Adam Schefter
Pioli’s hiring could lead to changes in Kansas City
Posted: January 13th, 2009 | Adam Schefter | Tags: Herman Edwards, Kansas City Chiefs, Scott Pioli
Now that the Chiefs have hired Scott Pioli, sweeping changes are expected to follow him to Kansas City.
The biggest is expected to be at head coach. There is a widespread feeling around the NFL that Pioli will not retain Chiefs coach Herman Edwards and instead will look to bring in his own coach.
If and when that happens — and it is considered a formality — some of Pioli’s leading candidates are expected to include Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who spent Monday interviewing with the Detroit Lions for a second time.
Ferentz and Pioli are close from their days together in Cleveland. Spagnuolo works for a franchise Pioli has admired. Schwartz and Pioli spent two years working together in 1995 and 1996 — one in Cleveland, one in Baltimore. Schwartz has the type of mind and work ethic that would appeal greatly to Pioli.
Had Josh McDaniels not agreed to become the Broncos head coach, there are many people who believe he would have been Pioli’s top choice to become Kansas City’s coach. But Denver hired McDaniels and now it’s possible that Schwartz could wind up in Kansas City.
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