Every year, multiple coaches are sacked before season’s end under the scrutiny of myopic executives with the patience of a toddler. In the league’s third sacking of the year, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley lost his job unjustly.
From winning the AFC West to a 5-8 record, the Chiefs have had more excuses this year than other poor performing teams. While all teams get hit by injuries, the Chiefs lost their biggest offensive weapon, RB Jamaal Charles, in week two, followed by the loss of their second-biggest offensive weapon, QB Matt Cassel, in week nine.
After nine games, the Chiefs were 4-5, and only one game behind division leaders Oakland. From the five games led by backup QB Tyler Palko, the hobbling Chiefs offence has managed just one win.
In 2010, Jamaal Charles ranked second in the league for rushing yards with 1467, averaging 6.4 yards per carry, the most in the NFL (minimum 300 yard rushed).
Also in 2010, Matt Cassel was rated the eighth-best QB in the league with a rating of 93.0. Throwing for 3116 yards, 27 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, Cassel surprised all with a breakout season.
Other injuries to TE Tony Moeaki and Safety Eric Berry, who made the Pro-Bowl last year as a rookie, further depleted the Chiefs of key starters this year.
After two and a half seasons at the helm of the Chiefs, Todd Haley’s empty arsenal has cost him his job despite his guidance leading to an upset win of the AFC West in 2010. With a 19-27 record as head coach, Haley has been given very little opportunity to turn around a team who had only made the playoffs twice in the ten years prior to his arrival.
Taking over in 2009 after the Chiefs finished 2-14 and 4-12 the previous two years, Haley led the Chiefs 4-12 in 2009 and 10-6 in 2010. His drastic turnaround of the struggling franchise was expected to install him for several seasons after the youth movement of his draft selections had begun returning dividends.
Jamaal Charles is 24, Matt Cassel 29 and WR Dwayne Bowe 27. These three players form the nucleus of the Chiefs and have several years together in front of them.
Beginning his coaching career in the NFL in 1997 in charge of the New York Jets wide receivers, Haley held that position at the Jets, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys between 1997 and 2006. Promoted to offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals in 2007, Haley stormed into coaching’s top echelon by calling the plays for the league’s most dominant offence.
Following a loss in Superbowl XLIII where the Cardinals were beaten the league’s best defence, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Haley was offered the head coach position in Kansas City.
Compared to the other two head coaches sacked this year, Haley’s record over the past two seasons has been favourable. His record is 15-14, with a winning percentage of 0.517.
Tony Sparano of the Miami Dolphins managed 11-18 with a percentage of 0.367, and Jack Del Rio of the Jacksonville Jaguars had 11-16, with 0.407
In comparison, there are several current head coaches with considerably worse winning percentages over the past two seasons than Haley.
Ken Whisenhunt of the Buffalo Bills has gone 11-18, with 0.379. Mike Shanahan of the Arizona Cardinals has 10-19, netting 0.345. And Chan Gailey of the Washington Redskins is 9-20, with 0.310.
Haley’s incumbent is set to reap the many benefits of his youth movement when the starting offence returns to health next season. Under a new coach, the Chiefs will need another year to acclimatise to a new system.
Giving Todd Haley a chance and accepting this season as an injury-plagued year was the best way to move the Chiefs forward.
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