Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was in Arizona this week, attending the NFL's owners meetings, which concluded Wednesday. During his media session, coach Reid addressed many topics, some of which we referenced below, with the questions he was asked, followed by his response. Included in today's discussion, coach Reid's days in Philadelphia, his family and what he likes about KC.
FAMILY/PERSONAL
Do you think it would have benefitted your family to take a year off and be with them?
"I looked at all that. Everybody was doing pretty good with it and heading in the right direction. I actually hired one of my sons to coach with us. He had been coaching at Temple, and my youngest guy, he's playing at Temple. My two girls, they're going in the right direction. One is a manager and graduated from college, and the other one is in college. Everybody kind of had their own thing that they were doing. My wife and I are empty nesters for the first time. We decided it was a good thing to do."
You said sometimes change is good regarding players. How about for yourself, is a change of scenery a good thing for you? Do you have more peace of mind now?
"More peace of mind? It's different, it's fresh and you're right, I think change can be good at times. I had a great time in Philadelphia. I love the people there, I loved the experience (and) we won a lot of games. But there is a time and place that change can be good. I think it's going to be great for Philadelphia and hopefully it's good for the Kansas City Chiefs."
Do you wake up and feel like there is less of a fishbowl around you than when you were in Philadelphia?
"I'm not going to say that. It'd be wrong to do that. My general philosophy is I feel very fortunate to even coach in the National Football League, have that opportunity, and then to coach at a great place like the Eagles. I appreciated and respected every minute of that. Time is a crazy deal. You run your course and you move on. I wish nothing but the best for the Eagles and Kansas City."
Why did you dive back into football shortly after your son's death?
"The people that knew my son, kind of understood that. He would have kicked me in the butt if I didn't. I thought it was the right thing to do. I felt that from his standpoint, it was the right thing to do. This is what we do. We do work and I understood all that. I'm glad I had a good religious foundation and a good wife."
PHILLY DAYS
Is it hard to make the break emotionally, after 14 years with one team?
"It is. It's obviously tough. The toughest part is leaving the kids and some of the coaches that either stay or move on, so that's the toughest part. The friends that you've made, that's also part of it. But sometimes change can be good. I thought we were at that point. I think it will be good for the Eagles. I think they went about it the right way. They got themselves a good football coach and they'll coach those players and do a good job with them. Hopefully I'm saying the same thing about the Chiefs. I think they're in a good spot. Both parties will be good."
How's it going to be when you go back there?[
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"I don't know. We'll see when we get there. I think once you get down on the field and you get going, it's a football game. That's how it works. I'm sure the fans will appreciate it. I'm sure they'll welcome me back."
How does Kansas City compare to Philadelphia?
"I've been to a few places. All three of them, the fans are passionate. They all go about it in different ways. The bottom line is that, they're passionate. I sense that in Kansas City. I played there enough to know that when that team is rocking, Arrowhead Stadium is rocking, that's a tough place to play. They went through and put a quarter of a million dollar renovation project together for it, a few years back and they kept the integrity. When you get the product together, the winning football team, you get the fans back in there rocking and rolling, that's a tough place."
What was it about Kansas City that attracted you?
"We sit in these meetings, here where we sit with the owners, and you keep your eyes open and you evaluate, I think, as you go through it. I've developed relationships with the Hunt family, the Rooney family, the Mara's. I remember sitting there thinking that if there was ever an opportunity to work – if it ever came to that – with one of those families, that would be a great thing."
How has it been after such a quick transition?
"When you make that change, there's no lull time. You're all in. It's fast moving. It's hour after hour, after hour, after hour. Normally, the families don't move for a little bit, so you've got this condensed time that transitions that thing, like instantly."
To view the Andy Reid photo gallery, click coach's photo.
