Chiefs Fire Cunningham, Pursue Vermeil
Gunther Cunningham was fired Friday after two lackluster seasons as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, who want Dick Vermeil as his replacement.
They might have to wait to hire Vermeil, who led St. Louis to last year’s Super Bowl title, then retired.
Vermeil said Friday he wants to coach the Chiefs, but the Rams still have him under contract and have shown no willingness to release him.
“The Rams have asked the commissioner [Paul Tagliabue] to resolve their dispute with the Chiefs over Dick Vermeil’s status,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. A hearing is scheduled Tuesday in New York.
The Chiefs announced on their Web site the firing of Cunningham, who worked for 30 years as an assistant before getting his head coaching opportunity.
Team President Carl Peterson said in a statement that the decision to fire Cunningham was “difficult because my relationship with Gunther dates far back before he ever came to Kansas City and was one of the reasons that he came here prior to the 1995 season.”
Cunningham, who was Kansas City’s defensive coordinator for four years before taking over as coach, led the Chiefs to a 9-7 record in 1999 and 7-9 this season.
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Lovie Smith, Tampa Bay’s longtime linebackers coach, confirmed that he has joined the St. Louis Rams as defensive coordinator.
“I’m very excited,” Smith, 42, said in a telephone interview. “We’re talking about the defending Super Bowl champions--that’s what I’m becoming part of.”
Earlier Friday, the Rams hired Bobby April as special teams coach.
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The Detroit Lions, who never have been to the Super Bowl, are turning to the only player who has won it four times with three teams.
Matt Millen will be hired as president and general manager of the Lions, an NFL source said.
“It should happen early next week,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Millen has been an NFL analyst for Fox Sports since 1994.
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Bob Snyder, who won three NFL championships with the Chicago Bears, played for the Cleveland Rams and later coached in the NFL and college, has died. He was 87.
Snyder died Thursday at Lake Park Rehabilitation Center in Toledo, Ohio, after suffering from diabetes in recent years.
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Tagliabue met with Gov. Jesse Ventura and top legislators as the Minnesota Vikings renewed their drive for a football-only stadium. Tagliabue spoke of a “public-private partnership.” Ventura argues that there are more pressing needs for public dollars. His spokesman, John Wodele, said the meeting was cordial, but “the governor didn’t move from his previous position.” . . . Gov. George Ryan signed legislation that will put the Chicago Bears in a new stadium by 2003. The $587-million project, approved by lawmakers during their fall session, will gut the existing Soldier Field and put a new stadium in its place along Lake Michigan.
The Pittsburgh Steelers promoted Mike Mularkey from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator, replacing the fired Kevin Gilbride. . . . The Cincinnati Bengals hired Kevin Coyle, the defensive coordinator at Fresno State the last four years, as their defensive backs coach. . . . The Houston Texans’ released their list of coaching candidates and it includes Jacksonville defensive coordinator Dom Capers, Tampa Bay defensive backs coach Herman Edwards and former Atlanta offensive line coach Art Shell. . . . All-pro quarterback Brian Griese, wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and running back Mike Anderson are among seven Denver Bronco players scheduled to have surgery next week for various injuries.