2008 Kansas City Chiefs season
Encyclopedia
The 2008
Kansas City Chiefs
season was the franchise's 49th season, and third with head coach Herman Edwards
at the helm. The Chiefs failed to improve on their 4-12 record from 2007 with the youngest team in the NFL as part of their "youth movement." The season turned out to be the worst in the franchise's history, by tallying 13 losses for the first time ever. The Chiefs' final 2-14 record was the worst in franchise history.
Entering the season, the Chiefs were unsure if injury-prone quarterback
Brodie Croyle
could be their quarterback of the future. The Chiefs reorganized their offense to focus around Croyle, but his season-ending injury in Week 7 led to a new spread offense gameplan focused around Tyler Thigpen
.
The Chiefs implemented the spread offense to help Thigpen play to the best of his abilities and also following the absence of RB Larry Johnson due to suspension. The Chiefs made a huge gamble by doing so, as most in the NFL believe that a spread offense cannot work in professional football, and also head coach Herman Edwards was traditionally in favor of more conservative, run-oriented game plans. Prior to the Chiefs implementing the spread offense, Thigpen had been playing erratically with the Chiefs, and he suddenly became poised and effective running the new offense. His passer rating climbed from 44.3 to 76.9 in the five games following his initial start at Atlanta. The Chiefs scored more than 10 points just twice in their first six games, but scored more offensive points than that in every game since, and twice topped 25 points. The Chiefs won their first game with the new offense against the Raiders in Week 13.
Following the Chiefs' dismal 2007 season, head coach Herman Edwards
and general manager Carl Peterson
were considered to be on the hot seat. Peterson and Edwards were considered to be safe unless absolutely zero progress was made in 2008. Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt
had expressed his expectations of a winning Chiefs team earning a playoff berth in 2008.
Beginning with the 2008 season, the team's Lamar Hunt
/American Football League
tribute patch which was introduced in the 2007 season became a permanent part of the Chiefs' uniform.
The Chiefs' 2008 season began with a 1-10 record, with the franchise losing 20 of 21 games over a two-year period. The team lost seven games by 7 points or less, two games by 24-point margins, suffered a 34–0 shut-out to the Carolina Panthers
, and allowed a franchise-high 54 points against the Buffalo Bills
. Following a heartbreaking 22–21 loss to the Chargers, a game in which Kansas City allowed two touchdowns and lost an 11-point lead in the game's final minutes, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt
announced the resignation of General Manager/Vice President/CEO Carl Peterson
effective at the end of the season. The Chiefs suffered instability on offense with rotation at the quarterback position and offensive gameplans, and also on defense after trading DE Jared Allen
to the Minnesota Vikings
. After trading Allen, the NFL's leading quarterback sacker from 2007, The Chiefs managed to get only 10 sacks on the season, setting a new NFL record.
schedule was released on April 15. The Chiefs were reportedly one of the four teams being considered to play an international regular season game in London, England in 2008. Among the Chiefs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, New Orleans Saints
, and Seattle Seahawks
were in consideration. The Chargers and Saints were later chosen instead.
Following the Chiefs loss to the New York Jets
in the 2007 season finale, general manager Carl Peterson
announced that both he and head coach Herman Edwards
would return to the Chiefs in 2008. However, team chairman Clark Hunt
—who took over leadership of the Chiefs in late 2006 after the death of his father, team founder Lamar Hunt—declined to immediately comment on Peterson's status. Hunt spoke out weeks later and stated that the Chiefs were his "No. 1 priority" and that "to have the best chance of success in 2008, having Carl here makes a lot of sense.” Hunt wanted to avoid having a new general manager come in with a new head coach, and starting from scratch again.
On January 1, the Chiefs fired offensive coordinator Mike Solari
after two unproductive seasons.
Offensive line coach John Matsko
, receivers coach Charlie Joiner
and running backs coach James Saxon
were fired as well after a season in which the Chiefs were among the worst offensive teams in the NFL. Tight ends coach Jon Embree and assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Dick Curl were the only offensive assistants who were retained.
For offensive coordinator, the Chiefs interviewed Chan Gailey
, Paul Hackett, Eric Price, Mike Shula
, and Jim Fassel
. Both Shula and Gailey were interviewed twice. Gailey was hired on January 16. Price was later added as the team's wide receivers coach.
In addition to Gailey, the Chiefs added Bob Bicknell as their offensive line coach, and Joe D'Alessandris assistant offensive line coach. Curtis Modkins, from Gailey's staff at Georgia Tech
, was added as the team's running backs coach.
By releasing several veteran players, the Chiefs began their youth movement. Overall, the 2008 Chiefs were the NFL's youngest at an average of 25.9 years of age. They had the youngest starting lineup at 25.5.
off waivers from the Miami Dolphins. Kansas City also agreed to two-year contracts with K Nick Novak
, S Erick Harris
, DT T.J. Jackson, CB Chad Johnson
, OT Joe Lobdell
, and G Rob Smith
.
In March, Kansas City claimed FB Oliver Hoyte
off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys. The team also signed free agent LB Demorrio Williams
, and WR Devard Darling
.
In April, Kansas City signed KR B.J. Sams, TE John Paul Foschi
and C Wade Smith
.
In May, the Chiefs signed a total of 23 undrafted free agents. and cornerbacks Will Poole
and Jason Horton
.
In August, the Chiefs signed K Jay Feely
but released him the following day.
In September, the Chiefs signed QB Ingle Martin
following an injury to Brodie Croyle
.
In October, the Chiefs re-signed K Connor Barth
, whom was released at the beginning of the season at the 53-man roster deadline. Kansas City also signed QB Quinn Gray
following a season-ending injury to starting QB Brodie Croyle
. A slew of injuries to the Chiefs' starting lineup in October and November made the team sign several players in order to fill holes.
, OT John Welbourn
, RB Gilbert Harris
, DE Khreem Smith
, CB Ty Law
, LB Kendrell Bell
, TE Jason Dunn, DT James Reed
, and OT Chris Bober
. After attempting to trade him for the second consecutive year, the Chiefs released FS Greg Wesley
in July. In October, Kansas City released LB Napoleon Harris
, and K Nick Novak
.
and K Josh Brown, both of whom signed with teams on the first day of free agency. NFL rules prohibit teams from contacting prospective free agents or their agents until free agency begins. In 2008, that time was 11 p.m. on February 28. "There were probably some deals done before (the start of the league year)," Edwards said when asked why the Chiefs didn't get in the game with either player. "We didn't cheat. We abided by the rules. That's how you're supposed to do it, and that's what we did."
Following the season-ending injury to QB Brodie Croyle
, the Chiefs contacted recently-retired QB Daunte Culpepper
and free agent QB Bruce Gradkowski
. Culpepper acted as his own agent and asked for "preposterous" contract terms, which caused many teams to cancel talks, including Kansas City. Culpepper agreed to meet with the Chiefs on October 28 for a physical and face-to-face negotiations but canceled the meeting in favor of other opportunities with the NFL.
to prevent him from hitting the free agent market before the teams agree on a long-term deal. In April, reports surfaced detailing a proposed trade between Kansas City and the Minnesota Vikings
which would send Allen to Minnesota in exchange for additional selections in the 2008 NFL Draft
. Other teams that had contacted Allen's agent include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and the Jacksonville Jaguars
. The Philadelphia Eagles
also proposed a trade with Kansas City. Allen was not tagged as an exclusive rights franchise player and had the right to visit and negotiate with other teams.
Chiefs general manager
Carl Peterson
's relationship with Allen had been strained ever since Peterson, in the wake of Allen's DUI
convictions, described him as "a young man at risk." Allen, who could be suspended for a season if he has another alcohol-related episode, had said he would not negotiate with Kansas City if he did not get a contract done by July 2009. Allen had previously voiced his wish to stay with the Chiefs.
On April 22, the Chiefs and Vikings reached an agreement on a trade package, and at roughly the same time, Allen reached an agreement in principle on a contract with the Vikings. Upon reaching the contract agreement, Allen headed to the airport and left for Minnesota.
Sources said the Vikings included a second third-round pick (No. 73) in the 2008 draft to get the deal done. They had been offering a No. 1 pick (17th in the first round) and a No. 3 (No. 82). The teams also swapped spots in the sixth round with the Vikings getting a better spot in the sixth round, sources said.
. A coin flip held at the NFL Scouting Combine determined the tie-breaker between the Chiefs, Falcons, and Raiders. The Chiefs had a league-high 13 selections heading into the draft.
Kansas City was interested in defensive end
Chris Long
following the departure of Jared Allen
, but ended up with Glenn Dorsey
after he slipped to #5 overall. Kansas City had Dorsey rated higher than Long, despite not having an immediate need at the position. Regardless of concern from NFL scouts about a previous leg injury to Dorsey which may cause him to get surgery in the near future, Kansas City selected Dorsey fifth overall. Dorsey and OT Branden Albert
, Kansas City's other first-round selection, were considered by some to be the best players in the entire Draft.
Several analysts considered Kansas City to have made the best draft selections of any team. Kansas City also received the largest rookie pool to pay their 12 rookies, with a sum of $
8,221,790, due in part to their two selections in the top 15 of the NFL Draft.
Notes:
at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls on July 24 and broke camp on August 15. The 2008 training camp session marked the Chiefs' 18th season in River Falls, Wisconsin
. Prior to the start of the season, Kansas City named Patrick Surtain
, Pat Thomas
, Brian Waters
, and Jon McGraw
as team captains.
by a score of 27–17 at Arrowhead Stadium on August 16. The Chiefs were shut-out by the Miami Dolphins
at Dolphin Stadium
by a score of 24–0 on August 23. Kansas City played its final pre-season game against the St. Louis Rams
on August 28 at Arrowhead Stadium
for the Missouri Governor's Cup
. The Chiefs won the game 21–17.
hit quarterback
Tom Brady
in his left leg. Brady went down, clutching his left knee and would not return to play in the game. Back–up quarterback Matt Cassel
entered the game, and his first pass of the game went 51 yards to wide receiver
Randy Moss
. Cassel continued to excel as he was 5-6 on the drive. It ended on a 10 yard touchdown pass to Moss, giving the heavily favored Patriots the early lead in the second quarter. Five drives later the Chiefs got on the scoreboard after a 13-play drive that ended on a 40 yard field goal from kicker Nick Novak
. However, New England replied with their second touchdown of the day, this time a 5 yard run by running back
Sammy Morris
. Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle
was hurt when he was sacked and slammed to the turf on his shoulder. With around 50 seconds on the clock and down by a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs had the ball near the Patriots goal line. Kansas City had a chance to score but Dwayne Bowe dropped a pass in the end zone on fourth down, leading the Patriots victory. The loss also gave them a franchise-worst 10-straight losses, dating back to last season.e tried to throw on the sideline, but immediately indicated he was through for the day. Damon Huard
substituted for Croyle and had the Chiefs on the 5-yard line when they ran out of downs. The Patriots won the game 17–10, and the Chiefs fell to an 0–1 start.
. In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed early as Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski
got a 56-yard and a 25-yard field goal. Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard suffered a neck injury in the first quarter and Tyler Thigpen
substituted as quarterback for the remainder of the game. Huard was in for Kansas City's first two series, but didn't return after throwing an interception late in the second quarter. Marques Hagans
, who was listed on the Chiefs' roster as a wide receiver, checked in as quarterback for several draw plays. The Chiefs announced at the end of the third quarter that Huard sustained "mild head trauma," a move deemed controversial as Huard never sought medical attention in the following days.
Under Thigpen, the Chiefs' offense struggled to move the ball down the field. In using three quarterbacks, the Chiefs had only 65 net yards at halftime. Raiders RB Darren McFadden
got a 19-yard TD run in the third quarter. Oakland increased its lead with Janikowski nailing a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs would respond with rookie QB Tyler Thigpen
completing a 2-yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City executed a two-point conversion
pass to rookie FB Mike Cox
to make them within 8 points with just over five minutes remaining. The Chiefs' two-point conversion was the team's first in two years. Kansas City lost its opportunity to tie the game as the Raiders pulled away with RB Michael Bush
getting a 32-yard TD run.
The Chiefs' defense allowed the third-highest total yards on offense in franchise history. JaMarcus Russell
completed only 6 of 17 passes for 55 yards and led the Raiders to a 15-point victory. Following the game, Chiefs RB Larry Johnson voiced his displeasure with the Chiefs' offense and his role with the team. With the loss, the Chiefs fell to an 0–2 record for the third consecutive year. Kansas City's 11-game losing streak (2007–2008) is the longest in franchise history. The Chiefs also lost their second consecutive game to the Raiders for the first time since 2001.
. With Damon Huard
still recovering, second-year quarterback Tyler Thigpen
was given the start.
In the first quarter, Kansas City's struggled as Falcons RB Michael Turner got a 4-yard TD run, along with QB Matt Ryan
completing a 70-yard TD pass to WR Roddy White
. In the second quarter, Atlanta increased its lead with kicker Jason Elam
getting a 27-yard field goal, along with Turner's 1-yard TD run. The Chiefs would close out the first half with Thigpen completing a 15-yard TD pass to WR Dwayne Bowe
.
In the third quarter, Kansas City closed in on Atlanta's lead as RB Larry Johnson got a 1-yard TD run. However, the Falcons replied with Turner's 2-yard TD run, and a fourth quarter interception sealed the win when CB Chris Houston
returned it 10 yards for a touchdown.
With their twelfth consecutive loss, the Chiefs fell to 0-3.
In its first two possessions, Denver's league-leading offense had a turnover, a sack and a shanked punt. Larry Johnson ran a career-long 65-yard run to the 21 yard line on the game's second play. Kansas City had first-and-goal from the 9, but only managed a field goal. The field goal gave Kansas City their first lead in 22 quarters, since the team's lead against the Titans on December 16, 2007.
With QB Damon Huard at the helm, the Chiefs' offense allowed no turnovers and scored more points in one game (33) than their first three games of the season combined (32). Denver's running defense was noticeably weak and allowed Chiefs RB Larry Johnson to run for 198 yards. Johnson also tallied his first 2 touchdown game in over two years. Denver allowed four turnovers, which the Chiefs capitalized on three. Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez scored one touchdown and finished the game within three yards shy of tying Shannon Sharpe
's all-time receiving record (10,060).
The win was Kansas City's first since a victory over Oakland on October 21, 2007. Johnson tallied his 29th career 100-yard rushing game and his fifth against Denver.
for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Carolina Panthers
. In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed as RB DeAngelo Williams
got a 10-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Chiefs continued to trail as Williams caught a 25-yard TD pass from QB Jake Delhomme
, along with getting a 32-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Carolina kicker John Kasay
missed a 32-yard field goal, along with Delhomme completing a 47-yard TD pass to WR Muhsin Muhammad
. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers sealed the win with Kasay nailing a 43-yard field goal. TE Tony Gonzalez (3 receptions for 17 yards) became the NFL's all-time leader in career receiving yards for a tight end with 10,063 yards.
With the shutout loss, the Chiefs fell to 1-4.
TE Tony Gonzalez met with Chiefs GM Carl Peterson
during the bye week and inquired about a trade to a playoff contender. Gonzalez, whom had always said he would like to end his career with the Chiefs, voiced his desire to play for a Super Bowl contending team and the rebuilding Chiefs would like to acquire extra draft picks. Buffalo, Atlanta, Green Bay, Philadelphia, and the New York Giants had been in contact with the Chiefs regarding Gonzalez. The Giants were considered to be the front-runners, but showed "lukewarm" interest. The Packers offered a third round draft choice, but the deal was not finalized, and Gonzalez remained with the Chiefs after the trading deadline passed.
RB Larry Johnson was charged with simple assault for allegedly pushing a woman at a Kansas City nightclub in February, the third time he has faced assault charges against a woman. Johnson was also reportedly offered by the Chiefs for a trade. Days later, coach Herm Edwards ruled Johnson out of the Chiefs' upcoming game against Tennessee as a result of a violation of team rules. Edwards stated that it was not in response to Johnson's legal troubles, but instead of insubordination.
Days later, reports surfaced that Johnson was under investigation for allegedly telling a woman that he was going to kill her boyfriend then spat in her face at Kansas City's Club Blonde on October 10, just four days prior to his court hearing for a separate incident. Johnson's pattern of behavior could lead to a possible suspension under the NFL's personal conduct policy
. Johnson made a public apology on October 22. As a result of his October 10 incident, Johnson was de-activated for the Chiefs' game against the New York Jets
. As a result, Johnson was charged with simple assault for the second time in two weeks. The Chiefs indicated that Johnson would meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
and would not play "for the foreseeable future." Goodell subsequently suspended Johnson for the Chiefs' Week 10 game against the Chargers.
. In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed early as Titans kicker Rob Bironas
got a 49-yard field goal, along with RB LenDale White
getting a 6-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Tennessee increased its lead with White getting a 2-yard TD run. In the third quarter, the Chiefs continued to struggle as Bironas got a 46-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Titans began to put the game out of reach as White got an 80-yard TD run. Kansas City would finally get on the board as kicker Nick Novak
got a 26-yard field goal. Tennessee would seal the win as RB Chris Johnson
got a 66-yard TD run. The Chiefs would end the game with QB Tyler Thigpen
getting a 14-yard TD run.
With the loss, Kansas City fell to 1-5.
During the game starting QB Brodie Croyle
(9/10 for 63 yards) suffered a sprained knee in the second quarter. Also, veteran QB Damon Huard
(9/16 for 96 yards) later left the game in the fourth with an injured thumb. Both would be placed on injured reserve, ending their seasons.
To help Tyler Thigpen prepare for the game against the Jets, the Chiefs implemented the spread offense to help Thigpen and the rest of the younger players play to the best of their abilities, and also following the absence of RB Larry Johnson due to suspension. The Chiefs made a huge gamble by doing so, as most in the NFL believe that a spread offense cannot work in professional football, and also head coach Herman Edwards was traditionally in favor of more conservative, run-oriented game plans. Prior to the Chiefs implementing the spread offense, Thigpen had been playing erratically with the Chiefs, and he suddenly became poised and effective running the new offense.
for a Week 8 duel with the New York Jets
. Due to the season-ending injuries to QB's Brodie Croyle
and Damon Huard
, Tyler Thigpen
made his second career start. Thigpen became the starting quarterback by default.
In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed early as Jets QB Brett Favre
completed an 18-yard TD pass to RB Leon Washington
. In the second quarter, the Chiefs tied the game as Thigpen completed a 19-yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez. New York responded with Washington getting a 60-yard TD run, yet Kansas City closed out the half with Thigpen completed an 11-yard TD pass to WR Mark Bradley
.
In the third quarter, the Chiefs took the lead as rookie kicker Connor Barth
nailed a 30-yard field goal, yet the Jets regained the lead with RB Thomas Jones getting a 1-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, Kansas City took the lead again as rookie CB Brandon Flowers
returned an interception 91 yards for a touchdown. However, New York got the last laugh as Favre completed a 15-yard TD pass to WR Laveranues Coles
.
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 1-6.
(wide receiver) to Tyler Thigpen
(quarterback). The momentum started to change when the Buccaneers ran a punt return for a touchdown and added a late field goal to cut the deficit to a 24-13 margin. In the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay picked up a late touchdown on a fumble to bring the game to a 27-25 deficit. They converted the two-point conversion to tie the game at 27-27. In overtime, the Buccaneers systematically ran the ball to the 30-yard line and then kicked the winning field goal to capture a 30-27 victory. It was the biggest margin they have overcome in their history. The loss was the Chiefs' 16th in the past 17 games.
With their 4th-straight loss, Kansas City fell to 1-7.
to Mark Bradley
. The Chiefs defense continued to show improvement in the red zone, limiting the Chargers to two field goals instead of two touch downs. At the end of the first half, Thigpen threw a pass to 34 yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez. However, the extra point snap was botched and an attempt at a quick pass failed.
The Chargers controlled the second half better than the first, scoring two touchdowns and leading the Chiefs by 7 at the end of the fourth quarter. The Chiefs' final drive ended with a 3 yard touchdown pass to Gonzalez. A 1-point PAT would tie the game. However, Herm Edwards told Thigpen to go for two, explaining in a post-game interview that the defense was too beat up for overtime play. The resulting two-point conversion ended in an incomplete pass. The Chiefs lost by one point.
With the loss, Kansas City fell to 1-8.
Hoping to snap their five-game losing streak, the Chiefs went home for a Week 11 interconference duel with the New Orleans Saints
. In the first quarter, Kansas City struck first as QB Tyler Thigpen
completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR Dwayne Bowe
. The Saints would respond with kicker Garrett Hartley
getting a 30-yard field goal. In the second quarter, New Orleans took the lead as RB Deuce McAllister
got a 1-yard TD run. The Chiefs would answer with rookie kicker Connor Barth
getting a 20-yard field goal. The Saints closed out the half with Hartley making a 23-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, New Orleans increased their lead with QB Drew Brees
completing a 47-yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore
. Kansas City replied with Barth making a 21-yard field goal, yet the Saints answered with RB Pierre Thomas
getting a 1-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs tried to rally as Thigpen hooked up with Bowe again on a 5-yard TD pass. However, New Orleans pulled away with Hartley nailing a 35-yard field goal.
With their sixth-straight loss, Kansas City fell to 1-9.
The 54 points by Buffalo were the Chiefs' most allowed in a game in the franchise's history. With the loss, the Chiefs fell to a 1–10 record, their 20th loss in 21 games.
and returned for a touchdown. The Chiefs led the game 10–3 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Raiders tied the game at 10 with a touchdown by RB Justin Fargas
. With the Chiefs backed up to their own 9 following a punt, QB Tyler Thigpen
led the Chiefs's offense down the field and capped the drive with a hand-off to RB Larry Johnson for a 2-yard touchdown. On Oakland's next possession, Justin Fargas fumbled the football which eventually set up a Chiefs field goal. The Raiders attempted to get back in the game with a field goal by K Sebastian Janikowski
, but the Chiefs held possession and ran out the clock for the remainder of the game. The Chiefs managed to snap their seven-game losing streak by beating the Raiders 20–13. It was Kansas City's sixth consecutive victory at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The victory was Tyler Thigpen's first as the Chiefs' starting quarterback.
With the win, Kansas City improved to 2-10.
for a Week 14 AFC West rematch with the Denver Broncos
. In the first quarter, Kansas City got the early lead as rookie kicker Connor Barth
got a 26-yard field goal, while rookie CB Maurice Leggett
returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown. The Broncos would with RB Peyton Hillis
getting an 18-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs answered in the second quarter with QB Tyler Thigpen
completing a 13-yard touchdown pass to TE Tony Gonzalez, yet Denver closed out the half with QB Jay Cutler
completing a 12-yard touchdown pass to WR Brandon Marshall
.
In the third quarter, the Broncos tied the game with kicker Matt Prater
nailing a 33-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Denver took the lead as Cutler hooked up with Marshall again on a 6-yard touchdown pass. Kansas City tried to rally, but the Broncos' defense was took much to overcome.
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 2-11.
The Chiefs hosted the 5-8 Chargers on December 14, hoping to end their slim playoff chances. Temperatures which hovered in the low 60s when early-arriving fans first showed up plunged into the 20s by the end of the game. The Chiefs dominated the game early, leading 14–3 at halftime. Chiefs quarterback Tyler Thigpen threw for one touchdown and ran for another for the Chiefs and was 19-for-28 for 171 yards.
The Chargers had three turnovers and, perhaps more embarrassing, gave up three sacks to the NFL's worst pass rush. Tamba Hali had two sacks and caused two fumbles for a Chiefs defense that hadn't gotten a sack since playing San Diego four games ago. The three sacks pushed Kansas City's season total to a league-low nine, and the Chiefs need five in their last two games to avoid tying the NFL record for fewest in a season. Five of the sacks from the season have come against San Diego.
Leading into the fourth quarter, Kansas City led 21–10, but allowed 11 points in the final 79 seconds of the game to lose 22–21. The Chiefs, despite having an 18 point lead, used up all three time-outs. The victory sealed a season sweep for San Diego over Kansas City, with both victories ending in a one-point margin.
announced the resignation of Carl Peterson
from all positions held (general manager, vice president, and chief executive officer) effective at the end of the season.
The official press release stated that Peterson resigned, but Hunt had said the conversation had been on-going throughout the season. Hunt said his decision to relieve Peterson of duties was not based on what happened the previous day, when the Chiefs lost an 11-point lead in the final 73 seconds and were beaten 22–21 by San Diego, dropping their record to 2-12. Hunt also said that the fate of head coach Herman Edwards
would be settled after the season. Hunt said he would split the duties previously held by Peterson and have someone in charge of the business side and someone else in charge of football for the franchise. Hunt said he plans on hiring someone from outside the organization.
Kansas City hosted the Miami Dolphins
in the second-coldest game ever held at Arrowhead Stadium
on December 21 with the game-time temperature at 10 °F and a wind chill
at -12 °F. It was the coldest conditions that Miami had ever played in. Miami scored first on the opening drive with a touchdown by WR Ted Ginn, Jr.
. Despite trailing 10–0 early in the game, Tyler Thigpen led the Chiefs to a 28–24 lead by halftime. The Chiefs failed to score a touchdown in the second half of the game, only managing a field goal by Connor Barth
. The Dolphins broke a 31–31 tie with a touchdown by TE Anthony Fasano
with 4:08 remaining in the game. With just over a minute remaining, Chiefs LB Demorrio Williams
forced and recovered a fumble to give the Chiefs another chance to tie the game. A failed drive capped off by Thigpen's third interception helped Miami run out the clock. Thigpen threw a career best 320 yards with two touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions. TE Tony Gonzalez became the first Chiefs player and first NFL tight end to record four 1,000 yard receiving seasons. The game also marked the last time Gonzalez played in Arrowhead Stadium as a member of the Chiefs, due to his trade to the Falcons following the season.
The Chiefs did not get closer than the Bengals' 37-yard line until their final drive, which ended with TE Tony Gonzalez's 5-yard touchdown catch from QB Tyler Thigpen
with 2:20 left in the game. A two-point conversion attempt failed, and the Bengals effectively held the lead for the remainder of the game. The Chiefs' defense had one sack in the game to finish the season with 10–the fewest in the NFL since the league started recording team sacks in 1960. The team surpassed the 1982 Baltimore Colts' record of 11 sacks.
Total yards in season: 4,719 (#22 in NFL)
Points per game: 19.0 (#25 in NFL)
Points in season: 285 (#25 in NFL)
Quarterback rating:
Rushing yards in season: 1,779 (#11 in NFL)
Rushing yards per game: 118.6 (#11 in NFL)
Passing yards in season: 2,940 (#19 in NFL)
Passing yards per game: 196.0 (#19 in NFL)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 155.9 (#30 in NFL)
Passing yards allowed per game: 241.5 (#30 in NFL)
Points allowed in season: 424 (#30 in NFL)
Points allowed per game: 28.3 (#30 in NFL)
Fewest quarterback sacks, team: 10 (#32 in NFL–all-time record)
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
season was the franchise's 49th season, and third with head coach Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
at the helm. The Chiefs failed to improve on their 4-12 record from 2007 with the youngest team in the NFL as part of their "youth movement." The season turned out to be the worst in the franchise's history, by tallying 13 losses for the first time ever. The Chiefs' final 2-14 record was the worst in franchise history.
Entering the season, the Chiefs were unsure if injury-prone quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
could be their quarterback of the future. The Chiefs reorganized their offense to focus around Croyle, but his season-ending injury in Week 7 led to a new spread offense gameplan focused around Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
.
The Chiefs implemented the spread offense to help Thigpen play to the best of his abilities and also following the absence of RB Larry Johnson due to suspension. The Chiefs made a huge gamble by doing so, as most in the NFL believe that a spread offense cannot work in professional football, and also head coach Herman Edwards was traditionally in favor of more conservative, run-oriented game plans. Prior to the Chiefs implementing the spread offense, Thigpen had been playing erratically with the Chiefs, and he suddenly became poised and effective running the new offense. His passer rating climbed from 44.3 to 76.9 in the five games following his initial start at Atlanta. The Chiefs scored more than 10 points just twice in their first six games, but scored more offensive points than that in every game since, and twice topped 25 points. The Chiefs won their first game with the new offense against the Raiders in Week 13.
Following the Chiefs' dismal 2007 season, head coach Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
and general manager Carl Peterson
Carl Peterson
Carl D. Peterson grew up in Long Beach, California, and is an alumnus of UCLA. He is best known as the former president, general manager, and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
were considered to be on the hot seat. Peterson and Edwards were considered to be safe unless absolutely zero progress was made in 2008. Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt
Clark Hunt
Clark Knobel Hunt is Chairman and CEO of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs and a founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer. Hunt also serves as Chairman of Hunt Sports Group, where he oversees the operations of FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew of MLS He is the son of Lamar Hunt...
had expressed his expectations of a winning Chiefs team earning a playoff berth in 2008.
Beginning with the 2008 season, the team's Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
/American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
tribute patch which was introduced in the 2007 season became a permanent part of the Chiefs' uniform.
The Chiefs' 2008 season began with a 1-10 record, with the franchise losing 20 of 21 games over a two-year period. The team lost seven games by 7 points or less, two games by 24-point margins, suffered a 34–0 shut-out to the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
, and allowed a franchise-high 54 points against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Following a heartbreaking 22–21 loss to the Chargers, a game in which Kansas City allowed two touchdowns and lost an 11-point lead in the game's final minutes, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt
Clark Hunt
Clark Knobel Hunt is Chairman and CEO of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs and a founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer. Hunt also serves as Chairman of Hunt Sports Group, where he oversees the operations of FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew of MLS He is the son of Lamar Hunt...
announced the resignation of General Manager/Vice President/CEO Carl Peterson
Carl Peterson
Carl D. Peterson grew up in Long Beach, California, and is an alumnus of UCLA. He is best known as the former president, general manager, and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
effective at the end of the season. The Chiefs suffered instability on offense with rotation at the quarterback position and offensive gameplans, and also on defense after trading DE Jared Allen
Jared Allen
-Kansas City Chiefs:Allen was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and signed for a one-year, $100,000 contract. On May 21, 2007, Allen, as a restricted free agent, signed the Chiefs' one-year tender offer of $2.35 million for the 2007 season. Allen credited his early...
to the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. After trading Allen, the NFL's leading quarterback sacker from 2007, The Chiefs managed to get only 10 sacks on the season, setting a new NFL record.
Schedule
The 2008 NFL season2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
schedule was released on April 15. The Chiefs were reportedly one of the four teams being considered to play an international regular season game in London, England in 2008. Among the Chiefs, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, and Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
were in consideration. The Chargers and Saints were later chosen instead.
| Pre-season | ||||||||
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Kickoff | Game site | TV | Record | Match Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 7, 2008 | Chicago Bears 2008 Chicago Bears season The 2008 Chicago Bears season is the franchise's 89th regular season in the National Football League. They finished the 2008 season with a 9-7 record, improving upon their 7-9 record from the 2007 season... |
W 24–20 | 7:00 PM CST | Soldier Field Soldier Field Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears... |
KCTV KCTV KCTV channel 5 is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Kansas City Metropolitan Area that is licensed to the Missouri side. Owned by the Meredith Corporation, the station is sister to MyNetworkTV affiliate KSMO-TV and the two share facilities on Shawnee Mission Parkway KCTV channel 5 is... |
1-0 | Recap |
| 2 | August 16, 2008 | Arizona Cardinals 2008 Arizona Cardinals season The 2008 Arizona Cardinals season was the 89th season for the team in the National Football League and their 21st season in Arizona. The season marked the Cardinals' first-ever Super Bowl appearance, coming as a result of their victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship.The... |
L 27–17 | 7:00 PM CST | Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.... |
KCTV | 1-1 | Recap |
| 3 | August 23, 2008 | Miami Dolphins 2008 Miami Dolphins season The 2008 Miami Dolphins season was the organization's 39th season in the National Football League and 43rd overall. During the regular season the Dolphins completed the greatest single-season turnaround in NFL history, going from a 1–15 regular season record in 2007 to an 11–5 record in 2008... |
L 24–0 | 6:30 PM CST | Dolphin Stadium Dolphin Stadium Sun Life Stadium is an American football stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of Miami. It is the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins National Football League team, and the University of Miami Hurricanes football team. It also hosts the Orange Bowl, an annual college football bowl game. It... |
KCTV | 1-2 | Recap |
| 4 | August 28, 2008 | St. Louis Rams 2008 St. Louis Rams season The 2008 St. Louis Rams season was the 71st season for the team in the National Football League and their 14th in St. Louis, Missouri. They hoped to improve upon their 3-13 record from last season but the season was a complete disaster, and their worst season ever. Not only did they fail to... |
W 21–17 | 6:00 PM CST | Arrowhead Stadium | KCTV | 2-2 | Recap |
| Regular season | ||||||||
| 1 | September 7, 2008 | New England Patriots 2008 New England Patriots season The 2008 New England Patriots season was the 39th season for the team in the National Football League and 49th season overall. Despite finishing the regular season with an 11–5 record, the Patriots did not qualify for the playoffs—becoming the first 11-win team since the expansion to a 12-team... |
L 17–10 | 12:00 PM CST | Gillette Stadium Gillette Stadium Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston and from downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution... |
CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
0-1 | Recap |
| 2 | September 14, 2008 | Oakland Raiders 2008 Oakland Raiders season The 2008 Oakland Raiders season was the team's forty-ninth season. The Raiders improved upon their 4–12 record from 2007. This was also the first time in four seasons that the team did not play both contestants from the previous Super Bowl, playing the New England Patriots, but not the New York... |
L 23–8 | 12:00 PM CST | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 0-2 | Recap |
| 3 | September 21, 2008 | Atlanta Falcons 2008 Atlanta Falcons season The 2008 Atlanta Falcons season was the 43rd season for the team in the National Football League. Overcoming a disappointing 4-12 record, quarterback Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal and head coach Bobby Petrino's abrupt resignation in 2007, the Falcons, who were expected to be in a rebuilding... |
L 38–14 | 12:00 PM CST | Georgia Dome Georgia Dome The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the... |
CBS | 0-3 | Recap |
| 4 | September 28, 2008 | Denver Broncos 2008 Denver Broncos season The 2008 Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 49th season for the team . They improved from their 7–9 record from 2007 but failed to make the playoffs with an 8–8 record... |
W 33–19 | 12:00 PM CST | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 1-3 | Recap |
| 5 | October 5, 2008 | Carolina Panthers 2008 Carolina Panthers season -Preseason:-Regular season:-Postseason:-Week 1: at San Diego Chargers:The Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers were locked in a defensive battle in the first quarter. John Kasay made three field goals while Philip Rivers connected with Chris Chambers on a 44-yard pass to score. At halftime the... |
L 34–0 | 12:00 PM CST | Bank of America Stadium Bank of America Stadium Bank of America Stadium is a 73,778-seat football stadium located on of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. It also hosts the annual Belk Bowl which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East... |
CBS | 1-4 | Recap |
| Week 6 – Bye | ||||||||
| 7 | October 19, 2008 | Tennessee Titans 2008 Tennessee Titans season The 2008 Tennessee Titans season was the 49th season for the team in the National Football League, their twelfth in Tennessee, and their tenth as the Titans. Despite being expected by most sportswriters to finish third or even fourth in the AFC South, they compiled a 13–3 regular season record and... |
L 34–10 | 12:00 PM CST | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 1-5 | Recap |
| 8 | October 26, 2008 | New York Jets 2008 New York Jets season The 2008 New York Jets season was the 49th season for the club and the 39th season in the National Football League. The team succeeded in improving upon their 4–12 record from 2007, but did not make the playoffs.-Signings:... |
L 28–24 | 12:00 PM CST | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
CBS | 1-6 | Recap |
| 9 | November 2, 2008 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season The 2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the 33rd season for the club in the National Football League. Though the team finished with a winning record , they failed to defend their 2007 NFC South championship and did not qualify for the playoffs after finishing the year on a four game losing streak... |
L 30–27 (OT Overtime (sports) Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination... ) |
12:00 PM CST | Arrowhead Stadium | Fox NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
1-7 | Recap |
| 10 | November 9, 2008 | San Diego Chargers 2008 San Diego Chargers season The 2008 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 49th overall season and their 39th in the NFL. While they completed the regular season with only an 8–8 record, they nonetheless captured their third consecutive AFC West championship... |
L 20–19 | 3:15 PM CST | Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area.... |
CBS | 1-8 | Recap |
| 11 | November 16, 2008 | New Orleans Saints 2008 New Orleans Saints season The 2008 New Orleans Saints season is the 42nd season for the team in the National Football League . The Saints entered the season in an attempt improve their 7-9 record from the 2007 season.-Pre-season:-Regular season:... |
L 30–20 | 12:00 PM CST | Arrowhead Stadium | Fox | 1-9 | Recap |
| 12 | November 23, 2008 | Buffalo Bills 2008 Buffalo Bills season The 2008 Buffalo Bills season was the 39th season for the team in the National Football League and their 49th season overall. They finished with a record of 7–9 for the third consecutive year... |
L 54–31 | 12:00 PM CST | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 1-10 | Recap |
| 13 | November 30, 2008 | Oakland Raiders | W 20–13 | 3:15 PM CST | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | CBS | 2-10 | Recap |
| 14 | December 7, 2008 | Denver Broncos | L 24–17 | 3:05 PM CST | INVESCO Field at Mile High INVESCO Field at Mile High Sports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001... |
CBS | 2-11 | Recap |
| 15 | December 14, 2008 | San Diego Chargers | L 22–21 | 12:00 PM CST | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 2-12 | Recap |
| 16 | December 21, 2008 | Miami Dolphins | L 38–31 | 12:00 PM CST | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 2-13 | Recap |
| 17 | December 28, 2008 | Cincinnati Bengals 2008 Cincinnati Bengals season The 2008 Cincinnati Bengals season was the 39th season for the team in the National Football League and their 41st overall season. The team finished the season with 4 wins, 11 losses, and 1 tie, and did not qualify for the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive year.-Coaching changes:This season marked... |
L 16–6 | 12:00 PM CST | Paul Brown Stadium Paul Brown Stadium Paul Brown Stadium is an American sports stadium located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the home venue of the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. It opened on August 19, 2000. The stadium was named after Bengals' founder Paul Brown. The stadium is located on approximately of land and... |
CBS | 2-14 | Recap |
Coaching and roster changes
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 2007 season finale, general manager Carl Peterson
Carl Peterson
Carl D. Peterson grew up in Long Beach, California, and is an alumnus of UCLA. He is best known as the former president, general manager, and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
announced that both he and head coach Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
would return to the Chiefs in 2008. However, team chairman Clark Hunt
Clark Hunt
Clark Knobel Hunt is Chairman and CEO of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs and a founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer. Hunt also serves as Chairman of Hunt Sports Group, where he oversees the operations of FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew of MLS He is the son of Lamar Hunt...
—who took over leadership of the Chiefs in late 2006 after the death of his father, team founder Lamar Hunt—declined to immediately comment on Peterson's status. Hunt spoke out weeks later and stated that the Chiefs were his "No. 1 priority" and that "to have the best chance of success in 2008, having Carl here makes a lot of sense.” Hunt wanted to avoid having a new general manager come in with a new head coach, and starting from scratch again.
On January 1, the Chiefs fired offensive coordinator Mike Solari
Mike Solari
Mike Solari is an American Football League offensive line coach, formerly for the Seattle Seahawks and currently for the San Francisco 49ers....
after two unproductive seasons.
Offensive line coach John Matsko
John Matsko
John Matsko is a former collegiate football player and collegiate and professional coach, currently serving as the offensive line coach for the National Football League Carolina Panthers.-Coaching career:...
, receivers coach Charlie Joiner
Charlie Joiner
Charles B. Joiner Jr. is a former American football player who starred in professional football for eighteen seasons, virtually exclusively at the position of wide receiver. He retired with the most career receptions, receiving yards, and games played of any wide receiver in NFL history. He was...
and running backs coach James Saxon
James Saxon (American football)
James Saxon is a former American football running back who played eight seasons in the National Football League. He played college football for San Jose State University...
were fired as well after a season in which the Chiefs were among the worst offensive teams in the NFL. Tight ends coach Jon Embree and assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach Dick Curl were the only offensive assistants who were retained.
For offensive coordinator, the Chiefs interviewed Chan Gailey
Chan Gailey
Thomas Chandler "Chan" Gailey, Jr. is an American professional and college football coach. Gailey is the current head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League ; he was formerly the head coach of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets college football...
, Paul Hackett, Eric Price, Mike Shula
Mike Shula
Mike Shula is an American football quarterback coach for the Carolina Panthers, an NFL team. Between 2003 and 2006, he was the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program.- Early life :...
, and Jim Fassel
Jim Fassel
-Professional:-Personal life:Before the 2003 NFL season, Fassel was reunited with a son, John Mathieson, whom he and his wife Kitty gave up for adoption in 1969. The couple was unmarried when he was born....
. Both Shula and Gailey were interviewed twice. Gailey was hired on January 16. Price was later added as the team's wide receivers coach.
In addition to Gailey, the Chiefs added Bob Bicknell as their offensive line coach, and Joe D'Alessandris assistant offensive line coach. Curtis Modkins, from Gailey's staff at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, was added as the team's running backs coach.
By releasing several veteran players, the Chiefs began their youth movement. Overall, the 2008 Chiefs were the NFL's youngest at an average of 25.9 years of age. They had the youngest starting lineup at 25.5.
Free agency
The Chiefs had 9 unrestricted free agents heading into the 2008 off-season.| Position | Player | Tag | Date signed | 2008 team | Contract (with KC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | Jared Allen Jared Allen -Kansas City Chiefs:Allen was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and signed for a one-year, $100,000 contract. On May 21, 2007, Allen, as a restricted free agent, signed the Chiefs' one-year tender offer of $2.35 million for the 2007 season. Allen credited his early... |
Franchise Franchise Tag In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag and one... |
February 19 (franchised) April 22 (traded) |
Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
One year |
| K | John Carney | UFA | Not tendered a contract | ||
| P | Dustin Colquitt Dustin Colquitt Dustin Farr Colquitt is an American football punter for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft... |
RFA | February 28 | Kansas City Chiefs | Five years |
| KR | Eddie Drummond Eddie Drummond Edward Matthew Drummond is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently with the Las Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2002... |
UFA | Not tendered a contract | ||
| LB | Keyaron Fox Keyaron Fox Keyaron James Fox [Key-AARON] is an American football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft... |
UFA | March 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
|
| FB | Boomer Grigsby Boomer Grigsby Appearing in 15 games in 2006, Grigsby again ranked third on the Chiefs in special teams tackles with 18. He missed one game that season with foot injury.Prior to the 2007 regular season, Grigsby was converted from linebacker to fullback... |
RFA | March 4 | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
|
| C | Rudy Niswanger Rudy Niswanger Rudolph Nelson "Rudy" Niswanger is an American football center in the National Football League who is currently is a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2006... |
ERFA | N/A | Kansas City Chiefs | N/A |
| WR | Samie Parker Samie Parker Samie Jabar Parker is an American football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft... |
UFA | April 14 | Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... |
|
| LB | Mickey Pimentel Mickey Pimentel Mickey Pimentel is an American football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2007... |
ERFA | N/A | Kansas City Chiefs | N/A |
| CB | Benny Sapp Benny Sapp Benjamin Lee Sapp, II is an American football cornerback who is currently a member of the Minnesota Vikings. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004... |
UFA | March 25 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
|
| OT | Will Svitek Will Svitek Will Svitek is an American football offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stanford.-College career:He played in 38 games at Stanford University... |
RFA | N/A | Kansas City Chiefs | N/A |
| OT | Kyle Turley Kyle Turley Kyle John Turley is a former American football offensive tackle of the National Football League, and current American recording artist. He was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints seventh overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at San Diego State.In addition to the... |
UFA | Retired | ||
| C | Casey Wiegmann Casey Wiegmann Casey Peter Wiegmann is an American football center for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1996... |
UFA | March 21 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
|
| DE | Jimmy Wilkerson Jimmy Wilkerson Jimmy Boyd Wilkerson is an American football defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft... |
UFA | March 1 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
|
| FB | Kris Wilson Kris Wilson (American football) Kristopher "Kris" Wilson is an American football tight end for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pittsburgh... |
UFA | March 26 | Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
|
| RFA: Restricted free agent Restricted free agent A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :... , UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent |
|||||
Additions
In February, Kansas City claimed OT Anthony AlabiAnthony Alabi
Anthony Abayomi Alabi is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
off waivers from the Miami Dolphins. Kansas City also agreed to two-year contracts with K Nick Novak
Nick Novak
Nicholas Ryan "Nick" Novak is an American football placekicker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
, S Erick Harris
Erick Harris
Erick Anthony Harris is a gridiron football defensive back for the Kansas City Command of Arena Football 1. He was signed by the Amarillo Dusters as a street free agent in 2005...
, DT T.J. Jackson, CB Chad Johnson
Chad Johnson (cornerback)
Chad M. Johnson is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Northwestern State....
, OT Joe Lobdell
Joe Lobdell
Joseph Lobdell is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, and G Rob Smith
Rob Smith (American football)
Rob Smith is an American football guard and center who is a practice squad player for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
.
In March, Kansas City claimed FB Oliver Hoyte
Oliver Hoyte
Oliver Hoyte is an American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys. The team also signed free agent LB Demorrio Williams
Demorrio Williams
Demorrio Dwain Williams is an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
, and WR Devard Darling
Devard Darling
Devard Loran Darling is a Bahamian-American wide receiver of American football who is currently a member of the Houston Texans. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State University and Washington State...
.
In April, Kansas City signed KR B.J. Sams, TE John Paul Foschi
John Paul Foschi
John Paul Marino "J. P." Foschi is an free agent American football tight end most recently played for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
and C Wade Smith
Wade Smith
Wade Smith is not a football player.**...
.
In May, the Chiefs signed a total of 23 undrafted free agents. and cornerbacks Will Poole
Will Poole
William Starling Poole is an American football defensive back who is currently playing for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
and Jason Horton
Jason Horton
Jason Horton is a cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Toronto Argonauts as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at North Carolina A&T....
.
In August, the Chiefs signed K Jay Feely
Jay Feely
Thomas James "Jay" Feely is an American football placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. Jay played for the Temple Terrace Spirit Soccer team that won the National Championships when he was 16....
but released him the following day.
In September, the Chiefs signed QB Ingle Martin
Ingle Martin
Harry Ingle Martin, IV is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for three seasons during the early 2000s...
following an injury to Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
.
In October, the Chiefs re-signed K Connor Barth
Connor Barth
Connor Thomas Barth is an American football placekicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at North Carolina....
, whom was released at the beginning of the season at the 53-man roster deadline. Kansas City also signed QB Quinn Gray
Quinn Gray
Quinn F. Gray, Sr. is a former American football quarterback who played for four seasons in the National Football League and one season each in the United Football League and NFL Europe. He played for the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2003, the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2005–2007, the Kansas City...
following a season-ending injury to starting QB Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
. A slew of injuries to the Chiefs' starting lineup in October and November made the team sign several players in order to fill holes.
Departures
In February, the Chiefs released WR Eddie KennisonEddie Kennison
Edward Joseph "Eddie" Kennison, III is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams 18th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...
, OT John Welbourn
John Welbourn
John Welbourn is an American football offensive tackle and guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at California...
, RB Gilbert Harris
Gilbert Harris
Gilbert Lloyd Harris is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. After going undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft, Harris was out of football until he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2007. He played college football at Arizona.-External links:*...
, DE Khreem Smith
Khreem Smith
Khreem Smith is a gridiron football offensive lineman for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
, CB Ty Law
Ty Law
Tajuan "Ty" Law is a retired football cornerback of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
, LB Kendrell Bell
Kendrell Bell
Kendrell Alexander Bell is a former American football linebacker. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia...
, TE Jason Dunn, DT James Reed
James Reed
James Reed is an American football defensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
, and OT Chris Bober
Chris Bober
Chris Scott Bober is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2000...
. After attempting to trade him for the second consecutive year, the Chiefs released FS Greg Wesley
Greg Wesley
Gregory Lashon Wesley is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
in July. In October, Kansas City released LB Napoleon Harris
Napoleon Harris
Napoleon Bill Harris is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Northwestern and was drafted in the first round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2002 NFL Draft....
, and K Nick Novak
Nick Novak
Nicholas Ryan "Nick" Novak is an American football placekicker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
.
Failed signings
The Chiefs were as aggressive as NFL rules allowed them to be in pursuing C Jeff FaineJeff Faine
Jeffrey Kalei Faine is an American football center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns 21st overall in the 2003 NFL Draft...
and K Josh Brown, both of whom signed with teams on the first day of free agency. NFL rules prohibit teams from contacting prospective free agents or their agents until free agency begins. In 2008, that time was 11 p.m. on February 28. "There were probably some deals done before (the start of the league year)," Edwards said when asked why the Chiefs didn't get in the game with either player. "We didn't cheat. We abided by the rules. That's how you're supposed to do it, and that's what we did."
Following the season-ending injury to QB Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
, the Chiefs contacted recently-retired QB Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Culpepper
Daunte Rachard Culpepper is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League . Prior to joining the UFL, Culpepper enjoyed a successful National Football League career after being drafted 11th overall in...
and free agent QB Bruce Gradkowski
Bruce Gradkowski
Bruce Raymond Gradkowski is an American Football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft after playing college football at Toledo.Gradkowski has previously been a member of the Tampa...
. Culpepper acted as his own agent and asked for "preposterous" contract terms, which caused many teams to cancel talks, including Kansas City. Culpepper agreed to meet with the Chiefs on October 28 for a physical and face-to-face negotiations but canceled the meeting in favor of other opportunities with the NFL.
Jared Allen trade
In February, the Chiefs placed the franchise tag on DE Jared AllenJared Allen
-Kansas City Chiefs:Allen was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and signed for a one-year, $100,000 contract. On May 21, 2007, Allen, as a restricted free agent, signed the Chiefs' one-year tender offer of $2.35 million for the 2007 season. Allen credited his early...
to prevent him from hitting the free agent market before the teams agree on a long-term deal. In April, reports surfaced detailing a proposed trade between Kansas City and the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
which would send Allen to Minnesota in exchange for additional selections in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. Other teams that had contacted Allen's agent include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
also proposed a trade with Kansas City. Allen was not tagged as an exclusive rights franchise player and had the right to visit and negotiate with other teams.
Chiefs general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Carl Peterson
Carl Peterson
Carl D. Peterson grew up in Long Beach, California, and is an alumnus of UCLA. He is best known as the former president, general manager, and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
's relationship with Allen had been strained ever since Peterson, in the wake of Allen's DUI
Drunk driving (United States)
Drunk driving is the act of operating and/or driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs to the degree that mental and motor skills are impaired...
convictions, described him as "a young man at risk." Allen, who could be suspended for a season if he has another alcohol-related episode, had said he would not negotiate with Kansas City if he did not get a contract done by July 2009. Allen had previously voiced his wish to stay with the Chiefs.
On April 22, the Chiefs and Vikings reached an agreement on a trade package, and at roughly the same time, Allen reached an agreement in principle on a contract with the Vikings. Upon reaching the contract agreement, Allen headed to the airport and left for Minnesota.
Sources said the Vikings included a second third-round pick (No. 73) in the 2008 draft to get the deal done. They had been offering a No. 1 pick (17th in the first round) and a No. 3 (No. 82). The teams also swapped spots in the sixth round with the Vikings getting a better spot in the sixth round, sources said.
2008 NFL Draft
The Chiefs chose fifth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. A coin flip held at the NFL Scouting Combine determined the tie-breaker between the Chiefs, Falcons, and Raiders. The Chiefs had a league-high 13 selections heading into the draft.
Kansas City was interested in defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Chris Long
Chris Long (American football)
Christopher Howard Long is an American football defensive end for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Rams second overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.Long is a son of Hall of Fame NFL defensive end Howie Long.-Early...
following the departure of Jared Allen
Jared Allen
-Kansas City Chiefs:Allen was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and signed for a one-year, $100,000 contract. On May 21, 2007, Allen, as a restricted free agent, signed the Chiefs' one-year tender offer of $2.35 million for the 2007 season. Allen credited his early...
, but ended up with Glenn Dorsey
Glenn Dorsey
-Kansas City Chiefs:Dorsey was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs fifth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. On July 26, 2008, he signed a five-year, $51 million contract with $23 million guaranteed....
after he slipped to #5 overall. Kansas City had Dorsey rated higher than Long, despite not having an immediate need at the position. Regardless of concern from NFL scouts about a previous leg injury to Dorsey which may cause him to get surgery in the near future, Kansas City selected Dorsey fifth overall. Dorsey and OT Branden Albert
Branden Albert
Branden B. Albert III is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs 15th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.-Early years:Albert grew up in a single-parent home in Rochester, New...
, Kansas City's other first-round selection, were considered by some to be the best players in the entire Draft.
Several analysts considered Kansas City to have made the best draft selections of any team. Kansas City also received the largest rookie pool to pay their 12 rookies, with a sum of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
8,221,790, due in part to their two selections in the top 15 of the NFL Draft.
| Round | Selection | Name | Position | College | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Glenn Dorsey Glenn Dorsey -Kansas City Chiefs:Dorsey was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs fifth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. On July 26, 2008, he signed a five-year, $51 million contract with $23 million guaranteed.... |
Defensive tackle | Louisiana State LSU Tigers football The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as... |
Six years |
| 15 | Branden Albert Branden Albert Branden B. Albert III is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs 15th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.-Early years:Albert grew up in a single-parent home in Rochester, New... |
Guard | Virginia Virginia Cavaliers football Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
Five years | |
| 2 | 35 | Brandon Flowers Brandon Flowers (American football) Brandon Lavar Flowers is an American football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft after playing college football at Virginia Tech... |
Cornerback Defensive back In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of... |
Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Hokies football The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over... |
Four years |
| 3 | 73 | Jamaal Charles Jamaal Charles Jamaal RaShaad Jones Charles is an American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft... |
Running back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
Texas Texas Longhorns football The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National... |
Three years |
| 76 | Brad Cottam Brad Cottam Bradley Joseph "Brad" Cottam is an American football tight end formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League.-Early years / Personal:... |
Tight end Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers football The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference .... |
Three years | |
| 82 | DaJuan Morgan DaJuan Morgan DaJuan Jamar Morgan is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina State.Morgan has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts and New York... |
Safety | North Carolina State NC State Wolfpack football The NC State Wolfpack football team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Wolfpack currently compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.... |
Three years | |
| 4 | 105 | Will Franklin Will Franklin (American football) William Franklin is a gridiron football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft... |
Wide receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
Missouri Missouri Tigers football The Missouri Tigers football team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team has competed in the North Division of the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996... |
Four years |
| 5 | 140 | Brandon Carr Brandon Carr Brandon Carey Carr is an American football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League-College career:... |
Cornerback Defensive back In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of... |
Grand Valley State Grand Valley State University Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids... |
Three years |
| 6 | 170 | Barry Richardson Barry Richardson (American football) Barry Devon Richardson is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson.... |
Offensive tackle | Clemson Clemson Tigers football The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
Three years |
| 182 | Kevin Robinson Kevin Robinson Kevin Lee Robinson is a professional gridiron football wide receiver for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft... |
Wide receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
Utah State Utah State University Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.... |
Three years | |
| 7 | 210 | Brian Johnston Brian Johnston (American football) Brian Thomas Johnston is an American football linebacker currently a Free Agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft... |
Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
Gardner-Webb Gardner-Webb University Gardner–Webb University is a private university located west of Charlotte in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, USA. The school has a total of 14 academic departments offering 45 major fields of study. Among the most popular of the school's 39 undergraduate majors are those in business , education ,... |
Three years |
| 239 | Michael Merritt | Tight end Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
Central Florida | Three years |
Notes:
- Obtained Minnesota'sMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
first round selection (#17), and two third round selections (#73, #82) in exchange for DE Jared AllenJared Allen-Kansas City Chiefs:Allen was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and signed for a one-year, $100,000 contract. On May 21, 2007, Allen, as a restricted free agent, signed the Chiefs' one-year tender offer of $2.35 million for the 2007 season. Allen credited his early...
. The teams also swapped sixth round selections (Kansas City moved from #187 to #182). - Obtained Miami'sMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
fifth round selection (#136) in exchange for QB Trent GreenTrent GreenTrent Jason Green is a retired professional American football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University....
. The selection was later traded to DetroitDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. - Obtained Tampa Bay'sTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
sixth round selection (#187) in exchange for RB Michael Bennett. The selection was later swapped with Minnesota. - Obtained New York'sNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
seventh round selection (#239) in exhange for K Lawrence TynesLawrence TynesLawrence James Henry Tynes is an American football placekicker for the New York Giants. He was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2001.-Early years:...
. - (Draft day trade) Obtained Detroit'sDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
first round selection (#15) and third round selection (#76) in exchange for the Chiefs' first round selection (#17), third round selection (#66) and fifth round selection (#136).
Roster
| Kansas City Chiefs 2008 final roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Branden Albert Branden B. Albert III is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs 15th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.-Early years:Albert grew up in a single-parent home in Rochester, New... T Andrew Carnahan Andrew Carnahan is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft... T Damion McIntosh Damion Alexis McIntosh is an American football offensive tackle who last played for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League in the last part of the 2009 season. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft... T Rudy Niswanger Rudolph Nelson "Rudy" Niswanger is an American football center in the National Football League who is currently is a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2006... C Barry Richardson (American football) Barry Devon Richardson is an American football offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson.... T Wade Smith Wade Smith is not a football player.**... G/C Herb Taylor (American football) Herbert Reginald Taylor, II is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft... T Tavares Washington Tavares Washington is an American football guard for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Florida.Washington has also been a member of the Washington Redskins and Kansas... G/T Brian Waters Brian Demond Waters is an American football guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas... G Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Rocky Boiman Rocky Michael Boiman is an American football linebacker who currently is a free agent. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.... OLB/ILB Weston Dacus Robert Weston Dacus [DAY-cus] is an American football linebacker for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Arkansas.-External links:**... ILB Curtis Gatewood -College career:As a true freshman in 2003, Gatewood was redshirted but was named the scout team Defensive Player of the Week three times. In 2004, he played in every game as a backup linebacker and on special teams. He recorded nine tackles including multi tackle games on two occasions. As a... OLB Derrick Johnson -Kansas City Chiefs:Johnson started every game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005, becoming the first Chiefs linebacker in 20 years to start all 16 games of his rookie campaign. He was subsequently awarded the Mack Lee Hill Award by the Chiefs... ILB Pat Thomas (linebacker) Patrick Wain Thomas is an American football linebacker for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft... ILB Demorrio Williams Demorrio Dwain Williams is an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft... OLB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Reserve Lists
Brodie Croyle John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005... QB (IR)  Donnie Edwards Donnie Edwards is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL Draft... OLB (IR) Damon Huard Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington.... QB (IR) Brian Johnston (American football) Brian Thomas Johnston is an American football linebacker currently a Free Agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft... DE (IR) Maurice Leggett Maurice Lamar Leggett is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He entered the NFL as a free agent in May 2008. He played college football for Valdosta State University. Won the Mack Lee Hill Award as the Kansas City Chiefs top rookie for 2008. On November 25, 2009, Leggett... CB (IR) Turk McBride Claude Maurice "Turk" McBride is an American football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft... DE (IR) Kolby Smith -Kansas City Chiefs:His first career NFL start was on November 25, 2007 due to injuries to Larry Johnson and the retirement of Priest Holmes. He recorded his first career touchdown on that date against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.... RB (IR) Practice Squad
Rookies in italics |
|||||
Staff
| Kansas City Chiefs 2008 staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
|||||
Training camp
The Chiefs departed for training campNFL Training Camp
In the National Football League, training camp refers to the time before the season commences. During this time, teams will sometimes congregate at an outside location, usually a university, to conduct training camp for at least the first few weeks. This is similar to baseball's spring...
at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls on July 24 and broke camp on August 15. The 2008 training camp session marked the Chiefs' 18th season in River Falls, Wisconsin
River Falls, Wisconsin
River Falls is a city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 15,000 at the 2010 census, making it the second largest city in the Twin Cities Wisconsin suburbs, which is the eighth largest metropolitan area in the state...
. Prior to the start of the season, Kansas City named Patrick Surtain
Patrick Surtain
Patrick Frank Surtain is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
, Pat Thomas
Pat Thomas (linebacker)
Patrick Wain Thomas is an American football linebacker for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
, Brian Waters
Brian Waters
Brian Demond Waters is an American football guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas...
, and Jon McGraw
Jon McGraw
Jon Michael McGraw is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
as team captains.
Exhibition games
The Chiefs played the Chicago Bears on August 7 and their offense was very consistent. They won the game 24–20 and had their first victory in the pre-season since August 2006. The team lost to the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
by a score of 27–17 at Arrowhead Stadium on August 16. The Chiefs were shut-out by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
at Dolphin Stadium
Dolphin Stadium
Sun Life Stadium is an American football stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of Miami. It is the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins National Football League team, and the University of Miami Hurricanes football team. It also hosts the Orange Bowl, an annual college football bowl game. It...
by a score of 24–0 on August 23. Kansas City played its final pre-season game against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
on August 28 at Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
for the Missouri Governor's Cup
Governor's Cup (Missouri)
The Missouri Governor's Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner between the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams' annual meetings in the preseason and occasional contests in the regular season....
. The Chiefs won the game 21–17.
Week 1: at New England Patriots
The Chiefs played the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots, and were 16 ½-point underdogs entering the game. With 7:20 left in the first quarter, safety Bernard PollardBernard Pollard
Bernard Karmell Pollard is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
hit quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
in his left leg. Brady went down, clutching his left knee and would not return to play in the game. Back–up quarterback Matt Cassel
Matt Cassel
Matthew Brennan "Matt" Cassel is a quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
entered the game, and his first pass of the game went 51 yards to wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
. Cassel continued to excel as he was 5-6 on the drive. It ended on a 10 yard touchdown pass to Moss, giving the heavily favored Patriots the early lead in the second quarter. Five drives later the Chiefs got on the scoreboard after a 13-play drive that ended on a 40 yard field goal from kicker Nick Novak
Nick Novak
Nicholas Ryan "Nick" Novak is an American football placekicker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
. However, New England replied with their second touchdown of the day, this time a 5 yard run by running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Sammy Morris
Sammy Morris
Samuel "Sammy" Morris III is an American football running back who is a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
. Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
was hurt when he was sacked and slammed to the turf on his shoulder. With around 50 seconds on the clock and down by a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs had the ball near the Patriots goal line. Kansas City had a chance to score but Dwayne Bowe dropped a pass in the end zone on fourth down, leading the Patriots victory. The loss also gave them a franchise-worst 10-straight losses, dating back to last season.e tried to throw on the sideline, but immediately indicated he was through for the day. Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
substituted for Croyle and had the Chiefs on the 5-yard line when they ran out of downs. The Patriots won the game 17–10, and the Chiefs fell to an 0–1 start.
Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders
Hoping to rebound from their tough road loss to the Patriots, the Chiefs hosted their AFC West rival, the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed early as Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski is a left-footed Polish placekicker who plays for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders. He is nicknamed The Polish Cannon because he is considered to have one of the strongest kicking legs in the league, and leads the NFL in kickoffs for touchbacks. He lives in...
got a 56-yard and a 25-yard field goal. Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard suffered a neck injury in the first quarter and Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
substituted as quarterback for the remainder of the game. Huard was in for Kansas City's first two series, but didn't return after throwing an interception late in the second quarter. Marques Hagans
Marques Hagans
-St. Louis Rams:Hagans was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. In his rookie season he played in four games making eight receptions for 101 yards...
, who was listed on the Chiefs' roster as a wide receiver, checked in as quarterback for several draw plays. The Chiefs announced at the end of the third quarter that Huard sustained "mild head trauma," a move deemed controversial as Huard never sought medical attention in the following days.
Under Thigpen, the Chiefs' offense struggled to move the ball down the field. In using three quarterbacks, the Chiefs had only 65 net yards at halftime. Raiders RB Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden is an American football running back who currently plays for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Arkansas from 2005 to 2007...
got a 19-yard TD run in the third quarter. Oakland increased its lead with Janikowski nailing a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs would respond with rookie QB Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
completing a 2-yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City executed a two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
pass to rookie FB Mike Cox
Mike Cox (American football)
Micheal Lawrence Cox is an American football fullback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He was undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft, but signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs...
to make them within 8 points with just over five minutes remaining. The Chiefs' two-point conversion was the team's first in two years. Kansas City lost its opportunity to tie the game as the Raiders pulled away with RB Michael Bush
Michael Bush
Michael Bush is an American football running back for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
getting a 32-yard TD run.
The Chiefs' defense allowed the third-highest total yards on offense in franchise history. JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Russell
JaMarcus Trenell Russell is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. Russell played college football for the LSU Tigers where he finished 21–4 as a starter and was named MVP of the 2007 Sugar Bowl. The Oakland Raiders selected Russell with the first overall pick of the 2007...
completed only 6 of 17 passes for 55 yards and led the Raiders to a 15-point victory. Following the game, Chiefs RB Larry Johnson voiced his displeasure with the Chiefs' offense and his role with the team. With the loss, the Chiefs fell to an 0–2 record for the third consecutive year. Kansas City's 11-game losing streak (2007–2008) is the longest in franchise history. The Chiefs also lost their second consecutive game to the Raiders for the first time since 2001.
Week 3: at Atlanta Falcons
Trying to snap a two-game losing skid, the Chiefs played a Week 3 interconference duel against the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. With Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
still recovering, second-year quarterback Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
was given the start.
In the first quarter, Kansas City's struggled as Falcons RB Michael Turner got a 4-yard TD run, along with QB Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan (American football)
Matthew Thomas "Matt" Ryan , nicknamed "Matty Ice," is the starting American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round as the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft...
completing a 70-yard TD pass to WR Roddy White
Roddy White
Sharod Lamor White is an American football wide receiver playing for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League...
. In the second quarter, Atlanta increased its lead with kicker Jason Elam
Jason Elam
Jason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
getting a 27-yard field goal, along with Turner's 1-yard TD run. The Chiefs would close out the first half with Thigpen completing a 15-yard TD pass to WR Dwayne Bowe
Dwayne Bowe
-2007:On August 5, 2007, Bowe signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs, after holding out the first week of practice at training camp.Bowe scored his first NFL touchdown on a pass from Damon Huard in the first half of the Chiefs' game against the Chicago Bears on September 16, 2007.In his rookie...
.
In the third quarter, Kansas City closed in on Atlanta's lead as RB Larry Johnson got a 1-yard TD run. However, the Falcons replied with Turner's 2-yard TD run, and a fourth quarter interception sealed the win when CB Chris Houston
Chris Houston (American football)
Chris Houston is an American Football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
returned it 10 yards for a touchdown.
With their twelfth consecutive loss, the Chiefs fell to 0-3.
Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos
The Chiefs hosted the 3-0 Broncos in hopes of winning their first game of the season. The Chiefs' offense, averaging fewer than 11 points a game, turned early touchdown opportunities into short field goals.In its first two possessions, Denver's league-leading offense had a turnover, a sack and a shanked punt. Larry Johnson ran a career-long 65-yard run to the 21 yard line on the game's second play. Kansas City had first-and-goal from the 9, but only managed a field goal. The field goal gave Kansas City their first lead in 22 quarters, since the team's lead against the Titans on December 16, 2007.
With QB Damon Huard at the helm, the Chiefs' offense allowed no turnovers and scored more points in one game (33) than their first three games of the season combined (32). Denver's running defense was noticeably weak and allowed Chiefs RB Larry Johnson to run for 198 yards. Johnson also tallied his first 2 touchdown game in over two years. Denver allowed four turnovers, which the Chiefs capitalized on three. Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez scored one touchdown and finished the game within three yards shy of tying Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe is a former American Football tight end who played for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. Sharpe is known for his creative commentary and trash talking. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and inducted on August 6, 2011...
's all-time receiving record (10,060).
The win was Kansas City's first since a victory over Oakland on October 21, 2007. Johnson tallied his 29th career 100-yard rushing game and his fifth against Denver.
Week 5: at Carolina Panthers
Coming off their stunning home win over the Broncos, the Chiefs flew to Bank of America StadiumBank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium is a 73,778-seat football stadium located on of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. It also hosts the annual Belk Bowl which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East...
for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed as RB DeAngelo Williams
DeAngelo Williams
DeAngelo Williams is an American football running back for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. Williams was drafted by the Panthers 27th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft...
got a 10-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Chiefs continued to trail as Williams caught a 25-yard TD pass from QB Jake Delhomme
Jake Delhomme
Jake Christopher Delhomme is an American football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Delhomme played college football at Louisiana-Lafayette before being signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1997...
, along with getting a 32-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Carolina kicker John Kasay
John Kasay
John David Kasay is an American football kicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia...
missed a 32-yard field goal, along with Delhomme completing a 47-yard TD pass to WR Muhsin Muhammad
Muhsin Muhammad
Muhsin Muhammad II is a retired American football wide receiver who played for the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
. In the fourth quarter, the Panthers sealed the win with Kasay nailing a 43-yard field goal. TE Tony Gonzalez (3 receptions for 17 yards) became the NFL's all-time leader in career receiving yards for a tight end with 10,063 yards.
With the shutout loss, the Chiefs fell to 1-4.
Bye Week – Gonzalez and Johnson controversies
Carl Peterson
Carl D. Peterson grew up in Long Beach, California, and is an alumnus of UCLA. He is best known as the former president, general manager, and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
during the bye week and inquired about a trade to a playoff contender. Gonzalez, whom had always said he would like to end his career with the Chiefs, voiced his desire to play for a Super Bowl contending team and the rebuilding Chiefs would like to acquire extra draft picks. Buffalo, Atlanta, Green Bay, Philadelphia, and the New York Giants had been in contact with the Chiefs regarding Gonzalez. The Giants were considered to be the front-runners, but showed "lukewarm" interest. The Packers offered a third round draft choice, but the deal was not finalized, and Gonzalez remained with the Chiefs after the trading deadline passed.
RB Larry Johnson was charged with simple assault for allegedly pushing a woman at a Kansas City nightclub in February, the third time he has faced assault charges against a woman. Johnson was also reportedly offered by the Chiefs for a trade. Days later, coach Herm Edwards ruled Johnson out of the Chiefs' upcoming game against Tennessee as a result of a violation of team rules. Edwards stated that it was not in response to Johnson's legal troubles, but instead of insubordination.
Days later, reports surfaced that Johnson was under investigation for allegedly telling a woman that he was going to kill her boyfriend then spat in her face at Kansas City's Club Blonde on October 10, just four days prior to his court hearing for a separate incident. Johnson's pattern of behavior could lead to a possible suspension under the NFL's personal conduct policy
National Football League player conduct controversy
On April 10, 2007, the National Football League introduced a new conduct policy to help control off-field behavior by its players and preserve the league's public image...
. Johnson made a public apology on October 22. As a result of his October 10 incident, Johnson was de-activated for the Chiefs' game against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. As a result, Johnson was charged with simple assault for the second time in two weeks. The Chiefs indicated that Johnson would meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell
Roger Goodell
Roger S. Goodell is the Commissioner of the National Football League , having been chosen to succeed the retiring Paul Tagliabue on August 8, 2006. He was chosen over four finalists for the position, winning a close vote on the fifth ballot before being unanimously approved by acclamation of the...
and would not play "for the foreseeable future." Goodell subsequently suspended Johnson for the Chiefs' Week 10 game against the Chargers.
Week 7: vs. Tennessee Titans
Coming off their bye week, the Chiefs went home for a Week 7 duel with the undefeated Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed early as Titans kicker Rob Bironas
Rob Bironas
James Robert Douglas "Rob" Bironas is an American football placekicker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football at Auburn University and Georgia Southern.Bironas was an All-Pro...
got a 49-yard field goal, along with RB LenDale White
LenDale White
LenDale Anthony White is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California....
getting a 6-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Tennessee increased its lead with White getting a 2-yard TD run. In the third quarter, the Chiefs continued to struggle as Bironas got a 46-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Titans began to put the game out of reach as White got an 80-yard TD run. Kansas City would finally get on the board as kicker Nick Novak
Nick Novak
Nicholas Ryan "Nick" Novak is an American football placekicker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
got a 26-yard field goal. Tennessee would seal the win as RB Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson (running back)
Christopher Duan Johnson is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League...
got a 66-yard TD run. The Chiefs would end the game with QB Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
getting a 14-yard TD run.
With the loss, Kansas City fell to 1-5.
During the game starting QB Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
(9/10 for 63 yards) suffered a sprained knee in the second quarter. Also, veteran QB Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
(9/16 for 96 yards) later left the game in the fourth with an injured thumb. Both would be placed on injured reserve, ending their seasons.
Implementing the spread offense
Week 8: at New York Jets
Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Titans, the Chiefs flew to The MeadowlandsGiants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
for a Week 8 duel with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Due to the season-ending injuries to QB's Brodie Croyle
Brodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
and Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
, Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
made his second career start. Thigpen became the starting quarterback by default.
In the first quarter, Kansas City trailed early as Jets QB Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
completed an 18-yard TD pass to RB Leon Washington
Leon Washington
Leon Washington is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State. He is married to Charity Washington with whom he has a son...
. In the second quarter, the Chiefs tied the game as Thigpen completed a 19-yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez. New York responded with Washington getting a 60-yard TD run, yet Kansas City closed out the half with Thigpen completed an 11-yard TD pass to WR Mark Bradley
Mark Bradley
Mark Anthony Bradley is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
.
In the third quarter, the Chiefs took the lead as rookie kicker Connor Barth
Connor Barth
Connor Thomas Barth is an American football placekicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at North Carolina....
nailed a 30-yard field goal, yet the Jets regained the lead with RB Thomas Jones getting a 1-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, Kansas City took the lead again as rookie CB Brandon Flowers
Brandon Flowers (American football)
Brandon Lavar Flowers is an American football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft after playing college football at Virginia Tech...
returned an interception 91 yards for a touchdown. However, New York got the last laugh as Favre completed a 15-yard TD pass to WR Laveranues Coles
Laveranues Coles
Laveranues Leon Coles is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State University....
.
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 1-6.
Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The game started well for the Chiefs who jumped out to a 24-3 lead, which included a "trick" touchdown pass from Mark BradleyMark Bradley
Mark Anthony Bradley is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
(wide receiver) to Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
(quarterback). The momentum started to change when the Buccaneers ran a punt return for a touchdown and added a late field goal to cut the deficit to a 24-13 margin. In the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay picked up a late touchdown on a fumble to bring the game to a 27-25 deficit. They converted the two-point conversion to tie the game at 27-27. In overtime, the Buccaneers systematically ran the ball to the 30-yard line and then kicked the winning field goal to capture a 30-27 victory. It was the biggest margin they have overcome in their history. The loss was the Chiefs' 16th in the past 17 games.
With their 4th-straight loss, Kansas City fell to 1-7.
Week 10: at San Diego Chargers
The Chiefs took an early lead on a 30 yard pass from Tyler ThigpenTyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
to Mark Bradley
Mark Bradley
Mark Anthony Bradley is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
. The Chiefs defense continued to show improvement in the red zone, limiting the Chargers to two field goals instead of two touch downs. At the end of the first half, Thigpen threw a pass to 34 yard touchdown pass to Tony Gonzalez. However, the extra point snap was botched and an attempt at a quick pass failed.
The Chargers controlled the second half better than the first, scoring two touchdowns and leading the Chiefs by 7 at the end of the fourth quarter. The Chiefs' final drive ended with a 3 yard touchdown pass to Gonzalez. A 1-point PAT would tie the game. However, Herm Edwards told Thigpen to go for two, explaining in a post-game interview that the defense was too beat up for overtime play. The resulting two-point conversion ended in an incomplete pass. The Chiefs lost by one point.
With the loss, Kansas City fell to 1-8.
Week 11: vs. New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. In the first quarter, Kansas City struck first as QB Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR Dwayne Bowe
Dwayne Bowe
-2007:On August 5, 2007, Bowe signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs, after holding out the first week of practice at training camp.Bowe scored his first NFL touchdown on a pass from Damon Huard in the first half of the Chiefs' game against the Chicago Bears on September 16, 2007.In his rookie...
. The Saints would respond with kicker Garrett Hartley
Garrett Hartley
Garrett Hartley is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
getting a 30-yard field goal. In the second quarter, New Orleans took the lead as RB Deuce McAllister
Deuce McAllister
Dulymus Jenod "Deuce" McAllister is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
got a 1-yard TD run. The Chiefs would answer with rookie kicker Connor Barth
Connor Barth
Connor Thomas Barth is an American football placekicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at North Carolina....
getting a 20-yard field goal. The Saints closed out the half with Hartley making a 23-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, New Orleans increased their lead with QB Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Drew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
completing a 47-yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore
Lance Moore
Lance Andrew Moore is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
. Kansas City replied with Barth making a 21-yard field goal, yet the Saints answered with RB Pierre Thomas
Pierre Thomas (American football)
Charles Pierre Thomas Jr. is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League.- Early years :...
getting a 1-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs tried to rally as Thigpen hooked up with Bowe again on a 5-yard TD pass. However, New Orleans pulled away with Hartley nailing a 35-yard field goal.
With their sixth-straight loss, Kansas City fell to 1-9.
Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills
The Chiefs hosted the 5–5 Bills, losers of their past four games, on November 23. Tyler Thigpen had his first bad game in five outings in the Chiefs' 54–31 loss. Thigpen's three turnovers–two interceptions and one lost fumble–led to 20 points by the Bills. Despite the turnovers, Thigpen also threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns.The 54 points by Buffalo were the Chiefs' most allowed in a game in the franchise's history. With the loss, the Chiefs fell to a 1–10 record, their 20th loss in 21 games.
Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
The Raiders hosted the Chiefs at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 30. The game began with both teams exhanging field goals to tie the game at 3. The Raiders lined up to kick another field goal, but instead elected to run a fake field goal, which was fumbled and recovered by Chiefs CB Maurice LeggettMaurice Leggett
Maurice Lamar Leggett is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He entered the NFL as a free agent in May 2008. He played college football for Valdosta State University. Won the Mack Lee Hill Award as the Kansas City Chiefs top rookie for 2008. On November 25, 2009, Leggett...
and returned for a touchdown. The Chiefs led the game 10–3 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Raiders tied the game at 10 with a touchdown by RB Justin Fargas
Justin Fargas
Justin Fargas is an American football running back who is a Free Agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
. With the Chiefs backed up to their own 9 following a punt, QB Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
led the Chiefs's offense down the field and capped the drive with a hand-off to RB Larry Johnson for a 2-yard touchdown. On Oakland's next possession, Justin Fargas fumbled the football which eventually set up a Chiefs field goal. The Raiders attempted to get back in the game with a field goal by K Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski
Sebastian Janikowski is a left-footed Polish placekicker who plays for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders. He is nicknamed The Polish Cannon because he is considered to have one of the strongest kicking legs in the league, and leads the NFL in kickoffs for touchbacks. He lives in...
, but the Chiefs held possession and ran out the clock for the remainder of the game. The Chiefs managed to snap their seven-game losing streak by beating the Raiders 20–13. It was Kansas City's sixth consecutive victory at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The victory was Tyler Thigpen's first as the Chiefs' starting quarterback.
With the win, Kansas City improved to 2-10.
Week 14: at Denver Broncos
Fresh off their divisional road win over the Raiders, the Chiefs flew to Invesco Field at Mile HighINVESCO Field at Mile High
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
for a Week 14 AFC West rematch with the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In the first quarter, Kansas City got the early lead as rookie kicker Connor Barth
Connor Barth
Connor Thomas Barth is an American football placekicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at North Carolina....
got a 26-yard field goal, while rookie CB Maurice Leggett
Maurice Leggett
Maurice Lamar Leggett is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He entered the NFL as a free agent in May 2008. He played college football for Valdosta State University. Won the Mack Lee Hill Award as the Kansas City Chiefs top rookie for 2008. On November 25, 2009, Leggett...
returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown. The Broncos would with RB Peyton Hillis
Peyton Hillis
Hillis was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.-2008 Season:At the start of the 2008 season, Hillis was listed as the Broncos' starting fullback...
getting an 18-yard touchdown run. The Chiefs answered in the second quarter with QB Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
completing a 13-yard touchdown pass to TE Tony Gonzalez, yet Denver closed out the half with QB Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler (American football)
Jay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
completing a 12-yard touchdown pass to WR Brandon Marshall
Brandon Marshall
-2006:Before the regular season even began, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although the injury sidelined him for a couple of weeks, he was able to return and play 15 games during the regular season. Marshall had a total of 20 catches, 309...
.
In the third quarter, the Broncos tied the game with kicker Matt Prater
Matt Prater
Matt Prater is an American football placekicker who plays for the Denver Broncos. He was originally signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at the University of Central Florida, where he majored in psychology.-High school career:Prater attended...
nailing a 33-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Denver took the lead as Cutler hooked up with Marshall again on a 6-yard touchdown pass. Kansas City tried to rally, but the Broncos' defense was took much to overcome.
With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 2-11.
Week 15: vs. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers had three turnovers and, perhaps more embarrassing, gave up three sacks to the NFL's worst pass rush. Tamba Hali had two sacks and caused two fumbles for a Chiefs defense that hadn't gotten a sack since playing San Diego four games ago. The three sacks pushed Kansas City's season total to a league-low nine, and the Chiefs need five in their last two games to avoid tying the NFL record for fewest in a season. Five of the sacks from the season have come against San Diego.
Leading into the fourth quarter, Kansas City led 21–10, but allowed 11 points in the final 79 seconds of the game to lose 22–21. The Chiefs, despite having an 18 point lead, used up all three time-outs. The victory sealed a season sweep for San Diego over Kansas City, with both victories ending in a one-point margin.
Resignation of Carl Peterson
The day after the Chiefs' loss to San Diego, Chiefs owner Clark HuntClark Hunt
Clark Knobel Hunt is Chairman and CEO of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs and a founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer. Hunt also serves as Chairman of Hunt Sports Group, where he oversees the operations of FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew of MLS He is the son of Lamar Hunt...
announced the resignation of Carl Peterson
Carl Peterson
Carl D. Peterson grew up in Long Beach, California, and is an alumnus of UCLA. He is best known as the former president, general manager, and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
from all positions held (general manager, vice president, and chief executive officer) effective at the end of the season.
The official press release stated that Peterson resigned, but Hunt had said the conversation had been on-going throughout the season. Hunt said his decision to relieve Peterson of duties was not based on what happened the previous day, when the Chiefs lost an 11-point lead in the final 73 seconds and were beaten 22–21 by San Diego, dropping their record to 2-12. Hunt also said that the fate of head coach Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
would be settled after the season. Hunt said he would split the duties previously held by Peterson and have someone in charge of the business side and someone else in charge of football for the franchise. Hunt said he plans on hiring someone from outside the organization.
Week 16: vs. Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second-coldest game ever held at Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
on December 21 with the game-time temperature at 10 °F and a wind chill
Wind chill
Wind chill is the felt air temperature on exposed skin due to wind. The wind chill temperature is always lower than the air temperature, and the windchill is undefined at the higher temps...
at -12 °F. It was the coldest conditions that Miami had ever played in. Miami scored first on the opening drive with a touchdown by WR Ted Ginn, Jr.
Ted Ginn, Jr.
-College career:OSU track coach Russ Rogers recruited Ginn to run track, believing that he could qualify for the 2008 Olympics. However, his track career was put on hold in order to focus on football. Ginn was recruited as a defensive back by Ohio State....
. Despite trailing 10–0 early in the game, Tyler Thigpen led the Chiefs to a 28–24 lead by halftime. The Chiefs failed to score a touchdown in the second half of the game, only managing a field goal by Connor Barth
Connor Barth
Connor Thomas Barth is an American football placekicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at North Carolina....
. The Dolphins broke a 31–31 tie with a touchdown by TE Anthony Fasano
Anthony Fasano
Anthony Joseph Fasano is an American football tight end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame...
with 4:08 remaining in the game. With just over a minute remaining, Chiefs LB Demorrio Williams
Demorrio Williams
Demorrio Dwain Williams is an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
forced and recovered a fumble to give the Chiefs another chance to tie the game. A failed drive capped off by Thigpen's third interception helped Miami run out the clock. Thigpen threw a career best 320 yards with two touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions. TE Tony Gonzalez became the first Chiefs player and first NFL tight end to record four 1,000 yard receiving seasons. The game also marked the last time Gonzalez played in Arrowhead Stadium as a member of the Chiefs, due to his trade to the Falcons following the season.
Week 17: at Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals hosted the Chiefs for both team's final game of the 2008 season on December 28. Entering the game, the Bengals had a 3-11-1 record and the Chiefs had a 2-13 record. While there was speculation over the job status of Herm Edwards as head coach entering the off-season, RB Larry Johnson voiced his intention to seek a trade. Cincinnati completely dominated the game. They outrushed the Chiefs 204 yards to 31 yards. Kansas City could only manage two first downs in the first half.The Chiefs did not get closer than the Bengals' 37-yard line until their final drive, which ended with TE Tony Gonzalez's 5-yard touchdown catch from QB Tyler Thigpen
Tyler Thigpen
Tyler "Dirty Pigpen" Thigpen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . Thigpen was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.Tyler Thigpen was the first quarterback to play for...
with 2:20 left in the game. A two-point conversion attempt failed, and the Bengals effectively held the lead for the remainder of the game. The Chiefs' defense had one sack in the game to finish the season with 10–the fewest in the NFL since the league started recording team sacks in 1960. The team surpassed the 1982 Baltimore Colts' record of 11 sacks.
Season statistics
All statistics through the completion of the 2008 NFL season (December 28, 2008).Offense
Yards per game: 314.6 (#22 in NFL)Total yards in season: 4,719 (#22 in NFL)
Points per game: 19.0 (#25 in NFL)
Points in season: 285 (#25 in NFL)
Quarterback rating:
- Tyler Thigpen (11 starts) – 75.8
Rushing yards in season: 1,779 (#11 in NFL)
Rushing yards per game: 118.6 (#11 in NFL)
Passing yards in season: 2,940 (#19 in NFL)
Passing yards per game: 196.0 (#19 in NFL)
Defense
Yards allowed per game: 397.5 (#31 in NFL)Rushing yards allowed per game: 155.9 (#30 in NFL)
Passing yards allowed per game: 241.5 (#30 in NFL)
Points allowed in season: 424 (#30 in NFL)
Points allowed per game: 28.3 (#30 in NFL)
Fewest quarterback sacks, team: 10 (#32 in NFL–all-time record)