KANSAS CITY, MO. (AP) - Andy Reid is wasting about as much time putting together his first coaching staff in Kansas City as he did in finding his new job.
The Chiefs coach announced Friday that former Eagles coach Doug Pederson would be his offensive coordinator and longtime Jets assistant Bob Sutton the defensive coordinator, along with the majority of the staff Reid hopes will turn around a 2-14 franchise.
The moves come one week after Reid was hired by the Chiefs to replace the fired Romeo Crennel, and less than two weeks after he was dismissed following 14 seasons with the Eagles.
Reid announced that Matt Nagy will coach the Chiefs’ quarterbacks after two seasons as the Eagles’ offensive quality control coach. Eric Bieniemy will work with running backs, Tom Melvin the tight ends, and David Culley will be an assistant head coach and work with wide receivers.
Reid has not announced an offensive line coach. Tommy Brasher will work with the defensive line, but Reid has not announced coaches for linebackers, defensive backs or special teams.
“I’m pleased we were able to get all of these coaches on board,” Reid said. “I have relationships with each of them, and I know their past experiences, work ethics and coaching styles. These are high-character coaches, and each one brings something different to the table.”
Pederson spent 12 seasons playing quarterback in the NFL, most of them with Green Bay. But he started the first part of the 1999 season for Philadelphia, when Reid has just been hired. He then helped tutor Donovan McNabb, the Eagles’ second overall pick in the draft.
Pederson retired in 2004 and began his coaching career, spending two years as Reid’s quality control coach and the past two seasons working with the Eagles’ quarterbacks.
“Doug has been around the game a long time, and he has great vision,” Reid said. “As a former player in this league, he sees the game from a different perspective, and that will be a great benefit for our players. He has a knack for developing talent.”
Pederson will inherit an offense that was among the NFL’s worst last season with quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn. Pederson and Reid both said they’ll examine the QB options already on the roster, but they’ll also consider free agency, the trade market and using their No. 1 pick in the draft on upgrading the position.
“It’s something I’ve studied the last few days, ever since Coach Reid and I talked about coming in,” Pederson said on a conference call with reporters.
“It’s a very talented group. It could be an explosive group,” he said. “There’s some weapons there on offense. Very similar to the circumstances we had this past year in Philadelphia.”
Sutton will take over a defense that fared only slightly better than the Chiefs’ offense.
A longtime college coach, Sutton spent nine seasons as the coach of Army before spending the past 13 seasons with the Jets. He was their linebackers coach from 2000-05, defensive coordinator for three years and senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach for two years. He spent the past season as Rex Ryan’s assistant head coach.
“Bob is a creative coach that is going to give our defense a variety of looks and packages,” Reid said. “He has a lot of experience and is well respected across the league.”
Bieniemy has spent the past two seasons as offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Colorado. Melvin, Culley and Brasher all spent time with Reid in Philadelphia.
Reid also announced that Barry Rubin would serve as the Chiefs’ head strength coach and Travis Crittenden would be his assistant. Reid’s son, Britt Reid, and Corey Matthaei will be in charge of quality control, and Mike Frazier will be their statistical analysis coordinator.
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