According to The National Football Post, the Chiefs found their next general manager to replace Carl Peterson in former Patriots’ VP of Player Personnel Scott Pioli, who was highly regarded as the top GM candidate available this offseason.
Upon his departure, the Patriots will replace Pioli with Nic Cesario, who was serving as the Director of Player Personnel for New England. This does not come as a surprise as New England believes in growing executive talent from within its own organization.
Pioli, who has been with the Patriots for nine seasons and three Super Bowl Championships, won the George Young Executive of the Year award in 2004 and 2005.
Pioli comes to Kansas City after in year in which the Chiefs struggled to finish with a record of 2-14, good for last place in the AFC West. Pioli inherits a team that has a disgruntled super star running back in Larry Johnson, a revolving door at the quarterback position, but is led by a young nucleus of talent on the defensive side of the football. First off for Pioli, however, is to decide the fate of head coach Herman Edwards and his possible successor.
If the article is accurate, this was a tremendous hire by the Chiefs. Pioli is best known for being the mastermind behind the Patriots’ successful drafts and knows what it takes to build a winner. He’ll have his hands full turning things around in Kansas City, but it’s a proud organization and it’ll be interesting to see if he keeps head coach Herman Edwards, or if he decides to wipe the slate clean and start over.
