Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton’s future appears uncertain.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports the Chiefs are having internal discussions today about whether to make changes to their defensive staff, including Sutton, and Kansas City Star columnist Sam Mellinger is calling for Sutton’s job.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid wouldn’t comment about Sutton’s future during his Monday exit press conference.
“I’ll never talk about that here,” Reid said, via Mellinger. “I’ve never done that. I just go back and I look at everything. That’s the best answer I can give you on that.”
Sutton has held the job for six seasons, but the Chiefs have struggled defensively the past two seasons. In 2017, the Chiefs ranked 28th in yards allowed and 15th in points allowed, and, this season, they were 31st in yards allowed and 24th in points allowed.
Kansas City allowed 40.2 points per game in its five losses this season, and the Chiefs set an NFL record by allowing 419 first downs in the regular season.
The death knell for Sutton may have come on a presnap penalty Sunday. Dee Ford’s offsides penalty late in the fourth quarter negated an interception that likely would have given the Chiefs the win over the Patriots.
Reid, who is loyal to his assistants, defended Sutton.
“We led the National Football League in sacks, and hurries on the quarterback, all these things,” Reid said. “We tightened it up on the back end a little bit and got better there. That’s not an easy thing to do. It’s not easy to be in the [conference] championship game. Remember that. As you ask all these questions, remember that.”