Chiefs on verge of hiring Andy Reid?
UPDATED JAN 3, 2013 11:46 AM ET
Although early reports this week had Andy Reid set to jump to Arizona to coach the Cardinals, a new team instead appears close to landing the biggest fish in the NFL’s head-coaching hunt.
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The Kansas City Chiefs are on the verge of an agreement to hire Reid as the team’s new head coach, according to an ESPN report that cited league sources.
The report said “the major issues have been discussed and agreed upon” after Reid, fired Monday as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles after 14 seasons, met at a private airport in Philadelphia on Wednesday with the Chiefs’ executive group consisting of owner Clark Hunt, general manager Scott Pioli, executive Ryan Petkoff and president Mark Donovan.
The Chiefs, coming off a dismal 2-14 season, fired Romeo Crennel as head coach on Monday. By sporting the league’s worst record, the Chiefs will have the first selection in the NFL Draft in April.
According to the report, Reid had been expected to fly to Arizona to talk with the Cardinals about their head-coaching vacancy after the Cardinals fired Ken Whisenhunt. But after a day of smooth negotiations between the Chiefs and Reid, the apparent expectation among all parties involved is that an agreement will be reached quickly.
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One source reportedly close to the ex-Eagles coach said early Thursday that “this is going to happen fast.”
Reid is the winningest coach in Eagles history (130-93-1, .583) and led them to seven NFC East titles during his tenure, including a run of four straight NFC Championship Games, a streak that ended with a Super Bowl trip after the 2004 season, and a loss, 24-21 to the New England Patriots.
Despite the unmatched level of success in Philadelphia, the team hasn't won a playoff game since 2008.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.