Andy Reid has put together a decorated career over his quarter-century as a head coach in the NFL. In an offseason that already saw legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban retire and Pete Carroll move out of the lead role with the Seattle Seahawks, could Reid soon be the latest longtime coach to step away?
Is Andy Reid Nearing Retirement?
Reid, who began his coaching career all the way back in 1982 as a graduate assistant at BYU, isn’t getting any younger with his 66th birthday approaching in March. He’s a few years younger than Saban and Carroll, however, who are each 72 years old.
Reid worked his way up as an offensive line coach in the collegiate ranks, then an assistant at a variety of positions in the NFL before earning the Philadelphia Eagles head coaching job in 1999.
Reid has accomplished plenty across his decorated coaching career, winning a pair of Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs and making it to two more, one apiece in Kansas City and Philadelphia. He has amassed a combined career record of 281-160-1 across his 25 seasons as a head coach, including a 23-16 mark in the playoffs.
Given those accomplishments, it would seem Reid doesn’t have much left to prove as a coach.
Still, when he was asked about potential retirement ahead of Kansas City’s playoff opener against the Miami Dolphins, Reid said it’s not something he has considered at this point.
“I haven’t even thought about that,” Reid said. “I’m thinking about one thing. I figured that would come up when you guys were asking these questions because I’m old — but not that old.”
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Rumors have continued around whether he might ultimately call it quits after the season, however.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio added a bit more fuel to the fire on Thursday when he went on the Zach Gelb Show on CBS Sports and said that the Chiefs may at least have the possibility of Reid’s retirement after the season “on their radar screen.”
“I think there’s reason to believe the Chiefs have the possibility on their radar screen,” Florio said. “We’ll find out when the season ends. A lot of times, a guy keeps his mouth shut until it’s all said and done. He doesn’t want to be the story, he doesn’t want to be the focal point, he doesn’t want it to be the issue.
“Ever since I caught wind of the possibility that the Chiefs are bracing for Reid leaving, not saying he will, but I think there’s reason to believe the Chiefs have it on the radar screen.”
In the event Reid did retire, the job would instantly be coveted across the league for a chance to work with superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has helped lead Kansas City to historic success the last few seasons.
Time will tell whether this year will be it for Reid, but the end of his coaching career could soon be here.
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