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The Kansas City Chiefs apparently have their linebackers coach, again. Former Kentucky defensive coordinator Matt House will leave the Wildcats for the Chiefs, per various reports.
Let’s go through the timeline of how it all happened.
On February 8, ESPN’s Field Yates broke the news that the Chiefs were expected to hire Matt House as their linebackers coach.
Source: the Chiefs are expected to hire University of Kentucky defensive coordinator Matt House as their linebackers coach.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 8, 2019
The next day, FootballScoop tweeted that House instead elected to remain at Kentucky.
Sources tell FootballScoop Matt House has elected to remain at Kentucky.... https://t.co/MvaGEcbgpO
— FootballScoop Staff (@FootballScoop) February 10, 2019
A few hours after that tweet, friend of the site, Yahoo! Sports’ Terez Paylor, tweeted out clarification. House wanted to come to Kansas City, but Kentucky wasn’t willing to let him out of his deal.
So regarding Matt House, who was expected to be the Chiefs’ new LB coach:
— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) February 10, 2019
I’m told UK decided not to let him out of his deal...but they only did that AFTER they’d agreed to negotiate the buyout. Tough break for House, who wanted to join the Chiefs, and KC.
That changed when the Chiefs became more aggressive in their pursuit.
New: Cats Illustrated has learned that the Kansas City Chiefs are still interested in adding UK defensive coordinator Matt House to their staff and they are being more aggressive in Round 2 https://t.co/pVlYWn0mhN
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) February 12, 2019
According to Kentucky Sports Radio, the Chiefs were willing to pay the buyout, allowing House to leave for the Chiefs to become their linebackers coach.
BREAKING:
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 12, 2019
After a conversation with UK last night an agreement has been reached and a source tells KSR that Matt House IS taking the job with the Kansas City Chiefs
UK Will now look for new Defensive Coordinator
Matt House clearly wanted to leave for the Chiefs and I think the final decision was to let him go, if that is where he wanted to be
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 12, 2019
Here’s what our own Craig Stout initially said about House in his article on five candidates who could potentially replace Bob Sutton.
STOUT: A lesser-known name — but an up and coming coaching name — House has been the defensive coordinator at Kentucky for the last two years, transforming that defense into a top 20-ranked national defense.
House has a diverse background, coaching defensive line, linebackers, and defensive backs at the collegiate and NFL level. He helped develop a collegiate Aaron Donald as the defensive line coach at Pittsburgh and looks to have developed a stud pass rusher in Josh Allen this year in Kentucky.
House was a hot name with an ability to run multiple fronts — getting head coaching consideration this offseason at the collegiate level. Reid has shown a propensity to “borrow” from the collegiate level with his play-calls and scheme, and the rest of the NFL is following suit. House has shown the ability to develop and stop the spread offense and produce quality players. If Reid was feeling progressive with his hire, House makes sense.
This will be House’s first NFL job since 2009-11, when he was the quality control coach and assistant linebackers coach for the St. Louis Rams under Spagnuolo.
House had stints with the University of Pittsburgh and Florida International before eventually landing in Kentucky and now the Chiefs.