Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce After Super Bowl LVIII Win: Andy Reid Is the GOAT
For the third time in five seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions. That puts not only the team itself in a historically favorable position, but it adds to the legacies of multiple players and coaches alike.
Head coach Andy Reid is one of the individuals who added to his already impressive resume on Sunday. With Kansas City's Super Bowl LVIII victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Reid now has three rings in his illustrious coaching career. All three have come as a member of the Chiefs, which speaks to just how much success he's had overall. Reid won a staggering 130 regular-season and 10 playoff games with the Philadelphia Eagles, reaching the Super Bowl but not finishing the job. His time in Kansas City has blown that out of the water.
Since turning 60, all Reid has known is playing in the Super Bowl or conference championship game. With title No. 3 clinched, his players are giving the future Hall of Famer his flowers. Speaking to the media on Sunday night, quarterback Patrick Mahomes said Reid's the best coach ever.
"I mean, he's one of the best coaches of all time," Mahomes said. "I believe he's the best coach of all time. I know he doesn't have the trophies yet and I have a lot of respect for some of those great coaches. But the way he's able to navigate every single team he has, continue to have success no matter where he's at and for me, he brings out the best of me because he lets me be me. I think that's important — he doesn't try to make me anyone else. I don't think I'd be the quarterback I am if I didn't have Coach Reid being my head coach. Other than that, he wants you to be the best person you can be and that's something I think is truly special."
Time and time again, Mahomes has reiterated that he landed in a perfect situation. Paired up with Reid and tight end Travis Kelce, the culture and infrastructure were already there for him to thrive. Six seasons later, after sitting for almost all of his rookie campaign in 2017, Mahomes is a two-time NFL MVP, three-time champ and a Super Bowl MVP three times over. That's just the tip of the iceberg as far as his accomplishments are concerned. To say Reid's played a small role in that would be a massive understatement.
Mahomes isn't the only one who's benefitted from Reid's guidance and tutelage. There may not be a better example of that than tight end Travis Kelce, who was selected in the third round during Reid's first year with the organization. Now a decade-plus into his career, Kelce holds multiple franchise and NFL records and is a lock for the Hall of Fame. Reid has handled Kelce's passion with grace, even when the 34-year-old lets his emotions get the best of him. Speaking to the media, Kelce doubled down on what Mahomes said.
"I've got the greatest coach this game has ever seen," Kelce said. "He's unbelievable at not only dialing up plays and having everybody prepared, but he's one of the best leaders of men that I've ever seen in my life. He's helped me a lot with that, with channeling that emotion and channeling that passion. I owe my entire career to that guy and being able to control how emotional I get. I just love him, man."
Now a quarter of a century into his head coaching career, Reid has been around the sport of football for longer than any of his players have been alive. While there's been no shortage of recent speculation regarding a potential retirement, he doesn't seem interested in feeding into that. At 65, he's as excited and dialed in as ever to chase greatness. At this point, especially after a third championship, the incentive is still there for him to keep climbing the leaderboards.
Now the fifth head coach ever to capture three or more titles, Reid is playing with house money. He's very clearly an all-time great. In his players' book, however, he's the all-time great.
