2011 Kansas City Chiefs season
OwnerThe Hunt family
General managerScott Pioli
Head coachTodd Haley (fired Dec. 12, 5–8 record)
Romeo Crennel (interim, 2–1 record)
Home fieldArrowhead Stadium
Results
Record7–9
Division place4th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
2
AP All-Pros
2
  • LB Tamba Hali (2nd team)
  • LB Derrick Johnson (1st team)
Team MVPDerrick Johnson
Team ROYJustin Houston
Uniform

The 2011 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 42nd in the National Football League (NFL), their 52nd overall and their third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Todd Haley and Scott Pioli. A 10–6 record in their 2010 season lent high expectations to their 2011 season, but the Chiefs suffered reversed fortunes. A season-ending hand injury to their starting quarterback Matt Cassel in their eighth game of the season proved especially significant. After a 4–4 record with Cassel at the helm, the Chiefs staggered to a 7–9 win–loss record by season end and failed to make the playoffs.

The Chiefs training camp began on July 29 in St. Joseph, Missouri. The Chiefs played their first preseason game on August 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On September 11, the Chiefs opened their regular season against the Buffalo Bills. They did not earn their first win until Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings. After starting the season 5–8, head coach Todd Haley was fired after a 37–10 loss to the New York Jets. Haley was replaced by defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.[1] Haley became the second Chiefs coach to be fired during a season; the first was Paul Wiggin in 1977.

One bright spot of the season is the first game after Crennel took over as interim head coach. The Chiefs achieved an upset win against the then 13–0 Green Bay Packers to ruin their perfect season hopes; that loss would prove to be the only one the 2011 Packers suffered in their 15–1 regular season record.

Offseason

Coaching changes

Kansas City Chiefs Coaching Changes[2]
PositionCoach2010 position2011 position
OCBill MuirKansas City Chiefs OLCKansas City Chiefs OC/OLC
OCCharlie WeisKansas City Chiefs OCFlorida Gators OC
QBCJim ZornBaltimore Ravens QBCKansas City Chiefs QBC

Free agency

Kansas City Chiefs free agency[2]
PositionPlayerStatus*2010 team2011 team
LBCharlie AndersonUFAKansas City ChiefsNone
RBJackie BattleRFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
WRSteve BreastonUFAArizona CardinalsKansas City Chiefs
CBBrandon CarrRFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
FBTim CastilleUFAKansas City ChiefsNone
WRKeary ColbertUFANoneKansas City Chiefs
WRTerrance CopperUFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
TEBrad CottamRFAKansas City ChiefsNone
FBMike CoxRFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
QBBrodie CroyleUFAKansas City ChiefsArizona Cardinals
WRKevin CurtisUFAKansas City ChiefsTennessee Titans
CBTravis DanielsUFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
DTRon EdwardsUFAKansas City ChiefsCarolina Panthers
OTJared GaitherUFABaltimore RavensKansas City Chiefs
DEWallace GilberryRFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
DTKelly GreggUFABaltimore RavensKansas City Chiefs
LBCory GreenwoodEFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
LBTamba HaliUFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
SReshard LangfordEFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
CBMaurice LeggettRFAKansas City ChiefsNone
FBLe'Ron McClainUFABaltimore RavensKansas City Chiefs
SJon McGrawUFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
OTSteve ManeriRFANew England PatriotsKansas City Chiefs
LBCorey MaysUFAKansas City ChiefsNone
CRudy NiswangerUFAKansas City ChiefsDetroit Lions
OTRyan O'CallaghanUFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
SSabby PiscitelliUFATampa Bay Buccaneers & Cleveland BrownsKansas City Chiefs
TELeonard PopeUFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
OTBarry RichardsonRFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
LBBrandon SilerUFASan Diego ChargersKansas City Chiefs
DEShaun SmithUFAKansas City ChiefsTennessee Titans
LBMike VrabelUFAKansas City ChiefsRetired
CCasey WiegmannUFAKansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
*RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent, Franchise: Franchise tag

Draft

2011 Kansas City Chiefs Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollege
1 [a]26 [b] Jon BaldwinWide receiverPittsburgh
255 Rodney HudsonCenterFlorida State
370 [a] Justin HoustonLinebackerGeorgia
386 Allen BaileyDefensive endMiami (FL)
4118 Jalil BrownCornerbackColorado
5135 [c] Ricky StanziQuarterbackIowa
5140 [d] Gabe MillerLinebackerOregon State
6 [c]199 [e] Jerrell PoweNose tackleMississippi
7223 Shane BannonFullbackYale
^[a] The Chiefs traded their original first-round selection (#21) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the first-round selection (#27) which the Browns had previously acquired from Atlanta, and Cleveland's third-round selection (#70 overall).
^[b] The Baltimore Ravens originally held the 26th pick, but they did not submit their pick in the allotted ten minutes which allowed Kansas City to pick ahead of them.
^[c] The Chiefs traded their original sixth-round selection (#187 overall) and DT Alex Magee to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for the fifth-round selection which the Buccaneers had previously acquired from Denver.
^[d] The Chiefs swapped fifth-round selections with the Detroit Lions (the Chiefs originally held the #154 overall selection), after the Lions were found guilty of tampering with Chiefs' players.
^[e] Compensatory selection.

Staff

2011 Kansas City Chiefs staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Mike Clark
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Brent Salazar

Final roster

2011 Kansas City Chiefs final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 8 inactive, 8 practice squad

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 0–25 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
2 August 19 at Baltimore Ravens L 13–31 0–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
3 August 26 St. Louis Rams L 10–14 0–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
4 September 1 at Green Bay Packers L 19–20 0–4 Lambeau Field Recap

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 10 5 7325
Chiefs 0 0 000

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 2: at Baltimore Ravens

Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 7 3013
Ravens 3 7 02131

at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

  • Date: August 19
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT/6:30 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 85 °F (29 °C)
  • Game attendance: 70,690
  • Referee: Gene Steratore
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 3: vs. St. Louis Rams

Week 3: St. Louis Rams at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 14 0 0014
Chiefs 0 3 7010

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: August 26
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Clear, 81 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 67,837
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 4: at Green Bay Packers

Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 2 14 0319
Packers 7 0 13020

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: September 1
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Mostly clear, 80 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 67,555
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 11 Buffalo Bills L 7–41 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
2 September 18 at Detroit Lions L 3–48 0–2 Ford Field Recap
3 September 25 at San Diego Chargers L 17–20 0–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
4 October 2 Minnesota Vikings W 22–17 1–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
5 October 9 at Indianapolis Colts W 28–24 2–3 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
6 Bye
7 October 23 at Oakland Raiders W 28–0 3–3 O.co Coliseum Recap
8 October 31 San Diego Chargers W 23–20 (OT) 4–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
9 November 6 Miami Dolphins L 3–31 4–4 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
10 November 13 Denver Broncos L 10–17 4–5 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
11 November 21 at New England Patriots L 3–34 4–6 Gillette Stadium Recap
12 November 27 Pittsburgh Steelers L 9–13 4–7 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
13 December 4 at Chicago Bears W 10–3 5–7 Soldier Field Recap
14 December 11 at New York Jets L 10–37 5–8 MetLife Stadium Recap
15 December 18 Green Bay Packers W 19–14 6–8 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
16 December 24 Oakland Raiders L 13–16 (OT) 6–9 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
17 January 1 at Denver Broncos W 7–3 7–9 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 1: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bills 14 6 14741
Chiefs 0 7 007

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 2: at Detroit Lions

Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 0 003
Lions 7 13 72148

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

Week 3: at San Diego Chargers

Week 3: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 71017
Chargers 0 10 7320

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

Week 4: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 0 3717
Chiefs 3 6 6722

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 5: at Indianapolis Colts

Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 14 7728
Colts 7 17 0024

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 7: at Oakland Raiders

Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 14 0 7728
Raiders 0 0 000

at O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: October 23
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CDT/1:05 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 79 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 57,361
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 8: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 8: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Chargers 0 3 98020
Chiefs 10 3 07323

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 9: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week 9: Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 7 7 14331
Chiefs 3 0 003

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 6
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 62 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,263
  • Referee: Walt Anderson
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 10: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 3 0717
Chiefs 0 0 7310

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 11: at New England Patriots

Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 0 003
Patriots 0 10 17734

at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Game information

Week 12: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 12: Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 13 0013
Chiefs 3 3 039

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Hoping to snap a three-game losing streak, the Chiefs went home for a Week 12 Sunday night duel with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kansas City delivered the game's first punch in the opening quarter with a 41-yard field goal from kicker Ryan Succop. The Steelers would answer in the second quarter with kicker Shaun Suisham getting a 21-yard field goal, followed by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completing a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Weslye Saunders. The Chiefs would reply with a 49-yard field goal from Succop, but Pittsburgh would close out the half with Suisham booting a 49-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, Kansas City began to chip away at their deficit in the fourth quarter with a 40-yard field goal from Succop. However, the Steelers' defense held on to preserve the win.

With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 4–7.

Week 13: at Chicago Bears

Week 13: Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 7 3010
Bears 0 3 003

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: December 4
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 46 °F (8 °C)
  • Game attendance: 61,973
  • Referee: Jerome Boger
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at New York Jets

Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 0 0710
Jets 7 21 7237

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: December 11
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 37 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 79,088
  • Referee: Terry McAulay
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

The Jets won easily in a crushing rout, with the final score overstating the closeness of the game as the Chief's only touchdown came in garbage time after the game was already decided.[3] The Chiefs offense gained only 4 total yards in the first two quarters. The Chiefs were also plagued with penalties, finishing the game with 11 penalties total. The Jets' final touchdown drive in the third quarter proved to be a particularly humiliating stretch.[4] Starting from their own 10 yard line, the Jets gained 81 penalty yards on 5 penalties committed by the Chiefs, including a rare penalty directly assessed against head coach Todd Haley for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Jets offense gained only 9 net yards on the drive, however they were still able to score a touchdown.[4] After the game, Haley was fired mid-season; writers speculated that Haley's penalty, as well as the team's overall poor performance and discipline that game, was to blame.[5]

Week 15: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 15: Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Packers 0 0 7714
Chiefs 6 0 31019

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

In one of the biggest upsets of the year, the Chiefs beat the heavily favored Green Bay Packers, ending their hopes of a perfect season. The Chiefs defense held Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to 235 yards, a 49% completion percentage, and his only game of the season without multiple passing touchdowns in what was Rodgers' worst game statistically of the season.

The game was the first game coached by defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who served as interim head coach after Haley's departure.[5]

Week 16: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 16: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Raiders 3 0 73316
Chiefs 3 0 37013

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 38 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 70,803
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: at Denver Broncos

Week 17: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 0 007
Broncos 0 0 303

at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Game information

Standings

Division

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(4) Denver Broncos 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 309 390 L3
San Diego Chargers 8 8 0 .500 3–3 7–5 406 377 W1
Oakland Raiders 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 359 433 L1
Kansas City Chiefs 7 9 0 .438 3–3 4–8 212 338 W1

Conference

AFC[6]
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division winners
1 New England Patriots East 13 3 0 .813 5–1 10–2 .449 .423 W8
2[lower-alpha 1] Baltimore Ravens North 12 4 0 .750 6–0 9–3 .477 .484 W2
3 Houston Texans South 10 6 0 .625 4–2 8–4 .453 .413 L3
4[lower-alpha 2] Denver Broncos West 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 .520 .445 L3
Wild cards
5[lower-alpha 1] Pittsburgh Steelers North 12 4 0 .750 4–2 9–3 .492 .411 W2
6[lower-alpha 3] Cincinnati Bengals North 9 7 0 .563 2–4 6–6 .492 .326 L1
Did not qualify for the postseason
7[lower-alpha 3] Tennessee Titans South 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 .461 .396 W2
8[lower-alpha 4] New York Jets East 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 .500 .395 L3
9[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] San Diego Chargers West 8 8 0 .500 3–3 7–5 .516 .430 W1
10[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 5] Oakland Raiders West 8 8 0 .500 3–3 6–6 .504 .438 L1
11 Kansas City Chiefs West 7 9 0 .438 3–3 4–8 .512 .464 W1
12[lower-alpha 6] Miami Dolphins East 6 10 0 .375 3–3 5–7 .504 .417 W1
13[lower-alpha 6] Buffalo Bills East 6 10 0 .375 1–5 4–8 .520 .510 L1
14 Jacksonville Jaguars South 5 11 0 .313 3–3 4–8 .500 .363 W1
15 Cleveland Browns North 4 12 0 .250 0–6 3–9 .531 .313 L6
16 Indianapolis Colts South 2 14 0 .125 2–4 2–10 .539 .594 L1
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 7]
  1. 1 2 Baltimore clinched the AFC North title based on a head-to-head sweep over Pittsburgh.
  2. 1 2 3 Denver clinched the AFC West title instead of San Diego or Oakland based on record versus common opponents (5–5 to San Diego's and Oakland's 4–6).
  3. 1 2 Cincinnati clinched the AFC 6 seed instead of Tennessee based on a head-to-head victory.
  4. 1 2 New York Jets finished ahead of San Diego based on head-to-head victory.
  5. 1 2 San Diego finished ahead of Oakland in the AFC West based on better conference record (7–5 to 6–6).
  6. 1 2 Miami finished in third place in the AFC East based on a head-to-head sweep over Buffalo.
  7. ↑ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "Haley Relieved of Duties". Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Kansas City Chiefs 2010 Free Agency". NFL.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Jets Run Over Chiefs, 37-10". December 11, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Rubenstein, Alex; Bois, Jon (March 13, 2021). The god-awful drive that changed NFL history | Dorktown. Secret Base/SB Nation – via YouTube.
  5. 1 2 "Chiefs fire coach Todd Haley". ESPN.com. December 12, 2011.
  6. ↑ "2011 Conference Standings". NFL.com. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
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