Chiefs announce shakeup in player engagement
July 22nd, 2013 by Ric Hanson
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs have restructured their player engagement department less than a year after one of their players was involved in a murder-suicide near Arrowhead stadium. Kirsten Krug, the Chiefs’ vice president of administration, will oversee the department. She will work alongside B.J. Stabler, who has experience in crisis management.
Last season, Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend to death and then drove to the team’s practice facility. Belcher then shot himself in the head while general manager Scott Pioli, coach Romeo Crennel and assistant coach Gary Gibbs watched from the parking lot.
Chiefs president Mark Donovan said in a statement Monday the franchise worked with the NFL to restructure its player engagement department with ideas taken from around the league. The new-look department will utilize a team of external resources to help players and staff with mental, emotional and physical wellness, along with mentoring and career development.