The Kansas City Chiefs have fired defensive coordinator Bob Sutton just days after their 37-31 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, the team announced Tuesday.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid released this statement on the firing:

“Bob is a good football coach and a great person. He played an integral role in the success of our team over the last six seasons. I’ve said before that change can be a good thing, for both parties, and I believe that is the case here for the Chiefs and Bob. This was not an easy decision, but one I feel is in the best interest of the Kansas City Chiefs moving forward.”

This decision comes as no surprise given the defensive struggles not only against the Patriots, but all season long. Kansas City allowed 524 yards against New England and gave up three consecutive touchdown drives to close the game, not counting the kneel down at the very end of regulation.

During the regular season, the Chiefs ranked 31st in total defense with 405.5 yards allowed per game. They were 24th in points allowed, giving up 26.3 points per game.

Sutton initially became the team's defensive coordinator in 2013 when Reid was hired. He spent over a decade with the New York Jets in various roles before joining Reid's staff in Kansas City.