The downfall of a GM: 4 years of Scott Pioli approval ratings

I knew these monthly approval ratings would come in handy one day.

What you see below is a graph of our monthly approval ratings for the now former GM of the Kansas City Chiefs, Scott Pioli.

We ran an approval poll in Pioli's first month on the job through the last month. This graph is the result and ... well, it kinda tells the whole story, doesn't it?

(Click to view it larger ... credit goes to Clay Wendler for creating the graph)

Several things jump out at me.

1. Pioli's status was never really questioned in the first two years.

Even during that miserable 4-12 2009 season, his numbers were staying (mostly) above 70 percent. The 2010 season was a playoff season, the draft picks looked good ... the numbers were through the roof.

In fact, think about this craziness: In December 2010, 1,850 people voted in the poll.

NINE voters did not approve. Not percent. Voters.

That's just ... wow.

Then again, that's about the time Jamaal Charles signed his extension. So, not all bad.

2. Expectations caught up to him

There were two big declines -- the one before the 2011 season and the one before the 2012 season.

The reason? Expectations.

Coming off the 2010 season, we all thought the Chiefs were going to be good in 2011. Nope. They weren't. Even then, heading into the 2012 season, plenty of people had the Chiefs and Broncos battling it out for the AFC West title. Nah. How about two wins instead?

The fan reaction is one thing when everyone expects you to be bad. But when you put high expectations into the fold ... you better be good.

3. The last three months of the Pioli era truly were the worst. It was time.

What stands out to you?

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The complete history of Scott Pioli approval ratings (click the link for full results):

• December 2012: 5%
• November 2012: 6%
• September 2012: 35%
• August 2012: 80%
• July 2012: 80%
• June 2012: 85%
• May 2012: 78%
• April 2012: 80%
• March 2012: 29%
• February 2012: 29%
• January 2012: 37%
• December 2011: 42%
• November 2011: 75%
• October 2011: 53%
• September 2011: 77%
• August 2011: 78%
• July 2011: 94%
• June 2011: 96%
• May 2011: 97%
• March 2011: 93%
• February 2011: 95%
• January 2011: 95%
• December 2010: 99%
• November 2010: 98%
• October 2010: 97%
• August 2010: 93%
• July 2010: 92%
• June 2010: 94%
• May 2010: 92%
• April 2010: 92%
• March 2010: 91%
• February 2010: 91%
• January 2010: 86%
• December 2009: 81%
• November 2009: 67%
• October 2009: 70%
• September 2009: 82%
• August 2009: 91%
• July 2009: 90%
• June 2009: 76%
• May 2009: 77%
• April 2009: 89%
• March 2009: 85%
• February 2009: 88%