Scott Pioli's Fate Tied to Kansas City Chiefs 2012 Season

Brought in from the New England Patriots organization in 2009, Scott Pioli’s three-year tenure as Kansas City Chiefs general manager can be optimistically described as 'average.'

Pioli fired then-head coach Herm Edwards almost immediately after taking the job, replacing him with Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley—who has since been swapped out for Romeo Crennel, the Chiefs defensive coordinator the past two seasons.

Although finding the right guy to manage the players on the field can be difficult, the general manager’s calling card, and ultimately the primary area in which his job performance is assessed, is talent evaluation—particularly incoming college players.

Pioli’s inaugural draft with the Chiefs can be considered a bust, with defensive end Tyson Jackson and kicker Ryan Succop the only players to make a significant impact on the field. However, the subsequent 2010 and 2011 drafts have produced a number of players that are either starters or regular contributors.

Although Pioli inherited some great talent (Jamaal Charles, Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Dwayne Bowe and Branden Albert to name a few), he has done his part by keeping those players in house while making calculated moves in piecing together the current roster—most notably this offseason by signing right tackle Eric Winston, running back Peyton Hillis, tight end Kevin Boss and cornerback Stanford Routt.

Before Pioli came to the Chiefs, they had won a mere six games over the previous two seasons. Although the team managed only four wins in his first campaign, they have since won 17 games over the last two seasons, including the 2010 AFC West championship, something the Chiefs hadn’t accomplished since 2003.

However, the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately?” business, and last year’s roller coaster season is still fresh on the minds of those in and around the organization. Consequently, if this season isn’t a success, Pioli’s seat could start to smolder a bit.

Head coaches typically receive a three-year evaluation period, giving them ample time to come in and get situated while implementing their own style. Conversely, general managers garner the benefit of a much longer leash.

But, having already gone through one head coach, seemingly due to his total control mantra, Pioli’s clock has been accelerated just a bit.

The 2012 season will be a make-or-break year for Pioli. It will serve as the turning point to help determine whether he will approach a tenure equivalent to that of former Chiefs’ general manager Carl Peterson, or wear out his welcome in a city that is famished for postseason success.

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