Report: Chiefs Bringing In Crennel To Head Defense

NFL News - January 3rd, 2010 - Written by John

The first of the failed Bill Belichick disciples has reportedly found a new gig as an assistant coach. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Romeo Crennel will been joining the Kansas City Chiefs soon to serve as defensive coordinator for Todd Haley.

Multiple sources were cited in saying the team wanted to sign him on last season after he was fired by the Cleveland Browns, but failed to do so when his hip surgery complicated matters.

The other Belichick assistant that took a failed head coaching job was Charlie Weis, who was recently fired by Notre Dame after a 6-6 season. Weis was the offensive coordinator when Crennel managed the defense through the middle of last decade. The Patriots won the 2004 Super Bowl with both on the sidelines.

It may be a little extreme to consider Crennel's tenure with the Browns as a failure, but it certainly didn't end on a high note. After going 10-6 in 2007, Cleveland relapsed to misery with a four-win year that forced the organization to dispatch the coach and bring in Eric Mangini in '09.

Crennel certainly has ties with the Chiefs. He was the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots when general manager Scott Pioli was with the club. Pioli is now the G.M. for the Chiefs, and has begun revamping the defense that ranks 30th in the 2009 NFL Season.