Prevailing Thought is that Herm Edwards Won't Be Back Next Season

by Chris Thorman on Jan 4, 2009 1:10 PM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason

Expect the "Herm is gone" rumors to pick up as we head deeper into the off season. The more I think about it, the less sense it makes to bring Herm back for another year, unless the new GM wanted to keep him as head coach beyond 2009.

I don't see the Kansas City Chiefs new GM wanting to keep Herm and neither does Adam Schefter of NFL.com:

Multiple NFL executives believe Herman Edwards will not return next season as the Chiefs coach. They believe it is only a matter of time before the change is made.

Once the Chiefs hire a general manager, the belief is that he will bring in his own head coach, which probably would not bother Edwards one bit, being that he has a year left on his contract and he would be free to seek employment elsewhere.

That's something I haven't thought about much. Does Herm even want to stay long term in Kansas City? Nobody wants to lose their job but you have to think Herm is probably ready for a break after the last two seasons. No doubt they've been taxing on the head coach.

Schefter also delivers us a list of possible GM candidates, which it seems everyone is doing nowadays.

Chiefs general manager candidates are thought to include Patriots executive Scott Pioli, Colts vice president of football operations Chris Polian, Tampa Bay’s director of pro personnel Mark Dominik and San Diego’s director of player personnel Jimmy Raye. One of those men, or whoever is hired as the Chiefs general manager, is expected to make the final call on Edwards.

We'll have write ups on those GM candidates we haven't covered coming up this week and, of course, more on Herm's fate. Read about the GM candidates we've covered here.

Poll

Will the Chiefs new GM retain Herm Edwards for the 2009 season?

Yes

93 votes

No

448 votes

541 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Is it unresonable to...

try and retain him as a scout? From what I’ve heard, Herm wants to be more active in raising his young kids. Couldn’t he watch college tape from his Bay Area home and still get a check from the Chiefs? Or work as some sort of draft consultant?

Proud to be a part of the Conference of Champions and their complete bowl season domination.

by HIV 2 Elway on Jan 4, 2009 1:34 PM CST reply actions

Chris doing a good job ont his site man. Are you gonna do some write-ups on some coaching candidates once/if Herm gets fired?

by SayHeyWerd on Jan 4, 2009 1:43 PM CST reply actions

I really like Kirk Ferentz from Iowa as a potential coach and he’s apparently Scott Pioli’s number one choice as head coach of whatever team he takes over

by SayHeyWerd on Jan 4, 2009 1:50 PM CST reply actions

Not a big fan of college coaches in the league as HC

Can’t really think of one who has done really well. I am sure there is someone, but none really come to mind.

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 4, 2009 2:02 PM CST up reply actions

It happens sometimes

Jimmy Johnson being the most notable case. But it is a lot like drafting #1 QBs, for every one that succeeds there are 10 that fail. Doesn’t necessarily mean you stop trying though.

From what I have heard about Frentz, he has been offered NFL jobs many times over the years but has chosen to remain at Iowa until his children are out of school and his youngest is a Senior this year.

Iowa definately runs a pro style offense with a strong offensive line. Considering its a dinky school in the middle of nowhere, he’s not exactly getting top tier talent to work with, but has done pretty good with what he has.

Who knows if he would make it in the pros, but if Pioli is the genius everyones hoping he is, if he thinks Ferentz is a good head coaching candidate we should give it a chance.

by ChiefDJ on Jan 4, 2009 5:48 PM CST up reply actions

I agree that it is probably only a matter of time before Herm is gone

BUT, not sure if this has already been suggested as a possiblity on AP, what if they were going to keep Herm one more year as a Lame Duck coach so they would have a better shot at Cowher, Shanahan, Holmgren, and maybe Dungy in 2010? There must be something magical happening in the year 2010 for NFL coaches or something. Very strange indeed…

by TheQ on Jan 4, 2009 1:50 PM CST reply actions

I kind of think Herm is hoping to be let go

He will be paid for a season while he can stay home and take a year off. He will be hired somewhere if he wants to coach.

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 4, 2009 2:04 PM CST reply actions

I don't think he WANTS to go

I think Herm feels like he took a big chance tearing the team down and the reward will be that these young guys will be more experienced next year and play better and I’m sure he wants to be here for that if for no other reason than to legitimize the move he made. I don’t blame him for it, but bringing a new GM in, I think its important for the team to get a clean, fresh start and you can’t do that with a lame duck coach that you won’t give an extension to so he can find upgrades for his coaching staff.

by ChiefDJ on Jan 4, 2009 5:52 PM CST up reply actions

If the GM keeps Herm

Which I don’t see happening then, he has a legitimate shot at completing either the building or the destruction of this team. I wouldn’t give him and extension, because he hasn’t earned one. The only way he gets one is if he takes this team to the playoffs. Yeah he wants upgrades,but these are all his guys minus Gun. He kept him because he thought he would do a good job. Herm has been here three years and hasn’t shown that he should be kept.

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 4, 2009 6:35 PM CST up reply actions

I wouldn’t give him and extension, because he hasn’t earned one

Which is the whole point. He hasn’t done anything meriting an extension, but without one no assistant coach is going to want to join a team where he could be let go the very next year.

You simply can’t have a lame duck coach.

by ChiefDJ on Jan 4, 2009 8:39 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

He is gone which is why I think he wants to be let go. He is not a quitter, we all can agree on that. If he is let go, then he could go somewhere else in 2010.

Indecision is the key to flexibility

by cmpotter on Jan 4, 2009 8:49 PM CST up reply actions

Either or

I believe that with a good GM and a few new coaches on staff, Herm could take the team much further next year and actually take the team to the playoffs. Our players and players around the league like and respect him. He is the coach and responsible for what happened this year, but much of it was planned this way. I think there was only the expectation to win 4 – 5 games with such a huge shake-up. If he comes back with the team he as started to develop, plus putting the FA / Draft plan for this off-season together, I think the team would rally solidly behind him. I like the idea of one more year to either prove himself, or prove he can’t do it. That does set us up for either a 2010 new coach, or a pleasant surprise in a successful Herm Edwards.

If the new GM wants the team to go in a new direction in ‘09…again, then so be it. Herm had his shot. I just hate to go through another 3 years of a new coach building and rebuilding the team into his model. I’m really sick of the R word and am happy right now thinking about building on top of the current foundation with the FAs and a high draft pick. I just think we could use a new DC, line coaches, QB coach and Spec Teams coach.

Otherwise, I hope that this is all answered by Fri latest! I’m going too crazy with all the news and speculation.

by TXChiefan on Jan 4, 2009 3:54 PM CST reply actions

Agreed, and Good thoughts.

Opinions are like A--holes, everyones got one.

by aPacificChief on Jan 5, 2009 6:21 AM CST up reply actions

Herm could be back

If the new GM doesn’t get the coach he wants and he would available next year Herm might be asked to stick around. If he suspects he will be replaced next year he might resign but I think there is a possiblity he could still be the coach going into the 2009 season.

by Aejfan on Jan 4, 2009 5:24 PM CST reply actions

I think Herm has done what he is gonna do. I think a change would be good at HC. I know we have alot of younger potentially good talent, But Atlanta and Miami didnt go through 3 years of new coach building and rebuilding,

by toecutter on Jan 4, 2009 5:27 PM CST reply actions