Andy Reid was out of work for less than a week before finding himself a new job.
The former Philadelphia Eagles coach, who was fired on Monday following a disappointing 2012 season, was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs, according to league sources who spoke to ESPN. The deal is set and should be finalized by attorneys and officials on Friday.
Kansas City also decided on Friday to part ways with general manager Scott Pioli, who was with the team for four years. This move follows the firing of head coach Romeo Crennel, who went just 2-14 this season.
The hiring of Reid and the dismissal of Pioli are likely connected, as Reid has been rumored to want former Browns and Eagles executive Tom Heckert to join him as general manager wherever he decides to go to coach. Reid originally was the favorite for the job in Arizona, but that news cooled once he started meetings with the Chiefs.
Reid was the league's longest tenured coach before he was fired and he went 130-93-1 over a period from 1999 to 2012. Reid won 10 playoff games with the Eagles and went to the postseason nine times, taking the team to five NFC championship games, including four consecutive appearances from 2001-2004, and to Super Bowl XXXIX in 2004.
The Kansas City Chiefs have only 98 wins, three postseason appearances and no postseason wins under five different head coaches during that same span, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
"I'm definitely excited. You don't accidentally win 100 games over 10 years in this league. Obviously, the guy knows how to coach and win. It's definitely something we need," Chiefs offensive lineman Eric Winston said on "SVP & Russillo" on ESPN Radio.
The Chiefs were the worst team in the NFL last season and will have the No. 1 pick in the draft, but still put five players on the Pro Bowl roster, including wideout Dwayne Bowe, running back Jamaal Charles and guard Brian Waters.
"This is instant credibility," said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. "It's much like Denver hiring John Fox and St. Louis hiring Jeff Fisher ... it's great for the long haul."
Pioli leaves the team after four seasons and opens the door for Reid and the Chiefs to bring in a team executive of their choosing. The 47-year-old general manager was formerly with the Patriots, but the Chiefs went only 23-39 in his four seasons. Pioli's hand-picked coach Todd Haley was fired during the 2011 following a playoff appearance the year before, while his replacement Romeo Crennel was also canned.
"I would like to thank Norma, Clark and the Hunt family for the opportunity that they gave me four years ago," Pioli said in a statement. "I'd also like to thank the players, coaches, scouts and countless other employees, throughout the organization and at Arrowhead Stadium that have worked so hard during my time here. I would also like to genuinely thank Chiefs fans.
During his time with the Chiefs, Pioli was known for making some interesting draft picks and taking players higher than many felt they should go, including defensive end Tyson Jackson, who was picked third overall in 2009. Pioli hit on safety Eric Berry, who became a Pro Bowl player after taking him with the fifth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, but there were too many missed calls for him to last in Kansas City.
"After several productive conversations, we made the difficult decision to part ways with Scott Pioli and allow him to pursue other opportunities," Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement. "Scott has been an invaluable member of the Chiefs family since joining us in 2009, and we sincerely appreciate his tremendous contributions over the last four years.
The biggest move he made for the Chiefs was the trade of Matt Cassel in 2009. He signed the former backup to a six-year, $63 million deal, but he dealt with injuries and poor play and eventually lost his job to Brady Quinn this season.
"The bottom line is that I did not accomplish all of what I set out to do. To the Hunt family -- to the great fans of the Kansas City Chiefs -- to the players, all employees and alumni, I truly apologize for not getting the job done," Pioli said.
The departure of Pioli is not a surprise with the hiring of Reid, as he is a coach who likes to have say and power over his roster and personnel. Reid had authority like that with the Eagles and is likely to be involved in the process now that he is with the Chiefs. Reid will report directly to CEO Clark Hunt and will be eyeing a quick turnaround for the Chiefs, much like what the Indianapolis Colts did this year after going 2-14 in 2011.
Reid takes over a team that ranked 32nd in the league in passing and 27th in rushing defense. The team was solid at running back, ranking fifth in the NFL due to the play of Jamaal Charles, but the passing game will need a complete overhaul. Reid is known as an offensive guy, which will help in developing players through the draft and with free agency.
The Chiefs were dreadful this season, winning only one of its first 12 games, defeating the New Orleans Saints 27-24 in overtime in Week 3. The team has multiple losing streaks this season, starting with a two game streak and finishing the year with an eight game streak and a four game streak with one win over the Panthers in the middle.
Over the final four games of the season, the Chiefs scored just 23 points and were shut out 15-0 by the Oakland Raiders. With Reid at the helm, the first issue to take care of will be at quarterback. Cassel showed some flashes of skill over the past two years, but he does not appear to be the long-term solution, nor is Brady Quinn, who started the final six games of the year for the Chiefs and competed just 56 percent of his passes in 2012.
Reid could possibly bring in Michael Vick if the Eagles decide to release him, but there's a chance Reid will want to start completely fresh in Kansas City with a new quarterback. Running back Jamaal Charles was the most consistent and dynamic player for the Chiefs after returning from major knee surgery, rushing for 1,509 yards and five touchdowns.
Before he was fired, Reid was the longest tenured head coach in the NFL. This year's 4-12 record was the worst for Reid since his first year with the team and ended on a sour note after a 42-7 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday in Week 17. The Eagles lost 11 of the last 12 games of the season, winning 23-21 against Tampa Bay on Dec. 9 for the lone victory during that span.
Apart from the play on the field, the Chiefs also had to deal with the aftermath of the murder-suicide by Jovan Belcher. The team will now look to Reid to bring consistency and winning ways to a franchise that hasn't won in the playoffs since 1993.