Andy Reid Talks Eagles, Brandon Graham Says he is Indebted to the KC Coach
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid will sit atop a riser in Phoenix Monday night and be asked all sorts of questions.
Some of them will even have to do with facing the Eagles, an organization that gave him his first crack at being a head coach, a place where he spent 14 years.
During his 14-year tenure with the Eagles, he compiled the best win total (120), winning percentage (.609), and playoff victory total (10) in team history. He captured six division titles with five trips to the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl appearance.
He coached current Eagles players Jason Kelce, Brandon Graham, and Fletcher Cox.
Of Graham and Cox in particular, Reid said: “I’m very proud of those guys. I know them personally, so I’m proud. They are tough guys, tough-minded, they’re good leaders, they’re fun to be around and they’re good football players.”
Graham spent three seasons playing for Reid before Reid was fired after the 2012 season.
“Coach Reid was always a real dude,” said Graham. “He always handled his business. He didn’t talk much as far as team meetings - five minutes and we were in and out.
“That’s the difference between him and Nick. Nick be in here about 20 to 30 minutes, then coach Reid it was like five minutes and you’re done – the order of business is this, now go ahead and start your day.
“Then for me, him drafting me. I’m always indebted to him because him taking a chance on me and this organization when he was here. Old-school, got a lot of coaches under him that have similar styles on how they run their programs, and I think he’s the OG of all the coaches.”
Here’s more of what Reid had to say about the Eagles before flying to Arizona on Sunday.
Q: On Playing the Eagles and if it makes it more time-consuming off the field knowing you are playing them in a Super Bowl:
REID: “They’re a really good football team and so, I think that’s where the energy goes because really when it’s kickoff, you’re playing that team. It’s the players that you’re going against and the coaches and so the uniform, (and) all that’s not where your mind’s at.
“Your minds at making sure you have a solid game plan and that you come out and you can perform to the best of our ability. That’s I think where the major focus goes, and you try to – it doesn’t matter who you’re playing – you try to blank out all the hype that goes with the game.
Q: Having coached both Eagles C Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce, we can see their personalities a little bit on the podcast but what stands out as far as similarities and differences?
REID: Travis is the little brother and I think big brother (Jason Kelce) probably protected him so Travis could do some crazy things and he probably talked him from jumping off a ladder into the raked-up leaves once or twice, you know (laughter)?
“But, listen, they’re both, at heart, very competitive and compassionate, I think is the biggest thing. They care and they care about people, and they care about their game, their trade, and their podcast it looks like it’s unbelievable.
"They’ve got a good mesh there and a good relationship between the two of them. I think Travis has grown up a lot. I think Jason came in probably more mature – big brother. And Travis was a little more immature but he’s really grown and (is) a good person.”
Q: Can you elaborate on your mentioning to Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie that it was time for him to make a change when your contract was expiring at the end of 2012 in Philadelphia?
REID: “It was 14 years, so that’s a long time to be someplace and they were 14 great years, I loved every minute of it. (Eagles Chairman and CEO) Jeffrey Lurie is a phenomenal owner and did a great job for me, my family, everything.
"But it got to that point. They needed – I thought it would be good, and Jeffrey felt this way, would it be good for them and would it be good for me. And I appreciated his feeling on that.
"And we left with a ton of respect for each other. I think he does a heck of a job. (Eagles Executive Vice President/General Manager) Howie Roseman was also a part of that – he was involved. And I’m so happy for him. I don’t think he gets near enough credit for what he’s been able to do for that team – and replenishing.
“I love Philadelphia, love the city. I’ve been blessed, blessed to be in three phenomenal places in the NFL. And I’m loving every minute in Kansas City.”
Ed Kracz is the publisher of SI.com’s Fan Nation Eagles Today and co-host of the Eagles Unfiltered Podcast. Check out the latest Eagles news at www.SI.com/NFL/Eagles or www.eaglesmaven.com and please follow him on Twitter: @kracze.
