Peterson signs on for four more years atop Chiefs

Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday said team president Carl Peterson has agreed to a four-year contract extension, keeping him at the team's administrative helm through the 2009 season.

The current contract for Peterson, who joined the club in December 1988, was scheduled to expire at the end of the 2005 season.

The Chiefs declined to release any information about Peterson's new contract.

Team owner Lamar Hunt focused on the triumphs during Peterson's 16 seasons as the Chief's leading executive -- eight playoff appearances, four AFC West titles and a trip to the AFC Championship in 1993. During the 17 years before Peterson, the team reached the playoffs once and had only four winning seasons.

''Carl was instrumental in leading the Chiefs back to the top echelon of the NFL,'' Hunt said in a written statement. ''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.''

Team officials also noted that the Chiefs have sold out 117 consecutive home games and are one of the top teams in the league for television appearances and merchandise sales.

But Peterson has also been a lightning rod for fan criticism after the Chiefs went 7-9 last season, finishing 31st in overall defense.

Before coming to the Chiefs, Peterson also served stints as director of player personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles and president and general manager of the USFL Stars.