If you can't beat 'em. poach 'em. The Kansas City Chiefs have clearly adopted that mindset in their search for a new defensive line coach, hiring Brendan Daly away from the New England Patriots, according to Jim McBride of The Boston Globe.
Daly, 43, began his NFL coaching career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006 as a defensive assistant. He was hired to coach the St. Louis Rams' defensive line in 2009, then returned to the Vikings three years later to occupy the same role. Daly was signed by the Patriots in 2014, first serving as a defensive assistant before spending the last five seasons as the team's defensive line coach.
It's somewhat surprising that New England would feel comfortable letting a coach of his reputation sign with its biggest threat to AFC supremacy. But Daly's contract expired after the Super Bowl, and he has a history with new Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who was the head coach of the Rams during Daly's tenure in St. Louis.
The Chiefs' talent along the defensive front was no doubt enticing to Daly, too. Defensive tackle Chris Jones broke enjoyed a breakout campaign, finishing third in the NFL with 15 sacks, while Dee Ford and Justin Houston combined to form one of the most disruptive edge pass-rushing tandems in the league. Rookie tackle Derrick Nnadi and veteran Allen Bailey also played well for the Chiefs last season.
Kansas City's defensive front was its lone strength on that side of the ball in 2018, when the team came within a coin toss of playing in its first Super Bowl since 1963. With a highly-respected coach like Daly at the helm, look for Jones and company to wreak even more havoc going forward.
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