Eagles Owner Discusses Firing Current Chiefs Coach Andy Reid

He remains the winningest coach in Philadelphia's history.

In a Super Bowl replete with juicy storylines, few have loomed larger than the connection between Chiefs coach Andy Reid and the Eagles.

Reid, who coached Philadelphia from 1999-2012, is the winningest coach in Eagles history. His 130 wins are more than double the 63 wins of the coach in second place, two-time NFL champion Greasy Neale, who led Philadelphia from 1941-50.

However, the Eagles fired Reid after a 4–12 season in 2012. Kansas City moved to snap him up and the rest is history. It is a move that, in hindsight, draws a thoughtful reaction from Philadelphia owner Jeffrey Lurie.

"It was extremely difficult because I was personally extremely close with Andy,” Lurie told the Washington Post. “Obviously we were very, very successful together. He represented everything that I believe in."

Reid posted eight 10-win seasons in the City of Brotherly Love and steered the Eagles to the NFC title in 2004.

"I just think the best thing for Andy at the time — and I think his family probably thought the best thing for Andy at the time — was to have a different environment for his family at that moment in time," Lurie continued. "I always thought he’d be highly successful wherever he went. I credit the Chiefs for immediately realizing their opportunity. And they got a first-ballot Hall of Fame coach, in my opinion.”

As good as Reid was with Philadelphia, he has been even better in Kansas City, compiling a .722 win percentage in 10 seasons.


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Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .