchise-record 427 points (26.7 ppg). The Cardinals were fourth in total offense, averaging 365.8 yards per game. Arizona was second in the league in passing offense (292.1 ypg) and ranked sixth in the NFL with 20.5 first downs per game. The Cardinals finished the season with a 9-7 record and a playoff berth after winning the NFC West Division title. The Cardinals went on to appear in their first Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
in franchise history after the team scored more than 30 points in each of its three playoff games.
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,...
, the Cardinals offense played the NFL's top-ranked Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Trailing 17–7 at halftime, the Cardinals offense fought back after a 13-point deficit and led the game 23–20 with just over two minutes remaining. The Cardinals lost 27–23 in the game's final seconds.
Kansas City Chiefs, 2009–present
On December 14, 2008, a last-minute loss to 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...
led longtime 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...
General Manager Carl Peterson to abruptly announce his resignation the following day. This paved the way toward the hiring of 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...
on January 13, 2009. The decision to hire Pioli led to speculation that Herman Edwards
Herman 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...
, who had been serving as the Chiefs' head coach since 2006, was not likely to return for 2009. Edwards was fired on January 23, just five days after the 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...
defeated 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...
in the NFC Championship Game
NFC Championship Game
The National Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two semi-final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the...
. Leading up to 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,...
, Haley was repeatedly questioned about Kansas City and the possibilities of joining his former colleague 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...
. Haley would later say that it was the day after the Super Bowl, which the Cardinals lost, that he heard his name mentioned for the Chiefs' coaching position.
In the days after the Cardinals' appearance 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,...
, Haley was offered the head coaching position of the 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...
. Haley accepted the position on February 6, 2009 and signed a four-year contract. For his first coaching staff, Haley hired Joel Collier
Joel 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:*...
, Steve Hoffman
Steve Hoffman (American football)
Steve Hoffman is an American football special teams coach for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
, 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...
, 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...
, Pat Perles, and 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...
to unspecified positions on the Chiefs' 2009 coaching staff and retained 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...
, Joe D’Alessandris, 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...
, Tim Krumrie
Tim Krumrie
Timothy A. Krumrie is a former American football nose tackle who played his entire NFL career for the Cincinnati Bengals, from 1983 through 1994...
, Brent Salazar, and Cedric Smith from Herm Edwards' staff. Ward and Pendergast had previously served on the Cardinals' coaching staff with Haley.
Initially there were doubts as to whether Chan Gailey would be retained under Todd Haley's coaching staff, being that Haley had just concluded a successful stint as offensive coordinator at Arizona. Haley initially expressed satisfaction in working with Gailey saying, "The more I work with the guy, the more I like him..." However, after the Chiefs lost their first three pre-season games partially due to an abysmal offensive performance, Haley reportedly refused to bow to Gailey's suggestion to once again install a spread offense similar to the one installed midway through the 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...
season. Gailey was relieved of duties and Haley assumed offensive play-calling duties throughout the rest of the season.
The Chiefs lost their first five games under Haley in 2009. Haley won his first game as the Chiefs' head coach on October 18, 2009 beating the Washington Redskins 14–6.
In late October 2009 the Chiefs suspended starting running back Larry Johnson for one week in response to his public comments 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...
where he questioned Todd Haley's coaching abilities and for using homophobic slurs when he addressed the media. Johnson's Twitter comments were: "My father got more creditentials than most of these pro coaches" [Sic]. That was followed by: "My father played for the coach from "rememeber the titans". Our coach played golf. My father played for redskins briefley. Our coach. Nuthn." [Sic] When Johnson returned from his suspension, he was released.
After Haley released Johnson, he led the Chiefs to their first two-game winning streak since the 2007 season with victories against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland 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...
and Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh 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...
on November 15 and 22. The 27–24 victory over the Steelers—the defending Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
champions—came in overtime. The Chiefs ended their season with an unlikely victory against 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...
who were looking to clinch a Wild-Card playoff berth with a win. This was the first Kansas City win at Denver since 2000
2000 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2000 Kansas City Chiefs season was the second and final season led by head coach Gunther Cunningham. Cunningham was fired following a 7–9 record and third place finish in the AFC West. Cunningham was replaced by Dick Vermeil, and Quarterback Elvis Grbac was released at the end of the season...
and their first victory at 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...
which opened in 2001
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
. This concluded the Chiefs season with a 4-12 record, a two-win improvement from 2008.
In Haley's second season, the Chiefs won their first three games, including the season opener on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
against the 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...
, and was the last undefeated team remaining in the NFL before losing at Indianapolis in Week 5. Kansas City went on to win the AFC West for the first time since 2003.
On January 9, 2011 the Kansas City Chiefs played the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs lost the game 30-7 with Matt Cassel passing for 70 yards with 3 interceptions. The only touchdown was a 41 yard touchdown run by Jamaal Charles.
On September 2, 2011 Haley elected to play his starters against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in the final preseason game of the year. Tight end Tony Moeaki
Tony Moeaki
Anthony "Tony" Moeaki is an American football tight end. He finished his senior season at Iowa with 30 catches for 387 yards and 4 touchdowns. Moeaki was considered one of the top tight end prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft....
, a crucial piece of the team's 2011 offensive plans, injured his knee at the beginning of the second quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. In a game played mostly by the Chiefs starters and the Packers backups, the Chiefs went on to lose 20-19, leading many to question Haley's decision to use his best players late into the game.
On October 31. 2011 Haley led his Kansas City Chiefs to an improbable victory in front of a raucous and rocking Arrowhead Halloween crowd on Monday Night Football, marking the first time in NFL history that a team led its division at week 8 after starting 0-3.
Haley's scruffy demeanor and attitude have ruffled feathers with team management, but his workingman-like approach to the game and no-nonsense approach with both players and the media have endeard him to the fans of Kansas City, earning him the affectionate nickname "Hat-And-Beard" for his unkempt appearance and his 'victory hat' rife with white lines of sweat from every victory Haley has been a part of since week 1 of 2010. Though he often clashes with team management and was criticized for his perceived mismanagement of offseason/preseason activites of an aberrant and strike shortened 2011 preseason, the fans of Kansas City are enthralled with him.
Head coaching record
| Team | |Regular Season | KC 2009 Kansas City Chiefs season 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 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... |
4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 4th in AFC West | - | - | - | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KC 2010 Kansas City Chiefs season The 2010 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Football League, the 51st overall and the second under the head coach/general manager tandem of Todd Haley and Scott Pioli. The team improved on its 4–12 record from 2009, and won their first AFC West division title... |
2010 2010 NFL season The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,... |
10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in AFC West | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to 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... in AFC Wild-Card Game. |
||
| KC 2011 Kansas City Chiefs season The 2011 Kansas City Chiefs season is the franchise's 42nd season in the National Football League, the 52nd overall and the third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Todd Haley and Scott Pioli. The Chiefs are coming off a 10–6 record in 2010, in which the team won its first AFC West... |
2011 2011 NFL season The 2011 NFL season, the 92nd regular season of the National Football League, began on Thursday, September 8, 2011 with the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers defeating the New Orleans Saints 42–34 at Lambeau Field and will end with Super Bowl XLVI, the league's championship game, on... |
4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | - | - | - | - | |||
| KC Total | 18 | 25 | 0 | .419 | 0 | 1 | .000 | |||||
| Total | 18 | 25 | 0 | .419 | 0 | 1 | .000 | |||||
Coaching tree
NFL head coaches under whom Todd Haley has served:- Rich KotiteRich KotiteRichard Edward "Rich" Kotite is a former National Football League player and coach.-Playing career:Kotite was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was a tight end who played collegiately at Wagner College on Staten Island. Kotite was drafted in the 18th round of the 1965 NFL Draft by the Minnesota...
, New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1995–1996) - Bill ParcellsBill ParcellsDuane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
, New York Jets (1997–1999), Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe 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...
(2004–2006) - Al GrohAl GrohAl Groh is the defensive coordinator of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team. He is also a former head coach of the University of Virginia football team, a former head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team and the former head coach of the New York Jets of the NFL...
, New York Jets (2000) - Dick JauronDick JauronRichard Manuel Jauron is the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was the head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2006 until November 2009. Jauron has previously held head coaching positions with the Chicago Bears and, on an interim basis, with the...
, Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(2001–2003) - Ken WhisenhuntKen WhisenhuntKenneth "Ken" Moore Whisenhunt is the current head coach of the Arizona Cardinals NFL football team, leading them to the first Super Bowl in franchise history during the 2008 season...
, Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe 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...
(2007–2008)
Coaching style
Haley has been described as an aggressive coach and can be combative with players. During the 2009 NFC Championship Game against the Eagles, he had a first-half argument with quarterback Kurt WarnerKurt Warner
Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is a retired American football player. He played quarterback for three National Football League teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 after playing...
, then a short blowup in full view of television cameras with wide receiver Anquan Boldin
Anquan Boldin
-Arizona Cardinals:As a rookie Boldin set an NFL record for most receiving yards by a rookie in his first game , tied Billy Sims for most yards from scrimmage by a rookie in his first game , and holds the NFL record for most receptions in the first 26 games of an NFL career...
later in the game. He also had a spat with Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
when he was the wide receivers coach in Dallas. Defending his style, Haley said "It's part of how I coach... It's part of how I motivate, and I like to think I've had some success doing it."
On October 2, 2011, in a game at Arrowhead vs. the Minnesota Vikings, after Chiefs QB Matt Cassel seemingly gave up on a screen play before it could develop and lamely spiked the ball on 3rd and 6, an infuriated Haley motioned Cassel over, where the two engaged in a heated exchange. After the televised exchange, Cassel went 15-for-22 and a 102.7 passer rating, and the Chiefs earned a victory that temporarily saved their 2011 season.
Personal life
Haley has five children with his wife, Chrissy.In 2006, Haley filed a 1.7 million-dollar lawsuit against McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
after his wife found a dead rat in her salad. The salad was purchased at a Southlake, Texas
Southlake, Texas
Southlake is a city in northeast Tarrant and southeast Denton counties, Texas. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 26,575. A suburb of Fort Worth and Dallas, Southlake is known for exemplary public schools, Southlake Town Square, and Carroll High School's 7-time state champion football...
McDonald's restaurant while Haley was a member of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff. His wife and their live-in babysitter began to eat before noticing the rat, and were said to have become violently ill afterward. The rat was described as a "juvenile roof rat" that was 6 inches long, lying dead on its back with its mouth open. Scott Casterline, a spokesman for the Haley family, told the paper "We were forced to file a lawsuit. It was just too much pain to handle". "The Haleys filed a lawsuit for $1.7 million in damages, but the case was settled shortly before it went to trial." The case was settled out of court for a confidential sum.