Andy Reid with the 2018 Chiefs had arguably the best team he has ever coached. And most of his fellow NFL head coaches think he was the best at his job this past season.
Reid is the Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year for 2018 based on the majority vote of those peers. This marks the first time he has won the award while in Kansas City; his previous two SN honors came in 2000 and ’02, both early in his coaching days in Philadelphia.
Winning for the third time overall, Reid joins an exclusive club. He ties Joe Gibbs, Chuck Knox and Mike Smith, now only one behind Don Shula. Reid also now has more SN awards than three of his current coaching brethren, as Bill Belichick, Sean Payton, Ron Rivera have each won twice.
Reid, 60, is the same age as Sporting News coordinator of the year Vic Fangio, who now will be coaching against him twice a year in AFC West as Denver's head coach. In his six years in Kansas City, Reid has gone 65-31 in the regular season (.677).
He is only 2-4 in the playoffs with the Chiefs, but getting to .500 in that regard before the team’s 2019 run is done would mean his first Super Bowl victory. That would come 14 years after his first and only Super Bowl appearance, with the 2004 Eagles.
Reid is trying to become the first coach to win both an NFC and AFC championship since John Fox did it with the Broncos and Panthers. Bill Parcells, with the Giants and Patriots, is the only other coach to do it.
When one measures Reid’s success and longevity, even without the ring, it becomes clear he has had a special 20-year career. His ability to adjust his offensive coaching style and passing playbook is what allowed him to guide second-year sensation Patrick Mahomes to one of the best seasons ever by a quarterback.
Reid’s previous two offensive coordinators, Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy, have learned well from him to become strong head coaches of their own. Reid's impact on his team and influence around the league are both immense. It's good to see other NFL coaches recognizing and appreciating that once again.
Coach of the Year voting results
1. Andy Reid, Chiefs
T2. Anthony Lynn, Chargers
T2. Matt Nagy, Bears
T2. Frank Reich, Colts
