Now in his sixth consecutive AFC Title sport, Andy Reid is making up for misplaced time after struggling to recover from the hump throughout his decade and alter in Philadelphia. The venerable Chiefs coach is a virtuoso playcaller who has shepherded Kansas Metropolis to 3 Tremendous Bowls, two Lombardi Trophies and has them on the verge of a fourth Tremendous Bowl. Patrick Mahomes is chasing his personal Brady ghosts, however Reid is the brains behind the operation. It took some time, however as Invoice Belichick lobbies for a brand new job the place he’ll must develop a quarterback, Reid has lastly constructed his soccer utopia.
The Chiefs offense might have entered its McNabb years. Kansas Metropolis’s divestment in receivers by way of the draft bears a resemblance to Philadelphia fielding practice-squad our bodies at receiver for years. Mahomes is throwing to an assortment 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 on the sector by way of a number of generations. From Don Shula to Belichick, Vince Lombardi, Invoice Walsh, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Noll, John Madden, and Tom Landry, dynasties was a younger coach’s sport.
Belichick started successful Tremendous Bowls with Brady when he had 51 journeys across the solar on his ledger. On the verge of his 72nd birthday, it stays to be seen if Belichick has it in him to construct one other winner. Pete Carroll is the Patron Saint of Late Bloomers, getting canned by the Patriots and being employed because the final possibility for a dying USC program as he kicked off his early 50s. Reid received his first ring with Mahomes four years ago on the age of 61.
Now, he’s the pinnacle of a soccer chimera in his 60s. Most coaches’ careers peak early. For comparability’s sake, Noll coached the Steelers earlier than his fiftieth birthday. Don Shula is the closest Reid analog, reaching Tremendous Bowls in three 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 fit the strengths of Dan Marino. But even he retired without winning another Super Bowl before he was eligible to collect Social Security benefits.
Landry developed the 4-3 defense while he was still in his 30s and won the bulk of Dallas’ NFL Championships, Tremendous Bowls and NFC titles earlier than he’d turned 60. Vince Lombardi handed away on the age of 57 earlier than he may develop any momentum in his second cease with Washington, however he did sufficient to have the Tremendous Bowl’s prestigious trophy named after him. Joe Gibbs was a key stakeholder within the creation of the Air Coryell offense in his 30s, then retired for the primary time with three Tremendous Bowls on his resume on the age of 52. Invoice Walsh is the oldest teaching gem, taking up the Niners on the age of 48, then received 4 titles over the course of a decade.
Reid, 65, may theoretically maintain successful into his 70s. Over in a special league, Greg Popovich has been rejuvenated after the San Antonio Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama. Mahomes has been equally instrumental to Reid’s legacy. His teaching prime is surpassing Landry’s ranges of longevity and Mahomes has emerged because the golden ticket who can push him into the Belichick tier
Place Reid in a pickle and he’ll scheme his approach out. Positive, he’s had some sport administration miscues over time, however his aptitude for crafting explosive offenses outweighs his defects. Belichick has an opportunity to high the all-time wins checklist, however Reid is nipping at his heels. Reid is 44 victories behind 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 shortly.
Reid already has one benefit over Belichick: He’s by no means failed at any cease as a head coach. His solely shedding seasons had been a 5-11 marketing campaign throughout his inaugural season on the helm of Philadelphia and his 4-12 post-Dream Team debacle.
At two stops, he’s collected successful percentages above 60 % and turn into essentially the most revered coach in each franchises’ histories. Belichick nonetheless has a failed tenure in Cleveland on his resume, and the 4 post-Brady seasons he endured muddle his legacy. Each Reid and Belichick are averaging a contact greater than 11 wins a season, however the latter has coached 4 extra seasons and is six years older. Reid additionally has his golden ticket to a late-career surge.
By then, Reid might be the primary septuagenarian head coach of a Tremendous Bowl champion and proceed making an assault on the document books and Belichick’s legacy.
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