Gregorian: Clark Hunt grew with Chiefs through ‘toughest year’

[Tribal Warfare]

Clark Hunt grew with Chiefs through ‘toughest year’
By VAHE GREGORIAN
The Kansas City Star
In the afterglow of his team’s 28-2 thrashing of Jacksonville and anticipating a rejuvenated fan base for today’s game against Dallas, Clark Hunt exuded what might be called a cautious buoyancy.

The Chiefs chairman and CEO was delighted, of course, by a victory that seemed to affirm the wisdom of monumental offseason changes. And in part because the Cowboys are today’s foe, appropriately enough exactly 50 years after Lamar Hunt moved his team here from Dallas, Hunt considers this home opener “probably as big as it’s ever been.”

But he also remains cognizant of how it was only out of chaos that a sense of order was restored, how the makeover was necessitated by a grim 2012 season in which the darkness extended well beyond a mere playing field.

“No two ways about it,” Hunt said Friday in his office at One Arrowhead Drive. “The Belcher tragedy just compounded what already had been the toughest professional year of my life.”

His actions in the weeks following the murder-suicide involving Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher would be critical for a franchise at a crossroads. They go a long way toward defining Hunt’s leadership and reflect a studied but emboldened approach to the role.

“He was kind of feeling his way before, but, boy, in the last year, he’s really grown into the job,” said Jack Steadman, the former Chiefs GM who was entwined with the Hunt family even before the move from Dallas and urged Lamar Hunt on his deathbed to appoint Clark the future leader of the franchise. “He made the changes that needed to be made in a correct way.”

Entering December, the fallout of the bizarre Scott Pioli era had permeated the franchise most visibly on the field, where the Chiefs were 1-10 and a heritage seemed to be unraveling.

The sheer incompetence had inspired such protests as the saveourchiefs.com movement, banners being flown over half-empty Arrowhead Stadium demanding change, and a call to wear black and make a funeral of a game.

Until real funerals were necessary.

Hunt was at home in Texas on the morning of Dec. 1 when then-general manager Pioli called, shaken after witnessing Belcher’s suicide just outside the Chiefs’ front office. Moments before taking his own life, Belcher admitted that he had murdered his girlfriend.

That jarring call seemed “a little bit surreal” to Hunt, 48, who has run the Chiefs since his father’s death in late 2006.

“You can’t believe what you’re really hearing,” he said. “There’s nothing, at least in my life, that had prepared me for that.

“It was just hard to sort through: ‘OK, what comes next here?’”

Being a compassionate human being turned out to be first, starting with his approach to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in phone conversations that morning.

Goodell told Hunt that “the league’s stance was that generally in these circumstances we go ahead and play the game,” Hunt recalled. “And I told (him) that I understood that, but I felt that it was important for the players and the coaching staff to make that decision as opposed to me making it.

“(Then-coach) Romeo Crennel had been involved in what happened that morning, and I certainly would have understood if he had said, ‘I can’t do this.’”

Hunt spent the evening extending himself to players and staff at the downtown hotel where the Chiefs stay the night before home games.

“I felt that it was important that they knew I was there for them, I was hurting with them, that I understood what they were going through and that I wanted to do whatever I could to support them,” Hunt said.

The Chiefs would opt to play, and they somehow beat the Carolina Panthers.

But by season’s end, supporting his players and the future of the organization meant it was time for Hunt to make changes.

Sweeping changes.

“First of all, we as a family and I as a leader are in this business to win championships. And that’s it,” Hunt said. “We’re not in the business to go through motions; we’re not in the business just to be part of the NFL. It is to win championships.

“So anytime we don’t win a championship, we’re disappointed. Now when you have a hard year like we did last year, it’s particularly difficult. Certainly, the fan base, the football team, the coaching staff, everyone who works for the Chiefs was very, very disappointed.”

But who could be more disappointed and have more to lose, really, than Hunt, the guardian of what he must consider a sacred trust?

Low-key as he might seem, this matters to him in deep, personal ways that few others can appreciate.

Hunt is unassuming, polite and understated, Chiefs president Mark Donovan said. “But don’t misperceive that.”

He is driven, as evidenced by being valedictorian of his class at Southern Methodist, among other indications.

And week by week, Donovan said, last season was tormenting Hunt.

Lamar Hunt “had a lot of success on and off the field, and he did things that many people felt were not possible, so I do take it very seriously to remember and think about and enhance his legacy,” Clark Hunt said. “On the other hand, I know I have to be me.”

That meant taking a rational, measured approach.

“He doesn’t just go off doing crazy things,” said Steadman, who has known him from infancy. “Clark is a good thinker, and he’s a good planner.”

Said Donovan: “He’s the reason we are where we are right now.”

Obvious as it might have seemed from the outside for months — as much pressure as there might have been from the furious fan base — Hunt insists that he didn’t make the decision to turn over the front office until the end of the 2-14 season because he didn’t want to “prejudge” from an emotional place within.

“When you relieve somebody of their duties, it’s very difficult because you know that the action has a big impact on them professionally, emotionally, from a family standpoint. I don’t ever take that lightly,” he said. “But it’s also part of the business. Change is one of the constants of the National Football League and the sporting business in general, so it’s something that I’ve come to accept.”

The way he went about the change reflected an evolution in Hunt.

“I think like anything that you spend time doing, you become more experienced and you have a deeper well of knowledge from which to draw on in making decisions,” he said. “Life’s experiences are probably the greatest teacher, and that’s certainly true in one’s profession.”

Hunt overhauled the fundamental structure of the Chiefs’ management flow chart, which now features Donovan, new general manager John Dorsey and new coach Andy Reid on the same line reporting directly to Hunt, a structure that Donovan says both reflects Hunt’s trust in each and fosters trust among them all.

The tactful Hunt didn’t say it was because the lines of communication had gone haywire under Pioli’s watch as general manager.

But it might be inferred that this is what he means by life’s experiences being the greatest teacher.

“I decided to change the reporting structure so that I could have more input and involvement with the head coach and hear his perspective directly, as opposed to hearing it through the general manager,” Hunt said.

Also reflecting his ongoing education: This time he chose the coach before he picked a GM.

“Probably a lesson that I had learned from the coaching search that we had gone through in 2009 was that the window to hire a talented head coach in the National Football League is very short,” he said.

In this case, Hunt identified that it was crucial to bring in an experienced head coach. Reid had won 130 regular-season games in 14 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

“We needed somebody who could walk in the locker room and the players would immediately respect him; Andy certainly fits that bill,” said Hunt, who has spent much more time speaking with Reid than any of Reid’s predecessors. “We needed somebody who was a good teacher, a strong on-the-field presence, somebody who could build relationships with players and yet demand their respect. Andy Reid is all of that.”

He added: “You don’t regularly have an opportunity to hire a coach like Andy Reid. … You can say the stars aligned.”

Perhaps they did too in terms of the availability of Dorsey, with whom Reid had grown close during the 1990s with the Green Bay Packers.

It’s far too soon to know if they are aligning in any broader way for the Chiefs, but Hunt is energized and encouraged by what he’s learned of Dorsey and Reid and what he’s seen in offseason and preseason preparation.

And he’s eager to see the next chapter unfold, starting with a historically symmetrical game today against Dallas.

In one sense, the Cowboys prevailed in a “this town ain’t big enough for the both of us” relationship when Hunt’s father moved. But the spirit of the rivalry is a little different now, right down to the whimsical winner’s trophy commissioned in 1998 by Lamar Hunt in light of the fact that both he and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones once lived on Dallas’ Preston Road.

“The Preston Road Trophy (is) about a foot tall, and I’ve heard Jerry describe it as looking like a bird feeder,” Clark Hunt said, laughing and adding, “One of my dad’s requirements when he put it together was that it cost less than $100. And I think he achieved that easily.”

Achieving the Chiefs’ legacy didn’t come easily to Lamar, and restoring its luster won’t come any easier for Clark.

That’s something he knows as well as anyone, especially after enduring the most painful year of his professional life as he grows into the job.

But that growth is obvious from the choices he’s made.

“Following Lamar was a pretty drastic change for Clark,” Steadman said. “But he’s making his mark more and more.”

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

If Hunt wanted to keep Pioli, he wouldn't have hired Reid, especially with the understanding that Reid wouldn't come unless he brought his own guys in. And that Reid almost certainly wouldn't want to work for Pioli.

The writing was on the wall that Pioli was out. I don't know how anyone can look at the way Hunt treated Pioli after the offseason and think that Hunt wanted to keep Pioli around. Keep in mind that Hunt made the move to make the GM report directly to Hunt, was individually responding to fan letters, was starting to lift the media blackout, stripped Pioli of all his power in the head coaching search, then hired a coach who we knew would lead to Pioli's firing.

It is insane to look at all this and think Hunt actually wanted to keep Pioli around. Actions speak much louder than words. I really don't care how he voted.

LOL, it's "insane" that we've not been to a SB since 1969. Perhaps insanity breeds insanity my friend. And those who can affect insanity haven't earned the protection you're offering their latest management configuration (Clark in charge until he needs to hide behind it being a family business).

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't there reports that he wanted to keep SP? Maybe not..

Yes, but I value actions over words. I think the way they stripped Pioli down after the season, and how quick and decisive Hunt has been to correct Pioli's mistakes leads me to believe he understood the problem and that he did not like what Pioli was doing.

And for action he's taken that's "a move for success" let's not forget this is the same team that lived under the cap. No rule that says you have to spend to the cap, and there a some years when it's a sensible football strategy, but I don't think many are left thinking they spent the vast majority of those years "under the cap" for either pure profit OR to payoff what "they" put up for stadium renovations.

After Hunt hired Pioli, he said he'd give Pioli full reign. After Hunt fired Pioli, the Chiefs went on a spending spree. It seems like Hunt puts a lot of trust in his football guys, maybe to a fault. I think the Dorsey era proves he's not afraid to spend money.

Look, I get it, they've done things that that allow them to claim are efforts to win a championship, but their family is know for being interested in profits first and winning second, and we all have to live with that reality. Their actions created that label/opinion, not some inaccurate mean-girl 1972 Facebook post! They are NOT Mark Cuban no matter how much we'd like something closer to Cuban's intense desire to win.

Whether that's true or not, the fact is that since Hunt took over, they've fired 2 GMs and hired GMs and HCs who are very expensive. Again, I don't know that I agree yet with Hunt's methods. Dorsey and Reid are far from bulletproof so far. But twice in a row, he fired an incompetent GM and hired guys who have strong reputations. They are paying unnecessary consultants like Childress and Ault, let alone a fully loaded and expensive coaching staff. If you compare Clark Hunt's track record to Mike Brown's, we look like massive spenders.

The good news is they can fix this. Admit that 1969 was a long LONG LOOOOONG time ago, and show (more) that they're doing things with the roster and coaching staff to make it right. Alex Smith and Andy Reid, for what they are, are arguably good starts, but it still hurts to know that as recently as 2-3 years ago they weren't smart enough to out-think Indy at the game of gamesmanship (and allowed Indy to go from Manning to Luck with a one-year gap).

So all I'm saying is I've heard the family say this before, and they made a seemingly smart move here and there those times too, so excuse me if I insist on seeing results before I decide to get in bar "discussions" defending my hometown team. I don't travel to Detroit, Cinci, Jax or Cleveland much, so the Hunt family's results in football make smack-talk at bars pretty tough.

Then again, Hunt is from Dallas! Yeah, forgot to mention that I'm no fan of absentee ownership at this level in sports with so much visibility.

I agree with you. I just don't agree it has anything to do with valuing profits over winning. I have plenty of question marks on Reid/Dorsey. But that move is not one made by an owner who isn't interested in winning. It's fair to question the methods, I just really disagree that profits or money are big driving forces.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

But that doesn't fit the CP narrative tho...

Clark only wants to go 8-8 and spend as little money on payroll as possible.

Because winning the Super Bowl wouldn't enrich him at all.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

Depends on the timing of the vote among Hunt family members, donovan, etc. That vote could have happened prior to interviewing Reid, and Hunt could have had Pioli semi-involved in that process just because he was under contract regardless.

Fair point. I read that it did happen before the season ended. It looked to me like the Chiefs were trying to push Pioli to quit, more than anything.

link? As far as I know, the chiefs have been under contract with Kansas city for awhile. Was their an "out" in the lease agreement?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2397148
The Chiefs could have easily left in 2007, but instead chose an aggressive plan to revamp Arrowhead.

true, but apparently Pioli found some mismanagement in books/record keeping. There have been some articles in the past regarding that. Pioli also gutted overhead by getting rid of old (higher salaried) staff and replacing them with younger (cheaper) staff, and had a small coaching staff and relatively inexpensive head coach.

That was after the fact. Pioli wasn't hired to cut costs. He was hired because he was supposed to be one of the most sought-after football guys. His cutting costs was just a residual benefit. It seems to me that any decisions during the Pioli regime were more Hunt taking a hands-off approach and putting too much trust in his football guys. I feel confident saying that because after Chunt fired Pioli, he's doing the exact opposite.

that was very expensive. Gretz has said that Clark Hunt voted to keep Pioli. Thus his vote was over-ruled.

I don't take much stock in Chunt's vote, even if that sounds weird. Again, actions speak louder than words. And his actions following the season and after Pioli was fired indicated that he and Pioli weren't nearly as much on the same page as we thought. I also have questions on how Gretz would know about the vote, as well as if that vote was followed by lengthy discussion.

I dont think most of us are questioning that. I believe that Profit Margin is a bigger motivator for him than winning. The new CBA prevents him from having a small player salary. The best way for him to increase revenue is to get taxpayer money (either tax breaks, stadium upgrades, or other incentives such as for training camp), and corporate agreements. That comes with winning.

Again, a fair point. It's very possible Chunt wants to win to make more profits. But that's a different model than Cincy, who basically builds a team to make money and is stripping the team of resources that can help them win. Whereas Hunt has proven he has no problem spending money, as long as that's what his football guys think is the way to win.

[Lex Luthor]

Originally Posted by whoman69

What I find funny is that one win over a perennial bottom feeder and they're talking like it's all fixed, we're ready to return to the success we had under Stram or Marty.

I don't think anybody is claiming to know that "it's all fixed".

But the preliminary signs are positive. I'd much rather see the Chiefs blow out a bottom feeder than get blown out. Wouldn't you?

[Brock]

Originally Posted by whoman69

What I find funny is that one win over a perennial bottom feeder and they're talking like it's all fixed, we're ready to return to the success we had under Stram or Marty.

Why wouldn't anyone think they're going to get a lot better over the next few seasons? You particularly cannot look at that defense and not realize it should be pretty dominant. They have a coach and GM who appear to know what they're doing. They have a competent QB. They're definitely going to have a solid run game. There's really no reason to think this team won't contend.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by mikey23545

Bullshit.

There a lot of businesses where it would be easier to make money.

Clark is in this one because he is competitive, he loves sports, and I think, to win more championships for his father.

not many

NFL is pretty a guaranteed 30+ million profit a year


i sure some business make more but i doubt they are as easy or consistent

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

not many

NFL is pretty a guaranteed 30+ million profit a year


i sure some business make more but i doubt they are as easy or consistent

This.... They start $30M+ to the good, not much risk at all passed that. THAT'S why spending to the cap isn't more than just tangentially important - how it's used over five-year periods, it's a leading sign of ownership's desire to win or hoard profits.

And let's not lie, being an NFL owner has to be ****ing cool.... $30M for not trying and access to some of the coolest people and travel to awesome places, TOTALLY first class, and you can tell the wife "it's your job." Yeah, I'd jump at those measly $30M a year!

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Well, let's consider the history.
-Hunt gave up an opportunity to go to LA
-Hunt fired Carl Peterson to hire Pioli, a guy who was insanely expensive for a GM
-Hunt led a series of moves leading to the firing of Pioli and probably paid out the ass for severance. I highly doubt he made ROI on that versus letting Pioli ride out the rest of his contract
-Hunt then hires Reid and stocks a pretty expensive coaching staff

I don't for a second think Hunt doesn't want to win. I agree that he has a long way to go to prove he knows how to win. But he's made some really expensive moves that he didn't have to do.

where is your source for the LA shit? I've not seen even one trustworthy source that LA was even on the table, let alone one that we 'passed up.'

[Ebolapox]

as for the espn article, moving wasn't even listed as an option, let alone to LA

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Ebolapox

where is your source for the LA shit? I've not seen even one trustworthy source that LA was even on the table, let alone one that we 'passed up.'

Actually it's a myth that's out there, but it's out there 24x7 to be used by every team as they ass-rape cities into building new/improving venues.

Glad the Chiefs didn't go, but no team will survive the overall L.A. population... Weather's too good and too many other things to do to tolerate any level of a team's inevitable down years. Football ain't baseball...

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by vailpass

If PR built it that bitch would Wi-Fi, super fast processor and killer video capabilities.

Did you not see the dog ramp?

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Ebolapox

where is your source for the LA shit? I've not seen even one trustworthy source that LA was even on the table, let alone one that we 'passed up.'

LA is always an option. It's an option for any team negotiating a new stadium deal.

[scho63]

Lost in all this excitement of being 3-0 is what Clark did to bring Andy Reid and John Dorsey to KC along with the Alex Smith trade.

The effects are monumental!