The Kansas City Chiefs already lost one assistant coach to the college ranks, but another has decided to stay with the team.
According to a report from ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Chiefs LBs coach Matt House turned down an opportunity to take a defensive coordinator job with the University of Tennessee under new head coach Josh Heupel. House has a long background in college football. He previously served as the linebackers coach, special teams coordinator and defensive coordinator for the Kentucky Wildcats under Mark Stoops prior to joining the Chiefs in 2019.
House is undoubtedly familiar with SEC football and all that it has to offer. He’s also seen what they’re building in Kansas City and wants to continue to be a part of that. Graziano reports that House could be on track to land a defensive coordinator job in the NFL, so it’d make sense why he’d want to stick around.
League sources tell me Chiefs LBs coach Matt House turned down an offer to be defensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee and elected instead to stay in Kansas City. As a well-regarded member of Andy Reid's staff, House could be on track for NFL coordinator job.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) February 15, 2021
The Chiefs are certainly impressed with what he’s been able to do with the linebacker group. There has been a marked improvement since his arrival in 2019, specifically in veteran players like Anthony Hitchens. What he was able to accomplish earlier this season, getting second-year UDFA LB Darius Harris coached up to step in for Hitchens during his stint on the COVID-19 list, was impressive. It was a feat that didn’t go unnoticed by his fellow coaches in Kansas City.
House will be a valuable asset for the team moving forward. Who knows, if Steve Spagnuolo were to get another head coaching opportunity, he could even have a future as the defensive coordinator for the Chiefs.
