Cardinals' coordinator to coach Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Todd Haley was hired as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday after helping the Arizona Cardinals reach the Super Bowl as coordinator of one of the NFL's most exciting offenses.

Haley joins a team that went a franchise-worst 2-14 under coach Herm Edwards, who was fired Jan. 23. Edwards lost all but two of his last 25 games and launched a rebuilding project that made the Chiefs the league's youngest team this season.

Scott Pioli, hired last month as general manager, said at a news conference that Haley has a "strong understanding of players and the type of players that create championship football teams."

Haley called this an "ideal situation" for him and "a chance to work with someone I have experience with in Scott."

The Chiefs haven't won a postseason game since an aging Joe Montana was their quarterback in the 1993 season.

Edwards was considered a players' coach by the Chiefs. Haley can be combative and sometimes clashes with players. During the NFC championship game against the Eagles, he had a first-half argument with Kurt Warner, then a short blowup in full view of television cameras with wide receiver Anquan Boldin. He also had a spat with Terrell Owens when he was receivers coach in Dallas.

Haley, who turns 42 this month, helped shape an offense that carried the Cardinals to an improbable NFC West title and nearly a Super Bowl victory over Pittsburgh.

He did not start calling plays until late in the 2007 season. But this season an Arizona offense led by Warner set a franchise record with 427 points, finished third in scoring in the NFL and was second in yards passing.

Haley and Pioli worked together at the New York Jets, where Haley's father, Dick, was personnel director. Pioli said he interviewed several candidates for the Chiefs job.

"We're interested in getting it right," Haley said, referring to his relationship with Pioli. "We don't care whose idea it is. We just want a solution and an answer."

The hiring completes Clark Hunt's overhaul of the top management rungs of the team he inherited from his father in December 2006. Hunt owns the Chiefs with his sister and two brothers and has ultimate authority as chairman of the board. He accepted Carl Peterson's resignation in December after 20 years as president, chief executive officer and general manager.