Chiefs coach Todd Haley says team hasn’t contacted Charlie Weis, who has connections in KC

Chiefs coach says team has not contacted Weis

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs coach Todd Haley insisted Monday that the team has not contacted Charlie Weis about joining the staff in Kansas City.

But Haley, a rookie head coach who also is calling plays as offensive coordinator, acknowledged that someday he would prefer to let someone else be coordinator and call the plays.

“I believe in my heart of hearts that’s the way to be the most efficient,” Haley said. “It’s fun calling plays. There’s no doubt about that. I’ve also said my job is to be the head coach of the team and if and when that’s possible, I would think that, in my opinion, is the best way to run the operation.

“If you get the right situation.”

Weis was fired Monday as coach at Notre Dame. He and Haley worked together when they were assistants with the New York Jets. Weis also won Super Bowls as the offensive coordinator in New England, when Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli was the Patriots’ vice president of player personnel.

“I shared an 8-by-8 office with Charlie for three years in New York, oh, by the way,” Haley said with a grin. “I know Charlie about as up-close-and-personal as you could know him.”

Haley said there would be no coaching staff changes for the Chiefs (3-8) until after the season. He also emphatically denied reports that Kansas City had already contacted Weis.

“I can say with clear conscience there’s been no contact,” Haley said. “The focus in this building is putting this team in the best possible position to succeed each day and each week and that’s where the focus is. As far as staff goes, that would be something I would have — that would be a decision I would have to make.”

Haley called plays for Arizona last year, helping the Cardinals reach the Super Bowl. After taking over in Kansas City, he fired offensive coordinator Chan Gailey 13 days before beginning his first season as a head coach.

Calling his own plays hasn’t worked very well for Haley’s talent-thin Chiefs. They rank 14th in the AFC in total offense.

“As I’ve said earlier, at the end of the year I will do anything and everything to evaluate the areas of this team and coaching staff that we can get better at,” Haley said.