How Will Chiefs Todd Haley Compare to Other Coaching Changes?

by Joel Thorman on May 24, 2009 5:30 PM CDT in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason

The Kansas City Chiefs hired Todd Haley on February 6th making him the final coach to be hired in the 2009 offseason. After 11 coaching changes, the NFL's newest coaches (including those with experience that switched teams), face an uphill climb.

If you're switching coaches, it usually means your team and previous coach wasn't very good to begin with (save the Colts, Broncos and Bucs in this case).

Here's a look at the coaching changes for the 2009 NFL season.

Team	New Coach	Years HC Exp.	Previous Coach	'08 Wins
Chiefs	Todd Haley	0	Herm Edwards	2
Raiders	Tom Cable	1/2	Lane Kiffin	5
Jets	Rex Ryan	0	Eric Mangini	9
49ers	Mike Singletary	1/2	Mike Nolan	7
Rams	Steve Spagnuolo	0	Scott Linehan/Jim Haslett	2
Bucs	Raheem Morris	0	Jon Gruden	9
Lions	Jim Schwartz	0	Rod Marinelli	0
Browns	Eric Mangini	3	Romeo Crennel	4
Broncos	Josh McDaniels	0	Mike Shanahan	8
Colts	Jim Caldwell	0	Tony Dungy	12
Seahawks	Jim Mora, Jr.	3	Mike Holmgren	4

Wow. I didn't realize just how new all these coaches were. Eric Mangini (Browns) and Jim Mora (Seahawks) top the experience list with six combined years of head coach experience in the NFL.

Here are a few notes on the new coaches in 2009:

11 new head coaches (NFL record)
7 with no head coaching experience
2 with interim experience
4 have never been an offensive or defensive coordinator

Of the coaches above, I would say Todd Haley has the greatest chance to increase his team's win total the most. Even though he was the last head coach hired in this group, the Chiefs previous win total combined with another year of experience with one of the the youngest teams in the NFL is the biggest reason a few analysts on the NFL Network predicted Haley would be the most improved new coach.

But let's face it - it's not only improvement we're looking for in the 2009 Chiefs. We want to win and the best way to do that is with a quarterback. Of the list above, I would say the Chiefs quarterback situation is better than or equal to all the teams except the Colts (Manning) and Seahawks (Hasselbeck).

Haley's first year with the Chiefs may not be the best of this group but I suspect he'll be in the top five. Where do you think he'll rank?

Poll

Where will Todd Haley's first season rank against the other new head coaches?

1-3

263 votes

4-8

311 votes

9-11

106 votes

680 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I voted 4-8 based on assumed criteria W-L

Indy will win for awhile with personnel, Rex Ryan and Singletary will probably get more W’s than Haley in 2009

Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying

by Steve_Chiefs on May 24, 2009 5:52 PM CDT reply actions

Don't know about Singletary

They still have a while to go with the QB position even though they won 7 games last year.

Colts are a given to produce more wins. Other than that…there are few guarantees even if the Chiefs can jump up to 6-8 wins.

by Joel Thorman on May 24, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah 3-5 to five more wins seems doable.

David Logue

by dklogue1 on May 24, 2009 10:19 PM CDT reply actions

Ummm

I have high hopes for a turnaround in our number of wins. If you go by percent increase in wins, we probably will not pass the Lions though.

by dragon6172 on May 24, 2009 10:37 PM CDT reply actions

I have high hopes

for an 8 and 8 season in which the Chiefs miraculously win the afc west and go on to win the superbowl

by Grand Master A on May 24, 2009 11:05 PM CDT reply actions

+100 I also have high hopes !

2009 A New Era In Chiefs History ! Full Speed Ahead !

by 65tosspowertrap on May 25, 2009 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions

ok mr ant….move that rubber tree plant!!!!

by Zodeman on May 25, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions

I would honestly say...

…Jim Mora has the best chance just because Hasselbeck should be back, and I really think Seattle will be a good team again this year. Lions also have a good chance to improve the most too, just because they have no wins from last year. I would say Haley has a great chance as well, I just don’t know that I would put him at the top of the list.

by jbj8609 on May 25, 2009 10:40 AM CDT reply actions