Professional Bio

15th Year NFL Coach • 1st with Chiefs

Chan Gailey enters his first season as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator, marking his 15th season in the NFL coaching ranks. Gailey previously served six seasons as an offensive coordinator in the league for Denver (’89-90), Pittsburgh (’96-97) and Miami (2000-01). He also spent two seasons as an NFL head coach with Dallas (’98-99), leading the Cowboys to the playoffs both of those campaigns, compiling an 18-14 regular season record.

Gailey’s addition to the Chiefs staff gives head coach Herm Edwards a pair of coordinators with NFL head coaching experience. He joins defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who served as Kansas City’s head coach from ‘99-00.

“He’s been through the battles as both a head coach and as an offensive coordinator,” Edwards said of Gailey. “He’s called the plays and he has performed under pressure. But just as importantly, Chan is an excellent teacher. Wherever he’s coached, he has designed dynamic offenses to take full advantage of his players’ skills. He understands how to orchestrate a balanced offensive plan. He’s going to be a good fit for our philosophy and our football team.”

A 34-year coaching veteran, Gailey comes to Kansas City after serving a successful six-year stint as the head coach at Georgia Tech (2002-07). He compiled a 44-33 record and helped the Yellow Jackets earn six consecutive bowl bids.

Owning an extensive resume of offensive success at both the pro and the collegiate level, Gailey has spent of eight of his previous 14 NFL seasons as either a head coach or offensive coordinator. During his eight seasons in those capacities, his squads made the playoffs seven times and boasted a 1,000-yard rusher on seven different occasions.

In total, Gailey’s squads have made the playoffs 11 times during his 14 seasons in the league, including each of his last eight NFL campaigns. His extensive coaching resume includes four Super Bowl berths, reaching the NFL title game with Pittsburgh (XXX) and Denver (XXI, XXII and XXIV).

Gailey’s offensive mindset and experience as a play caller meshes nicely with the fundamentally-sound approach to the game practiced by Edwards. Historically, Gailey’s teams have featured a balanced offensive philosophy, relying on a strong running game and a passing attack capable of producing big plays. His squads have also frequently been among the league’s best in terms of ball security.

Respected across the coaching ranks for his innovative and resourceful approach to the game, Gailey has taken full advantage of the talent available to him. Gailey’s coaching pedigree includes stints coaching defense and special teams, in addition to his extensive work on the offensive side of the ball. In fact, he owns the distinction of serving as both a head coach and defensive coordinator on the collegiate level, as well as enjoying stints as a head coach and offensive coordinator in the NFL ranks.

Gailey began his NFL career as an assistant under head coach Dan Reeves with the Denver Broncos from ‘85-90. The Americus, Georgia native served as offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach (’89-90), quarterback coach (’88) and tight ends/special teams coach (’86-87) after entering the league as a defensive assistant/special teams coach (’85) with the Broncos.

During Gailey’s six-year stay in Denver, the Broncos offense was centered around their strong-armed Hall of Fame signal caller, QB John Elway. Combined with the receiving trio of “Three Amigos” — WRs Vance Johnson, Mark Jackson and Ricky Nattiel — Denver evolved into one of the league’s most potent passing attacks. With Gailey serving as the club’s offensive coordinator/receivers coach in ‘89, Johnson posted career highs with 76 catches for 1,095 yards with seven TDs. Denver’s offensive barrage also featured RB Bobby Humphrey, who had 1,151 ground yards in ‘89, as the Broncos advanced to Super Bowl XXIV. Humphrey followed up that effort with a career-high 1,202 yards under Gailey in ‘90.

Gailey spent four seasons working under Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh, serving as the Steelers wide receivers coach (’94-95) and offensive coordinator (’96-97). During that four-year run, the Steelers won four straight AFC Central crowns, appeared in three AFC Championship Games and earned a berth in Super Bowl XXX following the ‘95 campaign.

During his tenure in Pittsburgh, he was credited with implementing the “Slash” offense that featured the skills of multi-talented QB Kordell Stewart. With Gailey serving as a offensive coordinator in ‘96, Pittsburgh ranked second in the NFL in rushing, averaging 143.7 yards per game. The following season the Steelers led the league in rushing, pounding out 154.9 yards per game on the ground. During the ‘97 campaign, Pittsburgh ranked sixth in the NFL in total offense (346.4 ypg) and was seventh in scoring (23.3 ppg).

RB Jerome Bettis enjoyed the two most productive seasons of his career with Gailey serving as the Steelers offensive coordinator. Bettis totaled 1,431 ground yards in ‘96 and followed up that performance with a career-high 1,665 rushing yards in ‘97.

Gailey’s most recent stint as an NFL offensive coordinator came on Dave Wannstedt’s staff with Miami (2000-01). The Dolphins posted back-to-back 11-5 records and qualified for the playoffs in both of his seasons orchestrating that franchise’s offense.

The Dolphins averaged 118.4 rushing yards per game in 2000, the club’s best rushing output since ‘84. Miami ranked fifth in the NFL with a +15 turnover differential that season and tied for second in the league with just nine fumbles lost. In addition, his offensive unit tied for fifth in the NFL by only allowing 28.0 sacks.

In total, Gailey owns seven seasons of head coaching experience. He compiled an 18-14 record as head coach with Dallas and guided the Cowboys to two straight playoff appearances. His ‘98 Dallas squad won the NFC East with a 10-6 record and ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in total offense (eighth - 340.6 ypg), rushing (eighth - 125.9 ypg), scoring (ninth - 23.8 ppg) and passing (ninth - 214.8 ypg).

Dallas committed a league-low 15 turnovers in ‘98 and tied for third in the NFL with a +11 turnover differential. The Cowboys were fifth in the NFL with a +10 turnover mark the following season. Dallas also scored 37 rushing TDs from ‘98-99, the fourth-highest total in the NFL over that timeframe.

His most recent experience as a head coach came at the collegiate level where he guided Georgia Tech to its 11th consecutive bowl appearance in 2007. His club led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing by averaging 199.3 ypg in 2007 and ranked third in the conference in total offense (384.9 ypg).

Gailey led Georgia Tech to nine victories and a berth in the ACC Championship Game in 2006, the most wins by the Yellow Jackets since 2000. Georgia Tech boasted the 2006 Biletnikoff Award winner and number two overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft in WR Calvin Johnson (Detroit). The ACC Player of the Year caught 78 passes for a single-season school-record 1,202 yards with 15 TD receptions, tying for second in the country. His 15 TDs tied as the best single-season mark in school history while his 78 receptions ranked second.

In 2003, Gailey’s team featured a true freshman starting at quarterback in Reggie Ball. The Yellow Jackets had both a 1,000-yard rusher (RB P.J. Daniels) and a 1,000-yard receiver (WR Jonathan Smith) for the first time in school history.

Gailey spent two seasons as head coach in the World League of American Football, leading the Birmingham Fire to the playoffs in both ‘91 and ‘92. He also enjoyed a one-year stint as the head coach at Samford in ‘93. Prior to joining the NFL ranks, he served as the head coach for two seasons at Troy State (’83-84), where he led the Trojans to the NCAA Division II National Championship in ‘84.

A former collegiate quarterback at the University of Florida, Gailey was a three-year letterwinner for the Gators. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Florida (’74-75) before coaching the defensive backs at Troy State. Gailey spent four seasons on the defensive staff at Air Force (’79-82), serving as defensive coordinator his final two seasons with the Falcons. Gailey was an all-state quarterback at Americus High School in Americus, Georgia.

Personal Bio

Education: University of Florida. Born: Gainesville, Georgia. Family: Wife - Laurie; Children - Tate and Andrew. The Gaileys also have two grandchildren.