Post by CAChiefsFan on Mar 17, 2005 11:35:17 GMT -5
Kansas City Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and Vice Chairman Clark Hunt announced on Thursday that President Carl Peterson has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the team
Peterson’s current contract was set to expire following the 2005 season. With this four-year contract extension, the team will retain Peterson’s services through the 2009 season.
Lamar Hunt, whose 45 years of association with the team qualifies him as a senior observer of Chiefs football said: “Carl was instrumental in leading the Chiefs back to the top echelon of the NFL after joining the organization in December of 1988. This new contract will carry through his 21st season with the organization. Such stability is unusual in the front office of an NFL team and is a big plus for the football fans of Mid-America. We look forward to the Chiefs continuing to be a competitive team within the NFL.”
Peterson enters his 17th season as Kansas City’s top executive in 2005 after originally joining the Chiefs in December of ‘88. During Peterson’s tenure, Kansas City has employed just three different head coaches and has finished first or second in the AFC West 11 times. Over that 16-year span, the Chiefs made eight playoff appearances, won four AFC West titles and reached the only AFC Championship Game in team history. In the 17 seasons prior to Peterson’s arrival, the Chiefs made just one playoff appearance and enjoyed just four winning seasons, while working under the direction of six different head coaches. During Peterson’s 24 seasons as a pro football executive, squads whose personnel operations he has overseen have produced 18 winning records and have made the playoffs 15 times, a span that dates back to ‘77 when Peterson served as Director of Player Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition to his NFL tours of duty in Kansas City and Philadelphia, Peterson also served as the President and General Manager of the USFL’s Stars. During that league’s three-season run from ‘83-85, the Stars compiled a league-best 48-13-1 overall record, won the final two USFL titles after reaching the league’s first championship game. Under Peterson’s leadership, the Chiefs and their fans have created one of the league’s most impressive homefield advantages. Kansas City has sold out 117 consecutive contests at Arrowhead — including five postseason games — dating back to the club’s ‘91 regular season opener. Since the ‘95 season, Denver is the only AFC club that has a better home record than the 58-22 (.725) ledger produced by Kansas City at Arrowhead. The Chiefs have gone 13-3 three times under Peterson’s tenure (’95, ‘97 and 2003), boasting 8-0 regular season marks at Arrowhead each of those years. The team’s national popularity has also grown tremendously over the past 16 years. Kansas City has been among the NFL leaders in merchandise sales, national-television appearances (71 times, including 25 on ABC’s Monday Night Football, the past 12 years) and international exposure (four American Bowl appearances since ‘90). Moreover, in 2004, the team registered season ticket holders from an amazing 47 different states.
“The Chiefs organization is fortunate to be able to retain the services of a proven leader like Carl for an additional four years,” Clark Hunt stated. “Throughout his tenure with the team, Carl has set a high standard in the management of both the business and football sides of the organization. With Carl’s leadership, we look forward to maintaining the Chiefs reputation as one of the best-run franchises in the NFL and providing our loyal fans with many exciting Sunday afternoons.” “It has been my distinct honor and privilege to work for the Hunt family these past years,” Peterson noted in receiving the extension. “I sincerely appreciate their confidence and loyalty and will continue to work diligently to give them and the fans of Kansas City my best efforts. It is my continued goal to win a world championship for the Hunt family and for the greatest fans in pro football.”
Peterson serves on the National Boards for the Maxwell Football Club and Pop Warner Little Scholars Organization. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Pop Warner and is a member of the International World President’s Organization. He also serves on the Board of The Third and Long Foundation, which was founded by the late Derrick Thomas. In addition, Peterson serves on the following NFL Committees: NFL Management Council/C.E.C. Senior Executive Group, College and Pro Relations, NFL Europe League Working Executives and the NFL Youth Football Funding Board. Peterson was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 with a class that included the likes of longtime Chiefs DE Art Still and former two-sport All-Star Bo Jackson. Spearheaded by the efforts of Peterson and his wife, Lori, the Chiefs organization (players, coaches and front office staff) has raised a net of over $12 million for local charities since ‘98.
Peterson’s current contract was set to expire following the 2005 season. With this four-year contract extension, the team will retain Peterson’s services through the 2009 season.
Lamar Hunt, whose 45 years of association with the team qualifies him as a senior observer of Chiefs football said: “Carl was instrumental in leading the Chiefs back to the top echelon of the NFL after joining the organization in December of 1988. This new contract will carry through his 21st season with the organization. Such stability is unusual in the front office of an NFL team and is a big plus for the football fans of Mid-America. We look forward to the Chiefs continuing to be a competitive team within the NFL.”
Peterson enters his 17th season as Kansas City’s top executive in 2005 after originally joining the Chiefs in December of ‘88. During Peterson’s tenure, Kansas City has employed just three different head coaches and has finished first or second in the AFC West 11 times. Over that 16-year span, the Chiefs made eight playoff appearances, won four AFC West titles and reached the only AFC Championship Game in team history. In the 17 seasons prior to Peterson’s arrival, the Chiefs made just one playoff appearance and enjoyed just four winning seasons, while working under the direction of six different head coaches. During Peterson’s 24 seasons as a pro football executive, squads whose personnel operations he has overseen have produced 18 winning records and have made the playoffs 15 times, a span that dates back to ‘77 when Peterson served as Director of Player Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition to his NFL tours of duty in Kansas City and Philadelphia, Peterson also served as the President and General Manager of the USFL’s Stars. During that league’s three-season run from ‘83-85, the Stars compiled a league-best 48-13-1 overall record, won the final two USFL titles after reaching the league’s first championship game. Under Peterson’s leadership, the Chiefs and their fans have created one of the league’s most impressive homefield advantages. Kansas City has sold out 117 consecutive contests at Arrowhead — including five postseason games — dating back to the club’s ‘91 regular season opener. Since the ‘95 season, Denver is the only AFC club that has a better home record than the 58-22 (.725) ledger produced by Kansas City at Arrowhead. The Chiefs have gone 13-3 three times under Peterson’s tenure (’95, ‘97 and 2003), boasting 8-0 regular season marks at Arrowhead each of those years. The team’s national popularity has also grown tremendously over the past 16 years. Kansas City has been among the NFL leaders in merchandise sales, national-television appearances (71 times, including 25 on ABC’s Monday Night Football, the past 12 years) and international exposure (four American Bowl appearances since ‘90). Moreover, in 2004, the team registered season ticket holders from an amazing 47 different states.
“The Chiefs organization is fortunate to be able to retain the services of a proven leader like Carl for an additional four years,” Clark Hunt stated. “Throughout his tenure with the team, Carl has set a high standard in the management of both the business and football sides of the organization. With Carl’s leadership, we look forward to maintaining the Chiefs reputation as one of the best-run franchises in the NFL and providing our loyal fans with many exciting Sunday afternoons.” “It has been my distinct honor and privilege to work for the Hunt family these past years,” Peterson noted in receiving the extension. “I sincerely appreciate their confidence and loyalty and will continue to work diligently to give them and the fans of Kansas City my best efforts. It is my continued goal to win a world championship for the Hunt family and for the greatest fans in pro football.”
Peterson serves on the National Boards for the Maxwell Football Club and Pop Warner Little Scholars Organization. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Pop Warner and is a member of the International World President’s Organization. He also serves on the Board of The Third and Long Foundation, which was founded by the late Derrick Thomas. In addition, Peterson serves on the following NFL Committees: NFL Management Council/C.E.C. Senior Executive Group, College and Pro Relations, NFL Europe League Working Executives and the NFL Youth Football Funding Board. Peterson was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 with a class that included the likes of longtime Chiefs DE Art Still and former two-sport All-Star Bo Jackson. Spearheaded by the efforts of Peterson and his wife, Lori, the Chiefs organization (players, coaches and front office staff) has raised a net of over $12 million for local charities since ‘98.
