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KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Thirteen years ago, when Todd Haley was still trying to establish himself as an NFL assistant coach with the New York Jets, he took some of his orders from the team's offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis.
The roles will be reversed now that Haley, the head coach of the Chiefs, hired Weis to be the offensive coordinator. During the last five years, Weis was his own head coach at Notre Dame before being fired at the end of last season.
But he said Friday that he would have no problem serving for Haley.
"That was the first issue we had to get settled," Weis said. "Ten years ago it might have been a different situation, but been there, done that, is really where I am in this stage of my career. I'm very, very happy to be in the position I'm in right now.
"In this situation right now, it's Todd's ship, and I just want to be there to help guide it. Our face-to-face meeting was very, very important to make sure we both felt comfortable, especially that he felt comfortable being that he is the boss. I think this will be a simple transition.
"Philosophically, what Todd has expressed to me coincides so closely with how I see things in the big picture. This marriage seemed very, very, very simple."
If Haley has a kindred soul on the subject of offensive football, it's Weis. The two shared a cramped office for three years with the Jets, and the close quarters helped forge a football bond that lasted even after they went their separate ways.
Weis went on to become offensive coordinator for New England and helped the Patriots win three Super Bowl championships. That led to the job at Notre Dame.
"This is a really important hire for Todd," said former Chiefs quarterback Rich Gannon, who called several of their games this season for CBS. "There is a lot of carry-over between their systems and their philosophies. I don't think it will be a hard thing to mesh.
"Having Charlie will give him someone who can spend a lot of (high-) quality time with the quarterback and help develop that position. That's what Matt Cassel needs."
In his first season as a head coach, Haley couldn't coexist with another veteran play-caller, Chan Gailey, and fired him during the preseason.
Haley finished the season as his own coordinator.
But Haley had never worked with Gailey before. They also differ greatly in their offensive ideas.
The situation with Haley and Weis is much different.
"We share a common philosophy of offensive football," Haley said. "Charlie brings with him a terrific, tremendous resume of having success coaching offenses and running offenses.
"This is as perfect a fit as we could have here. The relationship we had prior to this hiring will ultimately make for a seamless transition for us and most importantly for the team. I felt offensively we made great strides throughout this year, but I wanted to have someone in here, an additional bright football mind that understands offense and the way we want to play football.
"We're bringing another bright offensive mind into the picture. This is a great step for us."
Haley said many times during the season that he intended to hire an offensive coordinator for 2010. He reached out almost immediately to Weis after he was fired at Notre Dame, though the talks didn't heat up until after the Chiefs finished their season Sunday in Denver.
"There were plenty of places that were out there that were opportunities. Sometimes if you really look at what presents itself, there are things that intrigue you," Weis said. "Right from the start, Kansas City was a place that really intrigued me. Knowing Todd, knowing Scott, knowing guys on the coaching staff and players on the team. There are so many things that intrigue me. Once Todd pulled the trigger and offered me the opportunity, and my wife and my son signed off on it, I couldn't be happier to come on board."
