Now in his 6th consecutive AFC Identify sport, Andy Reid is making up for misplaced time after suffering to recover from the hump throughout his decade and alter in Philadelphia. The venerable Chiefs trainer is a virtuoso playcaller who has shepherded Kansas Town to 3 Tremendous Bowls, two Lombardi Trophies and has them at the verge of a fourth Tremendous Bowl. Patrick Mahomes is chasing his personal Brady ghosts, however Reid is the brains in the back of the operation. It took some time, however as Invoice Belichick lobbies for a brand new activity the place he’ll must broaden a quarterback, Reid has in spite of everything built his soccer utopia.
The Chiefs offense will have entered its McNabb years. Kansas Town’s divestment in receivers in the course of the draft bears a resemblance to Philadelphia fielding practice-squad our bodies at receiver for years. Mahomes is throwing to an collection of stone-handed receivers, a rookie in Rashee Rice, and a sunsetting Travis Kelce. This time, Reid has a quarterback able to uplifting their makeshift offense.
Reid is a diamond who has shined at the box via a couple of generations. From Don Shula to Belichick, Vince Lombardi, Invoice Walsh, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Noll, John Madden, and Tom Landry, dynasties was a tender trainer’s sport.
Belichick started profitable Tremendous Bowls with Brady when he had 51 journeys across the solar on his ledger. At the verge of his 72nd birthday, it is still observed if Belichick has it in him to construct any other winner. Pete Carroll is the Patron Saint of Past due Bloomers, getting canned through the Patriots and being employed because the closing possibility for a death USC program as he kicked off his early 50s. Reid received his first ring with Mahomes 4 years in the past on the age of 61.
Now, he’s the top of a soccer chimera in his 60s. Maximum coaches’ careers top early. For comparability’s sake, Noll coached the Steelers earlier than his fiftieth birthday. Don Shula is the nearest Reid analog, achieving Tremendous Bowls in 3 consecutive years in his early 40s and spearheading the primary undefeated season on the age of 42 with the ‘72 Dolphins. At age 50, Shula reinvented himself to suit the strengths of Dan Marino. However even he retired with out profitable any other Tremendous Bowl earlier than he was once eligible to assemble Social Safety advantages.
Landry advanced the 4-3 protection whilst he was once nonetheless in his 30s and received the majority of Dallas’ NFL Championships, Tremendous Bowls and NFC titles earlier than he’d grew to become 60. Vince Lombardi gave up the ghost on the age of 57 earlier than he may broaden any momentum in his 2d forestall with Washington, however he did sufficient to have the Tremendous Bowl’s prestigious trophy named after him. Joe Gibbs was once a key stakeholder within the creation of the Air Coryell offense in his 30s, then retired for the primary time with 3 Tremendous Bowls on his resume on the age of 52. Invoice Walsh is the oldest training gem, taking up the Niners on the age of 48, then received 4 titles over the process a decade.
Reid, 65, may theoretically stay profitable into his 70s. Over in a unique league, Greg Popovich has been rejuvenated after the San Antonio Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama. Mahomes has been similarly instrumental to Reid’s legacy. His training high is surpassing Landry’s ranges of longevity and Mahomes has emerged because the golden price tag who can push him into the Belichick tier
Position Reid in a pickle and he’ll scheme his manner out. Certain, he’s had some sport control miscues through the years, however his flair for crafting explosive offenses outweighs his defects. Belichick has a possibility to most sensible the all time wins listing, however Reid is nipping at his heels. Reid is 44 victories in the back of Belichick within the regular-season win column. Together with the postseason, Belichick’s margin over Reid extends to 51 wins, however Mahomes and Reid are gaining floor temporarily.
Reid already has one merit over Belichick: He’s by no means failed at any forestall as a head trainer. His simplest dropping seasons have been a 5-11 marketing campaign throughout his inaugural season on the helm of Philadelphia and his 4-12 post-Dream Staff debacle.
At two stops, he’s gathered profitable percentages above 60 p.c and turn into essentially the most respected trainer in each franchises’ histories. Belichick nonetheless has a failed tenure in Cleveland on his resume, and the 4 post-Brady seasons he persevered clutter his legacy. Each Reid and Belichick are averaging a slightly greater than 11 wins a season, however the latter has coached 4 extra seasons and is six years older. Reid additionally has his golden price tag to a late-career surge.
By way of then, Reid might be the primary septuagenarian head trainer of a Tremendous Bowl champion and proceed making an attack at the document books and Belichick’s legacy.
Observe DJ Dunson on X: @cerebralsportex
