KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — If Todd Haley looks across the field at Mike Tomlin on Sunday afternoon and feels a twinge of envy, could anybody blame him?



It does seem as though opportunity is served in silver goblets to some people, while others pick through shards and scraps.



Haley's grueling maiden voyage as a head coach in the NFL has been marked by failure, controversy, frustration and setback. He took over the woebegone Kansas City Chiefs, a franchise which had won only six games in two years, and it's been rough sailing for the former Steelers water boy.



But Tomlin stepped happily into Bill Cowher's shoes in Pittsburgh and found a perfect fit. He won the AFC North his first season and the Super Bowl his second.



Tomlin takes bows. Haley takes shots.



As his Chiefs (2-7) prepared to host the Steelers (6-3) on Sunday, Haley was being accused by various disgruntled fans of being ignorant and abusive, an arrogant hothead.



He has tried to meet the criticism calmly — a demeanor he acknowledges he doesn't always show when snarling at players.



"This is a hard job. It's a big job and I'm finding my way through it," Haley said. "I would hope that nobody thinks that I'm arrogant in going about the job. I'm fighting for my life, to be honest, and that's the way I feel each and every day.