By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Dick Vermeil is 67 with 11 grandchildren and poised to do what no other NFL coach has: Take a third organization to the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs coach is just one of four coaches to take two teams to the Super Bowl. The others are Bill Parcells (Giants, Patriots), Dan Reeves (Broncos, Falcons) and Don Shula (Colts, Dolphins).

Vermeil will bring his 9-0 Kansas City Chiefs to Cincinnati for a game Sunday against the Bengals.

Vermeil took the 1980 Eagles and 1999 Rams to the Super Bowl, seasons that ended with him being named NFL Coach of the Year.

And aside from the guaranteed victory from Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson, the Chiefs have plenty of motivation coming in.

Vermeil enters the game with a 99-91 regular season record in his 13th NFL season. He would become just the 27th coach in league history to win 100 regular season games.

He's also trying to lead his Chiefs to becoming just the ninth team since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to start a season with a 10-0 record.

Bengals rookie head coach Marvin Lewis considers Vermeil a role model.

"He has a plan and he sticks to it," Lewis said of Vermeil. "Then they keep adding the players that have the personality and the passion and the ability that he wants. He doesn't stray. He sticks with it."

Lewis has faced Vermeil once. Vermeil's 1999 Rams opened their Super Bowl title season with a 27-10 victory against Baltimore. Lewis was the Ravens defensive coordinator.

It's not difficult to see the parallels in what Vermeil has done and what Lewis is trying to do.

Bengals defensive end Duane Clemons played for Vermeil the previous two seasons.

"They relate to players slightly differently, but in some ways that are the same," Clemons said of Vermeil and Lewis. "Marvin's more in tune with our generation a little bit. Coach Vermeil, he kind of comes at you like a grandfather. Marvin's more of an uncle. But many coaches have won many different ways."

Said Lewis of Vermeil: "He provides an atmosphere that the guys enjoy playing in. He's demanding, yet they enjoy playing for him, and it comes to success."

Vermeil started his NFL coaching career in 1969 with the Los Angeles Rams, designated as the first special teams coach in league history. No wonder his special teams in Kansas City rank among the NFL's best with Dante Hall having returned two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns already this season.

Lewis also recalled how Vermeil would call his boss in Baltimore in 1999, then-rookie head coach Brian Billick, and offer encouragement.

"I know that since I've been here, my contact with him has always been so positive," said Lewis, who turned 45 on Sept. 23. "For young coaches like myself, he is a model."

Third-year magic

Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil is in position this season to take his third team to the playoffs in his third season with the franchise.

• Eagles: Returned them to playoffs in 1978 (his third year in Philadelphia) with a 9-7 record; it was the franchise's first winning season since 1966; he took Eagles to Super Bowl following 1980 season.

• Rams: Returned them to playoffs with 13-3 record in 1999 (his third season in St. Louis) for first time in 1989; he took Rams to Super Bowl title following the 1999 season.

• Chiefs: In his third year in Kansas City, Vermeil has the Chiefs at 9-0 and poised to return to the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

Ten in a row

Kansas City is attempting to become just the ninth team to start 10-0 since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. The Bengals would be victory No. 10 for the Chiefs on Sunday. The previous eight:

Team	Year	Cons. wins
Dolphins	1972	14
Vikings	1975	10
Dolphins	1984	11
Bears	1985	12
Giants	1990	10
49ers	1990	10
Redskins	1991	11
Broncos	1998	13

Source: Elias Sports Bureau

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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