"Encouraged by the Chiefs' success during the season's final three games, Romeo Crennel said he would continue to call the defenses as their head coach.

"The last three games I remained the defensive coordinator and … it worked pretty (well)," Crennel said during an interview Thursday on SiriusXM NFL Radio.

Crennel replaced the fired Todd Haley as interim coach for those three games but continued to serve as defensive coordinator. Over those three games, the Chiefs were second in the league in scoring and passing defense and third in total defense.

Crennel also indicated he would like to retain the rest of the defensive coaching staff. The staff includes Anthony Pleasant (defensive line), Gary Gibbs and Adam Zimmer (linebackers), Emmitt Thomas (secondary) and Otis Smith (defensive assistant).

"'I do like the defensive staff I have working with me," Crennel said. "We work very well together. That's a pretty good combination and probably I'll keep that going forward to see if we can continue to make it work.""