Chiefs Hire Vermeil as Coach

K A N S A S  C I T Y, Mo., Jan 12, 2001 -- Dick Vermeil, who emerged fromretirement to coach the struggling St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowlchampionship, is once again starting over — this time in KansasCity.

Vermeil was formally named head coach of the Chiefs today byteam president and general manager Carl Peterson, who enticed hisold friend out of a second retirement with a three-year deal wortha reported $10 million.

Addressing reporters at Arrowhead Stadium, Vermeil said thebiggest reason he came back was because of his friendship withPeterson, and "also realizing what I am as a coach. That's what Iam."

Among the Highest-Paid Coaches

Vermeil's hiring is a coup for Peterson, who has always wantedhis friend to coach the Chiefs. Now, with one of the NFL's richestcoaching contracts and the blessing of NFL Commissioner PaulTagliabue, he's got his wish.

"I think he is the premier head football coach in the NationalFootball League," Peterson said, repeating a statement he made twodays earlier.

Vermeil's contract would be among the biggest for an NFL coach.Mike Holmgren of Seattle makes $4 million a year, while Minnesota'sDennis Green makes $3 million. Both have formal front-officeresponsibilities along with on-the-field coaching.

Before Marty Schottenheimer took over the team in 1989 and ledthe Chiefs to seven playoff appearances in 10 seasons, Petersontried unsuccessfully to lure Vermeil out of retirement. The Chiefsand Vermeil rarely lost touch; Vermeil often performed colorcommentary on Chiefs preseason broadcasts during the 1990s.

To get Vermeil, the Chiefs will give the Rams — the team Vermeilcoached to the 2000 Super Bowl title — their second-round draftpick this year and a third-rounder in 2002. That third-round pickwill come courtesy of the Washington Redskins, who gave the Chiefsthe pick in exchange for the rights to Schottenheimer.

Vermeil will also repay the $500,000 the Rams paid him last yearon a consultant contract he signed after unexpectedly resigningafter the Super Bowl victory over Tennessee.

Longstanding Friendship Helped Broker Deal

Chiefs fans, in the meantime, haven't been this excited since1993 when Peterson swapped with San Francisco to bring in JoeMontana for the final two seasons of his Hall of Fame career.

Vermeil's friendship with Peterson goes back 25 years to theirdays as assistant coaches at UCLA. Lynn Stiles, the Chiefs'director of football operations, is also a longtime Vermeil friendwho accompanied Peterson to Philadelphia last week to persuadeVermeil to come out of retirement a second time.

Stiles, Peterson and Vermeil were all on the UCLA staff togetherand then served in Philadelphia in the Eagles' drive to the 1980Super Bowl.

"The fact that I changed my mind was based solely upon mypersonal relationship with Carl Peterson and Lynn Stiles," Vermeilsaid today.

Fans Hungry for Championship

At the beginning of his remarks, Vermeil referenced the battlebetween the Chiefs and Rams for the rights to Vermeil.

"If I had known when I retired a year ago that I would ask PaulTagliabue to allow me to come back a year later, I would have neverleft. I would have never left. And I mean that sincerely.

"The [Rams] coaching staff, the players, were the finest groupI've ever been around."

Vermeil might not be the only member of the Rams' Super Bowlstaff working in Kansas City. He has said he'll also talk to AlSaunders as offensive coordinator as well as former defensive linecoach Carl Hairston. Saunders and Hairston both coached in KansasCity under Schottenheimer.

Once his staff is assembled, Vermeil will be dealing with a teamthat went 16-16 the past two seasons under Gunther Cunningham, whowas fired as soon as Vermeil agreed to take the job.

He'll be dealing with a team that hasn't made the playoffs inthree straight years and hasn't won a playoff game since the 1993season.

"I have no idea how close or how far away the Chiefs are rightnow," Vermeil said.

"I saw them play once [this past season] and they beatCarolina, which I was impressed with because I know how muchtrouble the Rams had with them. But there'll be plenty of time todive into personnel matters. I just hope we can give the fans whatthey're hungry for."