Chiefs sign Reid to extension, part ways with GM Dorsey, ex-UConn star
Andy Reid and John Dorsey arrived with the Kansas City Chiefs within weeks of each other, the coach and general manager given the massive undertaking of turning around a 2-14 franchise. Reid will head into Year 5 by himself. The Chiefs announced Thursday they had signed their coach to a contract extension, and then revealed less than an hour later that they parted ways with their GM. Those were massive decisions handed down by chairman Clark Hunt in a pair of statements on what is typically a quiet week in the offseason.
"My family and I have been very pleased by the success the franchise has sustained over the last four seasons under Coach Reid," Hunt said. "He has already established himself as one of the best coaches in the league, and he is well on his way to solidifying a place among the all-time greats."
It wasn't just Reid that got the Chiefs on the winning track, though.
Dorsey, a former star linebacker at UConn, arrived from Green Bay with a reputation for being a savvy scout, his track record working in the front office of the Packers seemingly impeccable. And over the past four seasons, he managed to turn a roster with a few big names but little depth into one of the strongest in the league.
It still wasn't enough to keep his job with the Chiefs.
Just like Reid, Dorsey was entering the final year of a five-year contract. But unlike his close friend, he was informed by Hunt that his contract would not be extended. So the two agreed to part ways now rather than wait until next offseason, leaving a significant void in the front office.
Hunt did not say who will handle the GM duties on an interim basis, though Reid juggled coaching and personnel decisions in Philadelphia with varying levels of success.
"This decision, while a difficult one, allows John to pursue other opportunities as we continue our preparations for the upcoming season and the seasons to come," Hunt said.
Hunt did not say why he thought the organization needed to move in a different direction, nor was he made available to answer questions.
But he said in a letter to season ticketholders later Thursday he will conduct a search for a new GM in the coming weeks that includes internal and external candidates.