As with anything in life that lasts 14 years, there was some good and some bad in Andy Reid’s long tenure as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.
There has been plenty of discussion of the bad. Today we are here to talk about the good.
So on Andy Reid Appreciation Day, here are the 34 best moments from Reid’s time with the Eagles:
The day that started it all. Owner Jeffrey Lurie deserves credit for making what was without question a risky hire, bringing in a quarterback coach as opposed to a former head coach or coordinator.
Reid was successful during his time in Philadelphia for a number of reasons, but his decision to hire Jim Johnson is arguably at the top. During the years Reid’s offense struggled, Johnson’s defense kept the Eagles in games they had no business either being in or winning.
This wasn’t a big event at the time, but proved to be a big one in the history of the franchise, as it continued to develop the relationship between Reid and Pederson. Maybe the Eagles don’t win the Super Bowl in 2017 if Reid doesn’t sign Pederson in 1999.
One of the biggest moments in the history of the franchise. Reid went against what the fans wanted and picked his franchise quarterback, a selection that would take the Eagles from a middle-of-the-pack, struggling franchise to one of the elite teams in the league.
The Reid era did not get off to a great start, with the Eagles going 0-4 to begin the 1999 season. Reid got his first win against their biggest opponent, however, beating the Dallas Cowboys at Veterans Stadium, 13-10, to move to 1-4.
This game didn’t catapult them to the playoffs, and it wasn’t especially impressive offensive performance, but it was the first of 92 games that McNabb and Reid would win together with the Eagles.
The Eagles finished the 1999 season at 5-11, but ended it with two-straight wins over the New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams. The wins at the end of the season allowed Reid to finish his first year as head coach on a high note, and the momentum carried into the following season.
This is perhaps the signature win of Reid’s time with the team. Known as the “pickle juice game”, this dominating win started with an onside kick and was won by Duce Staley running all over the Cowboys. This was a statement win from the Eagles — they had arrived and were ready to compete.
The Eagles scored 13 points in the 4th quarter, and then three in overtime to beat Cowboys 16-13. They were 5-4 heading in to the game and almost fell to 5-5. Instead the win catapulted them to an 11-5 finish and a trip to the playoffs.
Back in the playoffs, the 21-3 win over Tampa Bay at home gave the Eagles their first playoff win since 1995, and was a clear sign that this team was heading in the right direction with Reid as the head coach.
This season was a bit more rocky than many remember, but the Eagles’ 24-21 win over the Giants in Week 16 clinched Reid’s first division title and knocked the Giants out of the postseason. David Akers kicked a game-winning field goal with seven seconds left.
The Eagles’ playoff run started with a win over the Buccaneers — again — and continued with a win on the road in Chicago. This game will always be remembered for Hugh Douglas slamming Bears quarterback Jim Miller to the ground.
Much like the 2001 season, the 2002 season didn’t get off to a great start, as the Eagles went 3-2 in their first five games. A week 7 win over Tampa Bay, 20-10, started a stretch where the Eagles would win 9-of-10 games.
One of the most memorable moments of McNabb’s career, Reid’s starting quarterback stayed in the game despite a broken ankle, throwing four touchdowns in a win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Reid’s ability to win with backup quarterbacks during his time with the Eagles was impressive, and it started in San Francisco on Monday Night Football. The 49ers were 7-3 entering the game, but the Eagles went on the road and won 38-17. Both Koy Detmer, who started, and AJ Feely threw touchdown passes.
With A.J. Feely starting, Reid’s Eagles beat Washington 34-21 to move to 11-3 and clinch their second-straight NFC East title — something no other team in the division has done since.
Trailing 10-7, running back Brian Westbrook returned a punt 84-yards with just over a minute remaining in the game, handing the Eagles’ a win that improved their record to 3-3 instead of 2-4. It was the first of nine-straight wins.
Reid’s Eagles beat Washington 31-7 on Saturday night to clinch the division. Reid continually winning the NFC East was kind of taken for granted at the time, but the Eagles not winning two in a row since Reid left puts into perspective what an accomplishment Reid continually dominating the division was.
Trailing 17-14, McNabb hits receiver Freddie Mitchell for a 28-yard gain on 4th-and-26, setting up the game-tying field goal. Akers would win it in overtime to send the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game.
After years of having fans scream for an upgrade at receiver, Reid and the Eagles finally listened, trading for Terrell Owens in a deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
Owen’s first game with the Eagles couldn’t have gone better, as the Eagles beat Giants 31-17, and the team’s new No. 1 receiver caught three touchdowns. Like the team’s win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 to start the 2000 season, this was a statement win by the Eagles.
Owens caught an 11-yard pass from McNabb with just under 10 minutes to play, giving the Eagles a 15-3 lead over the Baltimore Ravens that turned into a 15-10 win. Owens mocked Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis after his game-sealing touchdown catch.
This game started with a 59-yard touchdown from McNabb to Owens, and was quickly put away as the Eagles scored 28 second-quarter points. Lito Sheppard ended it with a 101-yard interception return for a touchdown. The win proved how special the Eagles were that season and cemented that they were a favorite to win the Super Bowl.
After three-straight losses in the NFC Championship game, Reid’s Eagles beat Atlanta 27-10 for their first trip to Super Bowl.
Entering the game at 5-6, the Eagles were starting Jeff Garcia and their season was in danger of coming to an end for the second year in a row without a trip to the playoffs. Garcia threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-24 win that required the Eagles to score 13 fourth-quarter points.
Merry Christmas, Philadelphia. The Eagles win 23-7 to clinch a playoff spot with Jeff Garcia at quarterback. The Eagles ended up clinching the NFC East before they took the field in Week 17, as the Detroit Lions beat the Dallas Cowboys to end their season.
Back in the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl loss, the Eagles beat the Giants 23-20 in the Wild Card round with Garcia at quarterback. Akers kicked a 38-yard field goal to win the game as time expired.
After a rough few seasons, this game was arguably the first big win with McNabb at quarterback since the Super Bowl season. After being benched the previous week, McNabb helped lead the Eagles to a 48-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals. It was the start of a stretch where they would win four-of-five games, going from 5-5-1 to 9-6-1.
One of the best moments in franchise history, the Eagles started the day with almost no chance of going to the playoffs, but went to sleep with a postseason spot clinched.
After clinching a last-second playoff spot, the Eagles went into Minnesota and beat the Vikings 26-14. The Eagles dominated the game, taking a 16-7 lead on a 44-yard interception return by Asante Samuel, and putting the game away on a 71-yard screen pass from McNabb to Westbrook — a signature play during Reid’s time as head coach.
The Eagles’ playoff run continued with a win in the Meadowlands. Reid struggled to get past the Giants early on in his career, especially in big games, but that wasn’t an issue for a red-hot Eagles team in 2009.
This was the beginning of a new era for Reid, as he moved on McNabb and briefly had Kevin Kolb as his starting quarterback. That quickly changed, however, as Michael Vick came in for an injured Kolb in a Week 1 game against the Packers. The Eagles didn’t win the game, but it was clear they had something special with Vick. Reid sticks with Vick, as they go on to win four-of-the-next five games.
Facing McNabb, the Eagles went into Washington and embarrassed their former quarterback. It was one of the best games of Vick’s career, as he threw for four touchdowns and ran for two more.
The last exciting and meaningful win in Reid’s time with the Eagles came on a last-second punt return by DeSean Jackson, capping off an amazing comeback against the Giants. The Eagles seemed destined to make another playoff run that season.