KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dick Vermeil will retire after the season as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, one of his players told The Associated Press last night.

The player, who asked that his name not be used until after the announcement was official, said he was present when Vermeil broke the news during a team meeting earlier in the day.

The Kansas City Star first reported that Vermeil was leaving, quoting team official Lynn Stiles.

The 69-year-old Vermeil, the NFL's oldest head coach, could end his career today when the Chiefs (9-6) face Cincinnati in their final regular-season game. But Kansas City could still make the playoffs with a win and Pittsburgh loss to Detroit.

Stiles, who was at the meeting, said Vermeil appeared at peace with his decision.

"It's the right thing for him to do, for his family, and it's the right thing to do for the organization," said Stiles, the Chiefs' vice president for football operations

Vermeil's wife, Carol, told the AP that he was not available for comment.

Vermeil, in his fifth season with the Chiefs, took the 1980 Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl, and won the Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams after the 1999 season. He retired after the Super Bowl win and returned to the NFL in 2001 with the Chiefs.

He is 124-114 in 15 seasons in the NFL with Philadelphia (1976-82), St. Louis (1997-99) and Kansas City.