2009 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2009 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 40th in the National Football League (NFL), their 50th overall, and their first under head coach Todd Haley and general manager Scott Pioli.
[4] The fate of head coach Herman Edwards and his staff remained uncertain after the end of the 2008 season in which the Chiefs finished with a franchise worst 2–14 record.
[5] Team owner Clark Hunt voiced his support of Edwards, but he had also said the new general manager Scott Pioli would have "significant input" into the decision on whether to retain him.
[12] The Chiefs "throwback" look will feature helmets with gray facemasks and a Texas-shaped decal with a gold star showing the location of the city of Dallas, Texas.
"[14] With his proven track record of success, Scott is the finest player personnel executive in the NFL, and we look forward to his leadership in building a championship organization.
[15][16] Chiefs owner Clark Hunt said he intended to split the three jobs that Peterson held for nearly 20 years, looking for "a shrewd evaluator of football talent" at the general manager's position.
[15] Possible candidates included former Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer,[17][18] Indianapolis Colts vice president of football operations Chris Polian,[19][20] Tampa Bay Buccaneers director of pro personnel Mark Dominik,[19][20] former Denver Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist,[17] former Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese,[17] San Diego Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye III,[19][20] Baltimore Ravens director of college scouting Eric DeCosta,[21] and New England Patriots vice president of football operations Scott Pioli.
[26][27] Other possible candidates included Jon Gruden,[28] Leslie Frazier,[28] Winston Moss,[28] Kirk Ferentz,[28] Jason Garrett,[28] and even Scott Pioli's father-in-law, Bill Parcells.
[28] Edwards was fired on January 23, and ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported later that evening that the Chiefs were targeting Mike Shanahan to become the next head coach.
[39] Immediately following the Chiefs' 2008 season finale loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, running back Larry Johnson voiced his intention to seek a trade in the offseason.
[42] Newly acquired linebacker Mike Vrabel also did not attend offseason workouts citing his rights with the league's collective bargaining agreement.
[45] Though he appeared to be the Chiefs' lone quarterback who would remain in their plans for 2009,[46] especially after Damon Huard was released[47] Thigpen was not considered a lock for the starting job.
[49] In February, the Chiefs released linebacker Donnie Edwards, quarterback Damon Huard, tight end Michael Merritt, and cornerback Patrick Surtain.
[56] Despite having several needs to be addressed and nearly $35 million in salary cap room, the Chiefs were criticized for being "quiet" in free-agency after the Cassel/Vrabel trade, primarily adding back-up players for depth.
"[75] Don Banks of Sports Illustrated called the Chiefs the "big winners" of the first weekend of NFL free agency and the Patriots' compensation "laughably low", but the best they could get in return.
[100] They lost all four games in the preseason to the Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and St. Louis Rams (for the Missouri Governor's Cup).
[101] In the Chiefs' game against the Seahawks, QB Matt Cassel suffered a sprained Medial collateral ligament (MCL), leaving his status as starting quarterback for opening day in doubt.
[105][106] Kansas City trailed in the first quarter as Ravens kicker Steven Hauschka got a 44-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Joe Flacco completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Willis McGahee.
Hoping to rebound from their tough road loss to the Ravens, the Chiefs played their Week 2 home opener against their AFC West foe, the Oakland Raiders.
In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs would retake the lead as quarterback Matt Cassel completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.
In the fourth quarter, Succop gave the Chiefs the lead with a 46-yard and a 24-yard field, but it was the defense that closed the game out for Kansas City, as DE/OLB Tamba Hali sacked quarterback Todd Collins in his own end zone for a safety with under a minute to play.
Coming off their road win over the Redskins, the Chiefs went home, donned their Dallas Texans throwbacks, and played a Week 7 AFL Legacy game with the San Diego Chargers.
In the fourth quarter, San Diego sealed the win with Kaeding's 19-yard field goal and fullback Jacob Hester recovering a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown.
While the Chiefs got on the board first with Ryan Succop nailing a 45-yard goal, they fell behind when Rashad Jennings ran from the 28-yard line to the end zone for a touchdown.
In the second quarter Ryan Succop made a 21-yard field goal, and then the Jaguars scored when David Garrard completed a 61-yard touchdown pass to Mike Sims-Walker.
Trying to snap a two-game losing streak, the Chiefs flew to the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, donned their Dallas Texans throwbacks, and played a Week 10 AFC Legacy game with perennial rival, the Oakland Raiders.
Optimism grew quickly as Jamaal Charles ran the opening kick 97 yards for a touchdown, starting the game with a 7–0 Chiefs lead.
They tried to come back with RB Jamaal Charles getting a 2-yard touchdown run, but the Chargers would pull away with kicker Nate Kaeding making a 55-yard field goal.
In the fourth quarter the problem got worse when a penalty on Matt Cassel was enforced in the end zone for a safety, giving the Chargers 2 points.
The Chiefs offense responded by putting together a relatively long series that began at the KC 31 and lasted 20 plays, ending in a 22-yard Ryan Succop field goal.
