Andy Reid did not remain jobless for too long. After a brutal Black Monday which saw several head coaches terminated, Reid was among the most likely to rebound the quickest. Now it’s official. Hot on the heels of the recent departure of GM Scott Pioli, Kansas City announced that they have reached an agreement that would bring in former Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid to lead the team. Reid, who was rumored to be seeking a coaching gig with both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Arizona Cardinals, had recently been thought to be leaning more heavily towards Kansas City. No details were listed on the contract itself, but attorneys are reviewing the terms and are expected to finalize it by Friday.
Though the GM position was thought to be a move to give Andy Reid more power within the organization, the GM position will not be vacant for very long. According to NFL.com writer Gregg Rosenthal “Reid has been planning a move to bring in former Browns GM Tom Heckert if he lands the job with KC.” Heckert and Reid both worked together in Philadelphia before Heckert bolted for an opportunity in Cleveland.
Reid, who has been coaching the Eagles since 1999, led Philly to the Playoffs 9 times. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Reid won 130 regular-season games and 10 Playoffs game in his time with the Eagles. For comparison, The Chiefs only managed to win 98 regular-season games while going winless in their 3 postseason appearances.
The last time the Chiefs won a Playoff game was in 1993. During that time, Michael Jordan retired to play baseball (before returning 17 months later to basketball), the last episode of “Friends” aired, Jurassic Park captivated audiences nationwide, and the #1 song on the charts was “Informer” by Snow. Clearly it was time to bring in a seasoned coach to lead KC to the Promise Land. While Reid is certainly a viable candidate, it is worth mentioning that the talent Reid was never ever to claim a Lombardi Trophy for the “City of Brotherly Love,” despite a plethora of talent.
Kansas City has dealt with perhaps the most tragic season in NFL History. From a disappointing 2-14 record, to the tragic murder-suicide by LB Jovan Belcher, to the firings of virtually all major front office personnel, it has been a year to forget in KC. Reid is the lone bright spot for Chiefs fans in the 2012-13 seasons. For the fifth time in six years, the Chiefs have finished the season with a losing record. With the first round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Reid and Heckert certainly have a chance to begin the rebuilding process and change the culture of one of the NFL’s most passionate fan bases.
