Andy Reid

Lore & Background

Reid began his professional coaching career with the Green Bay Packers, serving as an offensive assistant from 1992 to 1998 and was a member of the team that won Super Bowl XXXI. He held his first head coaching position with the Eagles in 1999, who became perennial postseason contenders under his leadership. Reid led the Eagles to nine playoff runs, six division titles, five NFC Championship Games (including four consecutive from 2001 to 2004), and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX. He was fired following the 2012 season, as the Eagles had missed the postseason for a second straight year. Hired as the head coach of the Chiefs in 2013, Reid helped revitalize the struggling franchise into the league's best. In 13 seasons with Kansas City, Reid has led the Chiefs to 11 postseason appearances, nine consecutive division titles, seven consecutive AFC Championship Games, five Super Bowl appearances (including three consecutive), and three Super Bowl titles. This included their first playoff victory since 1993 in the 2015 season, their first consecutive division titles in franchise history, and their first Super Bowl title in 50 years in Super Bowl LIV.

In Their Own Story

The stadium lights hummed overhead as Reid adjusted his headset, eyes scanning the gridiron through the night haze. He stood near the sideline, hoodie pulled tight against the chill, watching the quarterback signal out of the huddle. In this moment, years of film study and preparation crystallized into a single play call. There was no panic in his posture, only the calm certainty of a man who had been here before. The crowd roared as the ball snapped, but on the sideline, the focus remained absolute, waiting for the result that would define another chapter of history.

Reader's Guide

Reid was born in Los Angeles on March 19, 1958. He attended John Marshall High School and worked as a vendor at Dodger Stadium as a teenager. Reid first grew his mustache while sailing as a cadet aboard the TS Golden Bear during his time at the California Maritime Academy. Reid played youth sports in East Hollywood, at Lemon Grove Recreation Center, where Pete Arbogast, the radio announcer for the USC football team and play-by-play announcer for the Cincinnati Bengals, was one of his coaches. In 1971, at age 13, Reid was on Monday Night Football participating in the Punt, Pass, and Kick competition; he was already so large that he wore the jersey of Les Josephson, who was 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 207 pounds (94 kg). In high school, Reid played football for coach Hiroshi Tanaka while at Marshall and was named a scholar athlete, MVP, all-league, all-city and All-American. Reid was also named all-league in baseball as a pitcher. Reid played offensive tackle at Glendale Community College in Glendale, California, and planned to transfer to Stanford but injured his knee. While at Glendale, Reid was named all-conference and most inspirational player. BYU head coach LaVell Edwards wanted Reid's teammate and best friend Randy Tidwell, and also recruited Reid to the team to help persuade Tidwell to come to BYU. At BYU, Reid was a teammate of Jim McMahon and Tom Holmoe. Teammates recalled that Reid did not play often but was very analytical, closely studying Edwards and offensive coordinator Doug Scovil. BYU won the 1980 Holiday Bowl in his senior year. After graduating from BYU in 1981, Reid spent one year as a graduate assistant on the school's football coaching staff; colleagues included Scovil, Norm Chow, and Mike Holmgren. He spent the next nine years as an offensive line coach with four colleges. During his college coaching career, Reid was on the staff of several teams, including San Francisco State, Northern Arizona University, the University of Texas at El Paso, and the University of Missouri. In 1986, as coach at Northern Arizona, he coached Frank Pollack, who went on to play for six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Reid was hired by Holmgren at the Green Bay Packers in 1992, the same year quarterback Brett Favre became a member of that team, placing Reid in the Bill Walsh coaching tree. In 1995, he became the assistant offensive line and tight ends co

Did You Know?

• Reid first grew his mustache while sailing as a cadet aboard the TS Golden Bear at the California Maritime Academy.
• At age 13, Reid participated in the Punt, Pass, and Kick competition on Monday Night Football, wearing the jersey of Les Josephson.
• Reid was the first NFL head coach hired without first having served as an offensive or defensive coordinator.