Bill Muir Offensive Coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs retires
NFL assistant coach Bill Muir followed thru on his scheme to retire, informing the Kansas City Chiefs that he would not come back for a 35th season in the league.
Muir integrated the Chiefs in 2009 as offensive line coach under Todd Haley, and was raised to offensive coordinator final season. But the Kansas City Chiefs wrestled with wounds and inconsistency, which ended in the firing of Haley and the hiring of Romeo Crennel as head coach. 10 cent college football line
The 69-year-old Muir is contemplated one of the very best offensive line coaches in soccer, though he was not expected to remain as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator if he stayed on the staff.
“It has been an honor to be a part of this wonderful league for so long,” Muir expounded in a statement issued by the Chiefs. “Throughout the years I have assembled a lot of wonderful buddies and performed with many accomplished players and coaches. This was an individual decision for me, the timing was proper.”
Muir played tackle for Susquehanna University, a small liberal arts college in central Pennsylvania, and got his start in coaching there in 1965.
He bounced thru stops at Delaware Valley, Rhode Island, Idaho State and SMU before getting his break in pro football with Orlando of the short-lived Continental League.
His first job in the National Football League was as a scout for Tampa Bay from 1978-81, and he returned to the Buccaneers more than twenty years later on helping the franchise win its only Super Bowl. 10 cent pro football line
In between, he spent time functioning with the offensive lines in Detroit and New England Patriots, and as defensive coordinator and offensive line coach in Indianapolis. Muir also spent seven seasons with the New York Jets as offensive line coach before returning to the Tampa Bay.
“I’ve a tremendous amount of admiration for Bill,” Chiefs GM Scott Pioli recounted. “I have previously worked with him for a considerable time and have experienced him build up a bunch of superb football players. His contributions are rather appreciated and he will be missed.”
Not by every admirer in Kansas City, though.
Muir bore the brunt of feedback for the Chiefs’ unacceptable effectiveness on offense last season although there always used to be questions about maybe he was truly in charge. Haley’s background on offense and tendency to micromanage led many to believe he was calling the shots.
It didn’t help that Kansas City lost tight end Tony Moeaki and All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles to season-ending knee injuries in a span of three weeks at the start of the season.
Quarterback Matt Cassel joined them on IR with a hand injury sustained in Week 10.
The Kansas City still managed to play them into a position to protect their AFC West title notwithstanding wrestling on offense. But their playoff convictions were crushed when they managed only 13 points in an overtime defeat to Oakland in the penultimate game of the season.
Kansas City didn’t score at least twenty points in its final 9 games.
Crennel has been tight-lipped about Muir’s possible alternative, though quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn and assistant head coach Maurice Carthon are considered inside candidates.
Crennel has suggested that it may be after the Super Bowl before he is making a decision.
“I’m thrilled for Bill as he moves into retirement,” Crennel said. “I have known him for an extended period of time and he is among the finest coaches I have always been around, and an even better human being. Bill is an excellent friend and I’ve a great deal of admiration for how he worked.
“It was an accomplishment to work close him.”