Chiefs Waste Little Time in Firing Defensive Coordinator

The Kansas City Chiefs have fired their defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. The Chiefs announced the firing on Tuesday. It came just two days after their defense couldn’t stop the New England Patriots during Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.

The first name to pop up on the coaching radar for the vacant position was Rex Ryan. Currently, he is a television analyst and was formerly the head coach for both the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets.

Bob Sutton was the defensive coordinator for the Chiefs since 2013 when Andy Reid was hired as the head coach. On Tuesday, through a statement released by the team, Reid did not provide any specific reason for Sutton’s firing beyond stating change could be good for both parties and he believes that is the situation for both Sutton and the Chiefs.

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Kansas City gave up 524 yards and 36 first downs to New England on Sunday. The Patriots scored a pair of go-ahead touchdowns during the last 3:32 of regulation prior to the game-winning, 13-play touchdown drive to start overtime.

The Chiefs could not stop New England on third-and-10 three times during the winning touchdown drive in OT. Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford was whistled for off sides during a play in which an interception by Charvarius Ward would likely have ended the game with Kansas City leading 28-24 and just 54 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

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Reid called Sutton a great person and a good coach, adding that Sutton played a very integral role in the team’s success the past six seasons. Reid added that the decision was not easy but one that the team felt must be made.

Sutton, who is 67, ran a Chiefs defense that tied for the lead in the NFL in sacks with 52, but gave up 405.5 yards to opposing offenses per game which was the second most in the NFL.

The Chiefs were No. 31 in total defense while the offense was No. 1 in the league.