The first name thrown into the ring was former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, courtesy of a report by ESPN. Other names considered possibilities to replace Edwards include fired Bucs coach Jon Gruden, Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who interview for openings in Detroit and St. Louis, Packers assistant head coach/linebackers Winston Moss, Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.

Heck, even Bill Parcells' name has surfaced.

Haley has a history with Pioli, as the two were with the Jets from 1997-99. After the Super Bowl, the Chiefs received permission to interview Haley.

Edwards was left twisting in the wind after the Chiefs hired Scott Pioli as the new general manager on Jan. 13, and Pioli took 10 days evaluating whether to make a change.

In the end, Edwards' 15-33 record over three seasons was too much to overlook, even with a year remaining on his four-year, $12 million contract.

"Since my arrival last week, Herm and I have had several conversations as part of my overall evaluation of the football operation," Pioli said. "After careful consideration, Clark and I felt that it was best to make a change. What I conveyed last week in the press conference I still believe to be true - Herm is a great man and a tremendous football coach. He respects the game and the league, and he is passionate about his players and his craft.

"Over the course of this last week, I have also spent time meeting and visiting with most of the assistant coaches, and I will continue to do so over the next several days. All of the coaches from last year's staff, with the exception of one, are under contract through the 2009 season."

Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham has already left to take on the same position in Detroit, where he will work for friend Jim Schwartz, the Lions' new head coach.

Joining Cunningham on the move were secondary coach David Gibbs, who accepted a similar position with Houston, and special teams coach Mike Priefer, who joined the new staff in Denver.

Cunningham's departure, which was widely anticipated even if Edwards did manage to retain his job, was more noteworthy for what he said upon landing than the circumstances involved in his departure.

Asked to explain how the once sack-productive defense he fielded in his first tenure as K.C.'s defensive coordinator (1995-98) and later as head coach (1999-2000) evolved into a unit that produced only 10 sacks last year -- a league-record for futility -- Cunningham said personnel and a scheme he did not favor tied his hands.

"I've gone through three years of playing zone defense because I was loyal to Herm Edwards," Cunningham said in a conference call. "That's what he wanted. People here in (Kansas City) knew that I was different than that. My idea is to put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. Always has been, always will be."

But the decision to trade 2007 sack leader Jared Allen to Minnesota for draft picks, and the playing of three rookie cornerbacks and six total defensive starters with less than three years experience left him unable to compensate for Allen's loss, Cunningham said.

"The emotions get involved -- 'We'll play all these young players,'" Cunningham said. "But what you don't understand is, they have to be led by guys like Jared Allen.

"If you have a lot of young players you're going to draft, you have to make sure you work the whole process," Cunningham added. "The mistake we made (in Kansas City) is that they tried to add some UFA players like Demorrio Williams. Well, he doesn't have enough experience and enough ability to lead a bunch of rookies."

Cunningham worked under Schwartz as Tennessee's linebacker coach for three seasons following his firing as the Chiefs head coach after two campaigns. He returned to the Chiefs in 2006 under Edwards, but his defenses in Edwards' Tampa-2 zone philosophy consistently ranked near the bottom of the league in many categories. The Chiefs last year were 31st in total yards and rushing yards allowed, 29th in points allowed and the worst in NFL history in sacks recorded.