The wait is over Chiefs fans.
Nearly a month after the Kansas City Chiefs' long time general manager Carl Peterson resigned, the team has found its new GM: Former Patriots VP of Player Personnel Scott Pioli.
New England Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli has agreed to become head of football operations for the Kansas City Chiefs, two NFL sources confirmed to ESPN's Michael Smith.
The vice president for player personnel at New England, Pioli, 43, is close to Patriots coach Bill Belichick and has been with the Patriots for nine years. Pioli should find a warm welcome in Kansas City.
At the last Chiefs' home game, shortly after the embattled Carl Peterson resigned after 20 years as president, general manager and CEO, several signs were spotted in the crowd proclaiming, "We want Pioli."
Pioli remained the Chiefs top choice to replace Carl Peterson since the long time GM resigned in mid December. The former Patriots exec has been the hot choice for teams searching for a new GM for years and now the Chiefs have him.
Ramifications of this hire
Clark Hunt repeatedly made the point that the new Chiefs GM will be a large part of the decision on whether or not to retain Herm Edwards as head coach. More than likely, Herm will not return as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009. Pioli will almost assuredly want to work from a clean slate.
Keeping with the head coach thoughts, Pioli was also rumored to be interested in bringing either Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz or Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with him as the new head coach. McDaniels was recently hired by the Denver Broncos.
We'll have full coverage of the Chiefs' head coach search as well, should it come to that.
I think you can expect a good portion, if not all, of the Chiefs' coaching staff to leave the team at some point.
Scott Pioli Quick Hits:
- 43-years old
- Worked with the Browns as Pro Personnel Assistant ('92-'95); Ravens as the Director of Pro Personnel ('96); Jets as the Director of Pro Personnel ('97-'00); and Patriots as the Director of Player Personnel (2001) and the Vice President of Player Personnel (2001-2009)
- Pioli and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick have led the Patriots to three Super Bowl championships and five division titles
- Youngest and only one of three NFL executives to win the Sporting News' George Young NFL Executive of the Year Award in consecutive years (2003 and 2004), along with being named Executive of the Year a number of times by a number of media outlets
- Son-in-law to Bill Parcells
Welcome to a truly new era Chiefs fans. Clark Hunt has successfully moved out of the shadow of his father Lamar with the biggest front office move by the Chiefs in twenty years.
This is Clark Hunt's team now.
H/T to UC, Royals Retro and the hundred other people who called and IMed me.
UPDATE #1: 610 Sports is reporting that Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo interviewed with Clark Hunt in Dallas for the head coaching job. H/T Ridiculous Matt
UPDATE #2: ESPN is reporting that Herm Edwards learned of PIoli's hiring through the media and has sent his assistants home to await word of their fate. H/T Lanier63