After two days of negotiating – and, some suspect, several weeks of unspoken flirtation – Herm Edwards has agreed to a four-year, $12 million contract to coach the Kansas City Chiefs, an NFL source told the New York Daily News on Sunday.
The former New York Jets coach will be introduced today at a news conference in Kansas City, only one week after vowing that he had no interest in coaching elsewhere.
Edwards didn’t make the financial score many industry sources predicted – it was widely speculated he would make $4 million annually from the Chiefs – but his new contract represents more than a $1 million a year raise. Edwards didn’t want to comment, according to his wife, Lia.
The Jets, who gave the Chiefs permission Friday to speak with Edwards, will get a fourth-round draft pick from Kansas City as compensation.
Meanwhile, the Jets kicked off the search for Edwards’ replacement by meeting Sunday night with former New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett, an NFL source said. Haslett, in New York, was expected to have dinner with general manager Terry Bradway and assistant GM Mike Tannenbaum.
Also reportedly on the Jets’ list are: St. Louis Rams interim coach Joe Vitt, Carolina Panthers running back coach Jim Skipper, New York Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis and former Packers coach Mike Sherman, who some believe has the best chance of landing the job.
Former Giants coach Jim Fassel, the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator, is drawing mild interest. The Jets’ trio of coordinators – Mike Heimerdinger, Donnie Henderson and Mike Westhoff – is expected to interview for Edwards’ old job.
Packers: San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy, 42, became the fourth NFL assistant coach to interview with general manager Ted Thompson, spending almost the entire day at Packers headquarters Sunday after arriving in Green Bay late Saturday afternoon.
He is one of three offensive coordinators Thompson has on his shopping list and the only one to have worked in the Packers’ organization.
According to one NFL personnel director, McCarthy is a strong candidate for the Packers’ position. The Packers are the only team that has requested permission from the 49ers to interview McCarthy, but other teams have sent out feelers, according to another NFL source.
Texans: San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said coach Marty Schottenheimer encouraged him to interview with Houston officials on Sunday because of the respect he has for team owner Bob McNair.
“Marty Schottenheimer said: ‘Cam, when it comes to winning in the National Football League, it comes down to three things: the owner, the owner and the owner. There’s an owner that you need to go talk to,”‘ Cameron said Sunday. “And that’s why I’m here.”
Cameron is the fourth offensive coordinator to interview for the job. McNair and consultant Dan Reeves also talked to the Broncos’ Gary Kubiak, Miami’s Scott Linehan and Al Saunders of Kansas City. The Texans also interviewed current receivers coach Kippy Brown and Buffalo defensive coordinator Jerry Gray.
Redskins: Defensive end Renaldo Wynn had surgery Sunday after breaking two bones in his right forearm. He will miss the rest of the playoffs.
“It won’t affect his career,” trainer Bubba Tyer said. “But you can’t wait on it.”
