The Kansas City Chiefs fired coach Todd Haley on Monday, less than a year after he led the team to the AFC West title, and named defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel as interim coach for the remainder of the season.
The injury-ravaged Chiefs dropped to 5-8 after Sunday's 37-10 loss the New York Jets in which they committed 11 penalties for 128 yards, including a 15-yarder on Haley for unsportsmanlike conduct.
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"This was a difficult decision but one that we feel is best for the future of the Chiefs," Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement. "Although there have been bright spots at different points this season, we have not made meaningful progress and we felt that it was necessary to make a change. We appreciate Todd's contributions during his time with the club, and we wish him well in the future."
Haley, 44, led the Chiefs to a 10-6 record and a division title last season, but the team has been hit hard by injuries and has stumbled to a 5-8 record. Kansas City lost three starters to torn knee ligaments -- safety Eric Berry, running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Tony Moeaki -- in September.
Quarterback Matt Cassel was lost on Nov. 13 with a broken right hand.
A league source told NFL Network's Jason La Canfora that St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator and ex-Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels will garner strong consideration for Chiefs job.
There have been rumblings about Haley's job status ever since training camp. But after three lopsided losses to start the season, Kansas City managed to rattle off four straight wins and pull into a tie atop the division. Haley was being applauded for keeping the team together despite such adversity, and there was a happy-go-lucky attitude at the practice facility. That all changed when the Chiefs lost to previously winless Miami at home, the start of a dismal stretch in which they dropped four straight and five of their last six.
Besides the dismal performance on the field, it was not a secret within the walls of the team's practice facility that there was friction between Haley and Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli.
"Todd helped this team in many valuable ways over the past three seasons, and I am thankful for his contributions," Pioli said in a statement. "Unfortunately, we have not been able to establish the kind of consistency we need to continue to build a strong foundation for the future and we believe a change is important at this time."
The Chiefs went 19-27 during Haley's tenure in Kansas City.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
