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Nick Foles will make his first start for the Chicago Bears on Sunday, where he’ll face the Indianapolis Colts and Frank Reich, the coach that helped make him the player he is today.
When speaking to reporters, Foles recalled how Reich was instrumental to his success during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run during the playoffs in 2017, where Reich focused on Foles’ strength and weaknesses and essentially built the offense around him.
“He was the one who really figured me out as a player,” Foles told reporters on Wednesday, “and realized that we had it all wrong. And they just threw some plays out there one day and they said ‘just go play these plays.’ We studied you, these are the plays you do and, sure enough, something triggered inside of me.”
Reich has been praising Foles all week — calling him “about as unflappable a person as I’ve ever been around” and “a magician with the ball.” When Foles met with the media, it was his turn to praise Reich.
For Foles, it goes deeper than football. It’s a trusting foundation and a lifelong relationship that he’s cultivated with Reich during their one season together in Philadelphia.
“He figured me out as a player to where even during games when I’d come to the sidelines, usually coaches want to coach you up and do all this,” Foles said. “He’d just say, ‘just keep doing it, just keep doing it.’ He wouldn’t say much. At first, it was a little weird because you’re not used to a coach doing that, but he’s like, ‘I trust you, go do your thing.’ I think no matter what, if I threw an interception or I threw a touchdown, he cared more about the person than the player and that says a lot about him and that’s why I have all the respect in the world.
“Anyone who’s played for Frank will probably say the same thing. I know that when he went to Indianapolis from Philly, we were all sad to see him go but happy for his opportunity to be a head coach because we knew he deserved it just because of the man he is. He obviously, as y’all can tell, means a lot to me and it’s a lifelong relationship.”
While Foles and Reich will be on opposite sidelines come Sunday, you can bet there will be nothing but love between the two Super Bowl champions and friends.