KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Accountability. Consistency. Energy. That’s what Romeo Crennel brings to the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli.
On Monday, the Chiefs named Crennel the new head coach, a position Crennel said he is thrilled to have.
“There are only 32 jobs like this in the world, and to sit here and be a part of the Chiefs is very special,” Crennel said in a news conference on Monday. “I accept the challenge of leading the Chiefs into the future.”
Crennel’s actions in the last three weeks as interim head coach helped land him the job, Pioli said, referencing the energy he brought to the team after the firing of Todd Haley. And while Crennel may appear laid back like his predecessor, Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt said Crennel is fiercely competitive.
“Although he portrays a calm demeanor, he is a very competitive individual,” Hunt said. “When I asked him in the interview why he wanted to be the head coach, he told me, ‘Because I want to win a Super Bowl as a head coach,’ and that spoke volumes to me.”
Pioli said he’s counting on Crennel’s mission to hold the team, club and management accountable.
“Romeo believes in accountability,” said Pioli. “He’s going to hold this team accountable, and he’s going to hold me accountable. We’ve a mutual accountability between each other.”
Pioli also said he and Crennel will collaborate on big decisions regarding the Chiefs, namely who’s going to be on the coaching staff — something still undetermined.
For Crennel, it will be his 31st season in the NFL. He’s coached in six Super Bowls in stints with the New York Giants and New England Patriots. He also served as an assistant coach in with the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns.
Crennel had previously spent four seasons as the head coach of the Browns from 2005-2008, where he led a constantly-rebuilding franchise to a 24-40 record.
In 2010 he joined the Chiefs as a defensive coordinator. In the last three games where Crennel served as interim head coach, the Chiefs won two of their final three games.
