National Football League

Crennel getting endorsements to be Chiefs coach

Published Dec. 22, 2011 9:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

The endorsements for Romeo Crennel to get the Kansas City Chiefs' full-time job keep coming.

Offensive coordinator Bill Muir offered unsolicited support of Crennel on Thursday, one day after star linebacker Tamba Hali said he'd like to see the Chiefs' defense coordinator and current interim coach get the job on a permanent basis.

''The defense has started to turn the corner. It would be a shame to change that,'' Muir said. ''I think Romeo's demeanor as a football coach, he relates very well to the players, he has a sternness to him, about being a dictatorial-type of man. I just think he would do a good job.''

Crennel took over nearly two weeks ago, when the Chiefs fired Todd Haley after a 5-8 start.

With the team in turmoil, the former Cleveland Browns coach provided a calming presence in the Chiefs' locker room, helping keep together a team with flickering playoff hopes.

Kansas City responded with its best performance of the season in a 19-14 upset of the previously unbeaten Green Bay Packers. Now, the reigning AFC West champions need to win their final two games and get help from Buffalo and San Diego to slip into the playoffs for the second straight year.

''I think anybody on this team would agree with me, if we can keep Romeo as our head coach here it would be great,'' Hali said. ''We love what he does and his game plan and as you can see what happened on Sunday, he was able to control the clock along with our quarterback and that's something we haven't been able to do here in a long time is control the clock. Now to win games.''

Exactly: Time to win games.

Crennel, who was 24-40 in four seasons in Cleveland, said his focus is on the remaining regular-season games against Oakland and Denver. After the season ends, it'll be up to general manager Scott Pioli and CEO Clark Hunt to decide whether to give him the full-time job.

''I've won one game. Let's see if we can win another, and whatever happens will happen after the season is over,'' Crennel said. ''The only thing I can control is my players and how we play and whether we win or lose or not, so that's what I'm going to do.''

Crennel said he appreciate the support, which has been nearly universal, especially when it comes from a coaching staff that has rallied together since Haley's firing.

''I know that I can lean on these guys any time I want to or need to, and the biggest thing that I've done as far as leaning on them is letting them do their job,'' he said. ''That's the biggest thing, because they are experienced coaches, and they know the game of football.''