The Kansas City Chiefs are entering year six under head coach Andy Reid and he’s earned the respect of both Chiefs Kingdom and the rest of the league. This solidified him as one of the top ten coaches, according to NFL.com.
We’re at the point of the offseason where all there really is to do is discuss certain rankings floating out there on the inter webs. The latest is a ranking of all 32 NFL head coaches and the Kansas City Chiefs head coach was put just outside the top five at number seven. The list was put together by Elliot Harrison of NFL.com and he had this to say about good ol’ Andy Reid,
"Reid has won consistently and has a large body of work, with the only true blemish on his record being the lack of a Super Bowl ring. The Chiefs head coach was able to shift Kansas City’s offense last season (with help from Matt Nagy), providing K.C. with both an effective ground game and vertical pass offense. Especially crucial when you factor in the sub-mediocre performance from the defense. Reid will have to change up the attack again with Patrick Mahomes taking over for a steady vet like Alex Smith."
While most Chiefs fans obviously consider Andy Reid to be one of the best coaches in the league, it is a bit surprising that he’s ranked this high on a consistent basis without having won a Super Bowl ring. As Harrison stated, it’s the one blemish on his resumé.
More from Kansas City Chiefs
- How to Bet on the Chiefs vs. Cardinals in NFL Preseason Week 2
- The 3 Most Intriguing Games on the Chiefs’ Schedule
- DraftKings + FanDuel Kansas Promos: INSTANT $150 Bonus Plus Two Chances to Win!
- Fan-Favorite Locks Up Chiefs Roster Spot With Stellar Preseason Performance
- DraftKings NFL Kansas Promo: Bet $5 on Chiefs vs. Saints, Win $150 Bonus!
Chiefs fans (and Eagles fans too) might throw in that he plays a little too conservative in tight games and plays not to lose rather than to win. We saw that firsthand in this year’s pathetic playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans. Teams up 21-3 at the half shouldn’t let up off the gas pedal, but that’s just what Reid and the Chiefs did in that one.
With all of that said, however, Chiefs fans know what it’s like to have an awful and/or inexperienced head coach, so most are thankful for Reid’s services. Since he’s been in Kansas City, the Chiefs have been playoff contenders and have had winning records every season. They’ve also won two AFC West titles and, even though some people have seemed to forget, they did win a playoff game in the 2015 season.
As for the rest of the list, no one will be shocked when I tell you that Bill Belichick was the number one ranked head coach. Five Super Bowl rings will do that for you.
The other five ahead of Reid are Sean Payton, Pete Carroll, Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, and Mike McCarthy. Every single coached ranked ahead of Andy Reid have won Super Bowls. Reid is just one of two coaches in the top ten without a Super Bowl victory (Mike Zimmer being the other one, at number ten).
I did have to chuckle at Raiders head coach Jon Gruden being put at number nine. Yes, Gruden has a Super Bowl ring, but he hasn’t coached in over a decade.
Back to Andy Reid though, the man is a terrific coach in the regular season, which earned him his spot on this list. If he could make it to, and finally win, a Super Bowl before his career is over, Reid will easily be one of the best coaches in the entire league. That’d even make him a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate.
Where would you rank Andy Reid at as far as best NFL head coaches go?