Romeo Crennel will be inducted into Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame

The Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, located in Louisville, has announced their six inductees for 2021 after being voted upon by a panel of 15 experts. Among this year’s honorees is a very familiar face for the K.C. Chiefs and fans of the National Football League in general: Romeo Crennel.

Crennel has been with the Houston Texans organization for the last several years, most recently in a Senior Advisor role  as leadership changes have been made following the firing of Bill O’Brien.

Previously, Crennel spent three years with the Chiefs franchise when then-general manager Scott Pioli attempted to create a sort of New England West with former Patriots at both coordinator positions for young head coach Todd Haley. Charlie Weis was brought in to be offensive coordinator while Crennel was made defensive coordinator. Most players swore by Crennel as a leader and teacher, but the results overall were poor during those years.

Romeo Crennel will be inducted into the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame.

Crennel was respected by Chiefs players enough to serve as an interim head coach after Haley was fired with only three games remaining in 2011. The Chiefs would rally to go 2-1 in those games and the enthusiasm for Crennel in the Chiefs locker room helped earn him the title of head coach outright. Unfortunately, he would win two games for the entire season in the single most miserable year in franchise history, one marked by the tragedy of Jovan Belcher’s murder-suicide.

Crennel began his coaching career back in 1970 as a defensive line assistant with Western Kentucky, and he’s earned five Super Bowl rings in his career with both the New York Giants and Patriots.

Crennel will be joined by five other Hall of Fame entrants in a ceremony to be held on September 7 at the Galt House Hotel.