Updated Jan 4, 2013 12:13 PM ET
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)
Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs have reached an agreement for him to become the team’s new coach, FOXSports.com has learned.
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The two sides spent much of Thursday in negotiations for Reid to become the Chiefs’ coach, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss the situation.
The discussions followed nine hours of talks Wednesday that went well enough that Reid canceled plans to interview for other openings, the person told the AP.
The Philadelphia Eagles fired Reid after 14 seasons on Monday, the same day the Chiefs parted ways with coach Romeo Crennel after the worst season in franchise history.
The search for Crennel’s replacement has been led by Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, who intends to take on more responsibility in the day-to-day operation of the franchise. Also on hand was team president Mark Donovan, who has a connection to Reid after spending six seasons as the Eagles’ senior vice president of business operations.
Reid had been linked to the opening in Arizona before the Chiefs put on the press.
The Cardinals now intend to interview former Chiefs coach Todd Haley, a person familiar with their plans told the AP. Haley led the Chiefs to the AFC West title in 2010, but was fired in December 2011 and spent this past season as the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.
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Hunt told the AP in an interview Monday that he would have final say on the next Chiefs coach, rather than embattled general manager Scott Pioli. Pioli was fired on Friday.
The opening in Kansas City is attractive on several levels: The Chiefs had five Pro Bowl players and two others chosen as alternates, despite their 2-14 record, and they have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft for the first time in franchise history.
That selection could help the Chiefs fill a gaping void at quarterback.
Matt Cassel was benched midway through the season and Brady Quinn, who was playing on a one-year deal, struggled as his replacement. Reid has had success at developing quarterbacks in the past, working with Donovan McNabb – whom he helped draft with the No. 2 pick – during his time in Philadelphia and Brett Favre earlier in his career in Green Bay.
”What I am confident in is we’ll have dramatically better play from the quarterback position in 2013,” Hunt said. ”I don’t know whether it’ll be the ultimate, long-term solution or not. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.”
Reid’s Eagles were just 12-20 the past two seasons, but Reid’s overall record of 130-93-1 represents the most wins in franchise history. The franchise was just 3-13 the year before he arrived, and two years later it went to the playoffs at 11-5 and second in the NFC East.
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That was the first of five straight years in which the Eagles won at least 11 games, and included a trip to the Super Bowl after the 2004 season.
”He had the love and respect of every individual in this organization,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said upon firing him. ”This man is amazing to work with, smart and dedicated, and the record will speak for itself.”
The past couple of years have been difficult for Reid, whose oldest son, Garrett, died at training camp after a long battle with drug addiction. Reid fired close friend and longtime assistant Juan Castillo in October and later fired defensive line coach Jim Washburn.
Now, Reid is about to get a fresh start.
