Carl Peterson resigns as Chiefs GM

Carl Peterson resigns as Chiefs GM
December 16
Kansas City Star
"The day began like most Mondays this season, with the Kansas City Chiefs stinging from another defeat.

It ended in most extraordinary fashion, with Carl Peterson out after 20 years as the Chiefs' president and general manager. Chairman Clark Hunt called the move - which will take place after the team's final game this season Dec. 28 at Cincinnati - a mutual decision.

Peterson - who was not part of the announcement Monday - had found himself under fire for the team's performance the last two seasons, as the Chiefs lost 21 of their last 23 games. Peterson and Hunt met Monday in what Hunt called "a continuation of some discussions we've had throughout the season" about Peterson's role with the club in 2009.

"With our coaches coming into the last year of their contracts, he understood the right decision from an organizational standpoint was to make this change and announce it at this point," Hunt said. "He was very much in agreement.

"… As our conversations continued, we both concluded that the right thing for the organization and the team was to break the ties completely. What gives us the best chance is the clean break we agreed upon."

Peterson was not available for comment. The Chiefs released a statement in which Peterson expressed gratitude for the Hunt family and Chiefs fans.

"I am proud of my association with the Kansas City Chiefs and our many accomplishments over the last 20 years," he said in the statement. "I thank the Hunt family for the opportunity to lead the Chiefs organization and sincerely appreciate all the coaches, players, administrators and Chiefs employees with whom I've had the pleasure of working in my time here.

"Most importantly, I want to thank Chiefs fans around the country for their passionate support through the years. Chiefs fans are the finest in all of professional football."

Hunt left open the fate of coach Herm Edwards, saying the decision on whether Edwards would return in 2009 would not be made until after a new general manager is hired."
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