Todd Haley doesn't want to be both the Kansas City Chiefs' head coach and offensive coordinator again next season, so he turned to an old friend for help.
Charlie Weis has agreed to become the Chiefs' offensive coordinator, a team source confirmed to NFL Network's Michael Lombardi.
Weis would only tell The Associated Press "there is action going on" between him and the Chiefs.
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"Until a deal is done, I really can't say anything," Weis said from his home near South Bend, Ind. "It's not to be disrespectful of you or the Chiefs. I just think it's really, really important for me, especially with the prospect of there being a relationship there, to make sure I handle this properly."
Haley spoke highly of Weis at his end-of-the-season news conference Wednesday, but he didn't say he had hired the former Notre Dame coach, who was fired six weeks ago. Haley and Weis know each other from their days as assistants with the New York Jets.
"Charlie's a guy I have a great amount of respect for as a coach," said Haley, who called the offensive plays during a rocky, 4-12 first season with the Chiefs. "He's a coach that system-wise, I would say we're as close as you can be. Charlie's a guy I consider a friend and I've talked to throughout the year, no different from some of the other guys I lean on for things and advice."
Haley has begun a staff evaluation and said he already released offensive line coach Joe D'Allessandris and defensive line coach Tim Krumrie. Many fans also hope defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast will be replaced, possibly by former Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel.
Haley was noncommittal about Crennel and Pendergast.
"No conversations in that order to this point," Haley said.
Weis, like Crennel, has a connection with Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli. Weis was offensive coordinator and Pioli director of player personnel during two of the New England Patriots' Super Bowl runs.
"I would want to make sure the fit is a good one, and Charlie would allow us to run the offense we've been running if he were in this mix," Haley said.
The emergence of running back Jamaal Charles, voted the team's MVP, gives the offense something to build on next season, according to Haley.
"I really believe we were able to lay a foundation for the Kansas City Chiefs," Haley said. "We were able to set expectations for our players of what's expected of them both schematically and offseason, in season and practice -- the way we're going to do things as a team on a consistent basis. I believe that foundation was laid.
"It was a very difficult year, a year we were able to make progress, as evidenced by the way the season wound down."
The Chiefs are expected to be busy in the offseason trying to fill gaping needs, including defensive back, wide receiver, linebacker, defensive line and tight end.
They pick fifth in April's draft. They could have picked third but instead ended Haley's rookie year on a rousing high by beating the Denver Broncos 44-24 in the season finale.
Haley admitted that his first year as a head coach was a learning experience, and he often was criticized for game decisions, clock management and the seemingly inconsistent way of punting or not punting on fourth down. He gained a league-wide reputation as a tough, demanding overlord, screaming at players during games; in his first meeting with four-time Pro Bowl guard and team leader Brian Waters, Haley bragged that he could "take 22 guys off the street" and win more than the two games the 2008 Chiefs had won.
Might Haley's reputation hurt the Chiefs' chances of signing highly sought free agents?
"I'm going to stay with the basic philosophy which I've always coached, which is if that deters somebody or keeps somebody from wanting to be a part of what we're building, then we probably didn't want them in the first place," Haley said.
"I want mentally tough guys because if you're mentally tough and you're physically tough, things don't bother you," he added. "You're able to keep a tough exterior shell, which is impenetrable. And when you have players and coaches who have that mindset, generally you'll be able to handle everything thrown at you."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.