Andy Reid named head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After days of speculation, it's official: Former Eagles coach Andy Reid is coming to Kansas City.

The Chiefs announced Reid’s hire as head coach on Twitter. He replaces Romeo Crennel, who was fired after his first full season at the helm in Kansas City.

The team sent this tweet just after 7 p.m. Friday:

Andy Reid and Clark Hunt make it official. Reid becomes the Head Coach of the Chiefs - #chiefs #chiefskingdom pic.twitter.com/kMRFskLM

Reid and team owner Clark Hunt were seen having dinner at the Capitol Grille on the Country Club Plaza after the announcement Friday evening.

41 Action News reporter Syed Shabbir spoke to Reid as he was leaving the restaurant. Reid said it feels great to be in Kansas City.

The Eagles were just 12-20 the past two seasons, but Reid's overall record of 130-93-1 represents the most wins in franchise history and the 22nd most ever in the NFL. The franchise was just 3-13 the year before he arrived, and two years later it went to the playoffs at 11-5 and second in the NFC East.

That was the first of five straight years in which the Eagles won at least 11 games, and included a trip to the Super Bowl after the 2004 season.

But Reid was put on notice after 2011's 8-8 season. Last year the Eagles were 4-12, prompting his firing on the NFL's "Black Monday."

“Congratulations to Clark Hunt and the Kansas City Chiefs for hiring a good man and a good coach," Philadelphia Eagles Chairman/CEO Jeffrey Lurie said in statement released by the team. "We wish Andy, Tammy and their entire family all the best in their new home."

Reid had been linked to the head coach opening in Arizona before the Chiefs put on the press earlier this week.

The Cardinals now intend to interview former Chiefs coach Todd Haley, a person familiar with their plans told the Associated Press. Haley led the Chiefs to the AFC West title in 2010, but was fired in December 2011 and spent this past season as the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.

The new coach will also report directly to Hunt, a departure from the previous 53 years of franchise history. The coach is also expected to have more say over personnel matters.

RELATED | Hunt takes on bigger role in franchise: http://tinyurl.com/a44jod9

The past couple of years have been difficult for Reid, whose oldest son, Garrett, died at training camp after a long battle with drug addiction. Reid fired close friend and longtime assistant Juan Castillo in October and later fired defensive line coach Jim Washburn.

Now, Reid has a chance to get a fresh start.

RELATED | JACK'S SMACK: What Andy Reid will mean for the Chiefs http://bit.ly/TOhMCW

The Chiefs have a news conference scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday. Stay with KSHB.com for the latest updates.

---

The Associated Press contributed to this report.