Andy Reid Deserves Super Bowl Berth After Long Road Back
By Scott Rogust
The Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl bound after their comeback victory over the Tennessee Titans in Sunday's AFC Title Game. While many are happy for quarterback Patrick Mahomes or tight end Travis Kelce, one thing can be agreed upon:
Head coach Andy Reid absolutely deserves this Super Bowl berth.
Chiefs are AFC Champions.
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 19, 2020
Andy Reid has another shot at a Super Bowl ? pic.twitter.com/Qj7DZCT7wB
The last time Reid reached the penultimate game of the NFL season was 15 years ago, in Super Bowl XXXIX with the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite having a stacked offense boasting Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens, and Brian Westbrook, Reid succumbed to the New England Patriots and football mastermind Bill Belichick.
Many thought that Reid would get another chance to coach for the Lombardi Trophy shortly afterwards, but that wasn't the case. He's suffered numerous heartbreaks spanning his tenures in Philadelphia and Kansas City, often unable to get over the hump of Championship Sunday.
So happy for the guy. Best I ever had as a coach. That’s my coach ???? congratulations Andy Reid.. pic.twitter.com/CZ4GPk4WZv
— Donovan McNabb (@donovanjmcnabb) January 19, 2020
Just take a look for yourself:
- 2006: NFC Divisional Round loss to New Orleans Saints
- 2008: NFC Conference Championship loss to Arizona Cardinals
- 2009: NFC Wild Card Round loss to the Dallas Cowboys
- 2010: NFC Wild Card Round loss to the Green Bay Packers
- 2013: AFC Wild Card Round loss to Indianapolis Colts
- 2015: AFC Divisional Round loss to New England Patriots
- 2016: AFC Divisional Round loss to Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2017: AFC Wild Card Round loss to Tennessee Titans
- 2018: AFC Conference Championship loss to Patriots (overtime)
Andy Reid is going back to the Super Bowl 15 years later
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 19, 2020
Only coach in NFL history with a longer time in between Super Bowls: Dick Vermeil 19 years
Dick Vermeil got his. It’s time for Andy Reid to get his Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/CqtIOnwE8f
That's a lot of suffering for Reid, who holds the NFL record for most wins by a head coach who's never won the Super Bowl. No loss stings more than last year, where a slow start and questionable penalties gave the Patriots the win over the Chiefs in the AFC Title Game in KC.
Now, he's learned from his past mistakes and used it to his advantage. He even left all three second half timeouts on the board! That's a changed man right there!
What's more impressive than the Chiefs going to the Super Bowl?
— The Ringer (@ringer) January 19, 2020
Andy Reid did it with three timeouts left. pic.twitter.com/uQ8EC930sd
Make no bones about it: You should all be happy for Reid, a man who's gone through so much criticism in his long coaching career. With a win in Super Bowl LIV, even his harshest detractors will stand in applause once they see Reid hoist the Lombardi Trophy.