Kansas City Chiefs Coach Todd Haley Relieved Of His Duties; Josh McDaniels A Potential Replacement

The Kansas City Chiefs made Todd Haley the second coaching casualty this season. The team announced this morning that Haley had been relieved of his duties. Disappointment has been a theme for the Chiefs this season, and yesterday's loss to the New York Jets was the last nail in Haley's coffin. The coach's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty might well have sealed the deal.

And what does this have to do with the St. Louis Rams? Rams offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has been mentioned as a candidate for the head coach and the offensive coordinator positions in Kansas City. Haley and General Manager Scott Pioli never had a healthy working relationship. Pioli and McDaniels go way back, sharing time together in New England.

McDaniels' hasn't exactly rehabilitated his image with the Rams offense, scoring a league-worst 11 points per game this year. However, the team's offensive talent was incredibly poor, leaving McDaniels little to work with. There are also some indications from inside Rams Park that he and head coach Steve Spagnuolo haven't been a good pairing. McDaniels inherited his entire offensive coaching staff from the previous system, a rarity for NFL teams making such a dramatic shift in offensive systems.

His shortcomings in Denver and lack of success in St. Louis aside, Pioli knows McDaniels and might relish the opportunity to reunite him with quarterback Matt Cassel.

Haley's firing, er, relief of duties, is one of many moves likely to happen between now and Super Bowl as teams start shaking up staffs incapable of producing winning results. Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney are likely to be fired at the end of the season.