Chiefs Fire DC Bob Sutton

The Kansas City Chiefs announced Tuesday that they’ve fired DC Bob Sutton. 

Here’s the statement from Chiefs HC Andy Reid:

“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.”

Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reported Monday that the Chiefs are mulling potential changes to their defensive staff that could potentially include Sutton, so this doesn’t come as a big surprise.

The Chiefs’ defense and Sutton had come under a lot of criticism in recent years and Sunday’s overtime loss in the AFC Championship in which the defense was unable to give the offense an opportunity to possess the ball didn’t help his odds of sticking around for another season.

Sutton, 67, began his coaching career back in 1972 as a graduate assistant at Michigan. He took his first NFL coach job several years when he agreed to become the Jets’ LBs coach for the 2000 season.

From there, Sutton worked his way up to Senior defensive assistant/LBs coach before departing to become the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator in 2013.

In 2018, the Chiefs’ defense ranked No. 24 in points allowed, No. 31 in total yards allowed, No. 27 in rushing yards allowed and No. 31 in passing yards allowed.