Chiefs name Edwards as new coach

Edwards has ties with Kansas City

New York Jets head coach Herman Edwards has been named as Dick Vermeil's replacement at Kansas City.

The Chiefs gave the Jets a fourth-round draft pick as compensation for Edwards, who had two years left on his contract.

Veteran Vermeil, who won the Super Bowl with St Louis in 2000, retired after going 44-36 in five years in Kansas but reaching the play-offs only once.

Edwards was 39-41 in five years in New York, but made the play-offs more than any previous Jets coach - three times.

Edwards, 51, is also a friend of Chiefs president Carl Peterson.

"We selected Herm Edwards because he is without question one of the most qualified head football coaches in the NFL today," Peterson said on the team's website.

"He has the experience of five years as a head coach, five years as an assistant head coach and almost 10 years as a position coach in the NFL.

"Herm has coached players and teams in play-off games and he has won play-off games."

Edwards began his NFL career in Kansas City as a personnel executive and then an assistant coach under Marty Schottenheimer.

The Jets, hurt by injuries to its two top quarterbacks and other key players, finished 4-12 this season. The Chiefs were 10-6.