Andy Reid was an unknown assistant in Green Bay when Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie jumped at the chance to hire Brett Favre’s positional coach to revitalize a ailing Philadelphia franchise.
A newspaper headline greeted Reid’s arrival with a headline that read, “Andy Who?”
Today everyone knows his name.
Reid won more games (130) in his 14 seasons with the Eagles than any other coach in franchise history. He led Philadelphia to nine playoff appearances, six division titles and five NFC championship games. But Reid failed to get a Super Bowl win and lost to the New England Patriots after the 2004 season. Because of this, he was underestimated by many Philly fans and reporters.
Reid eventually lost his job after only his third losing season in 2012 and immediately ended up in Kansas City. Finally, three years ago, he hoisted the elusive Vince Lombardi Trophy with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
By this time, the Eagles had won their first Super Bowl under then-coach Doug Pederson, one of Reid’s valued students.
Now Reid and the Eagles are fighting for the second title. The Chiefs (16-3) vs. the Eagles (16-3) is one of the most anticipated Super Bowl matchups in recent years.
Just don’t expect the stoic Reid to get emotional about it.
“If you really get down to it, they’re a really good football team and I think that’s where the energy goes because when it really kicks off, you’re playing against that team,” Reid said Monday.
“It’s the players you’re up against and the coaches and so the uniform (and) everything, don’t think about that. You need to make sure you have a solid game plan and that you can come out and do our best.
“That’s the main focus, I think, and you’re trying – it doesn’t matter who you’re playing against – you’re trying to block out all the hype that comes with the game. It’s quite a big game for everyone. … It’s a big, big deal. It’s the Super Bowl. But you try to hide that and make sure you get the game plan – which really matters – together.”
Nearly a quarter-century since he walked into an interview with the Eagles armed with a 6-inch binder containing notes on how to build a winning team, Reid has amassed Hall of Fame credentials. He has led the Chiefs to nine playoff appearances, including seven straight division titles in ten winning seasons. He’s been in five straight AFC title games and won three.
“It’s a true testament to the work that general manager Brett Veach and Coach Reid have done over the past few years,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said after the team won the division last month.
“We obviously have a lot of young players and we have some new players and Andy and his staff have done a great job of bringing them into the team. That’s just part of the National Football League. They really did a fantastic job and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Reid is a no-nonsense, old-school coach respected and loved by his players. He rarely throws anyone under the bus. Some of the criticism he received from Philly reporters concerned his unwillingness to challenge anyone and always take all the blame after losses and poor performances. “I have to do a better job” became the punchline.
Acting like a robot in press conferences, he always started off with injuries before handing them over to reporters for questions, saying, “The time is yours.”
At 64, Reid has become more of a lovable grandpa in Kansas City. He’s known for wearing floral shirts and making jokes about his weight. Ask Reid how he plans to celebrate a win and he’ll respond with a cheeseburger.
“I’m getting the biggest cheeseburger you’ve ever seen!” Reid said after the Chiefs defeated the 49ers in the Super Bowl on February 2, 2020.
After a win over the Seahawks on Dec. 24, Mahomes and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce presented Reid with a cheeseburger in a wrapped Nike shoebox as a Christmas present.
Players in the dressing room cheered and roared.
Reid smiled and exclaimed, “May you all have such an amazing gift.”
Another Lombardi Cup would be the best gift ever.
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AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this report.
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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi
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