When reflecting on the success the Chiefs have had over the last half-decade, there are two people who stand out: Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
Sure, Kansas City’s success has gone way beyond those two. But they’ve been at the front of it all as the Chiefs prepare for their third straight Super Bowl appearance Sunday against the Eagles.
It was just over 10 years ago that the Chiefs fired Romeo Crennel and replaced him with Reid, whose contract hadn't been renewed by the Eagles after 14 years in Philly. The decision proved to be a shrewd one right from the jump. They went from 2-14 in 2012 to 11-5 in 2013, Reid’s first season.
They’ve missed the playoffs just once (2014) in Reid’s tenure, and beating his former team Sunday will only bolster his standing as one of the greatest head coaches in the game’s history.
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt told “Cody and Gold” on Radio Row that he looks at the hiring of Reid as a watershed moment for the franchise.
“With the benefit now of a decade having Andy as the head coach, I do reflect back on that as a real turning point for the franchise," Hunt said. "He came in, the job he did in Year 1 where we opened the season 9-0 with essentially the same roster that we had the year before when we only won a couple games (is) just a real testament to what a great Coach Andy is.
“Now, five straight AFC Championship Games and three Super Bowls. Credit goes to he and our general manager Brett Veach.”
Should the Chiefs walk away with a Lombardi Trophy this weekend, it arguably will be Reid’s finest work. Not only has his star quarterback not been 100 percent healthy, but Kansas City, especially on offense, had a lot of turnover in the offseason, and it hasn't missed a beat this season.
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