Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke about quarterback Patrick Mahomes being the commencement speaker for his alma mater Texas Tech.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be the commencement speaker for his alma mater Texas Tech today, and his head coach Andy Reid had his thoughts on the prestigious honor.
The Chiefs are doing the best they can to weather the uniqueness of the virtual offseason, but Reid made time during Friday’s virtual press conference to show support for Mahomes’ big day.
“I think it’s a really neat thing that he’s [Patrick Mahomes] having an opportunity to do with Texas Tech. He is passionate about sports,” Reid told reporters. “He’s passionate about Tech and I think it’s a neat thing that he’d have that opportunity to do it. Pat’s a pretty cool cucumber there. He’s a sharp kid and speaks well so I think he’ll have a nice presentation for them. The main thing is just to relax and enjoy the moment and what a great experience it is.”
Mahomes was a star quarterback at Texas Tech from 2014 – 2016 before being selected by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL draft. He had a brief stint for the Red Raiders baseball team. The 2018 NFL MVP continues to support the school throughout his professional journey, making an appearance at their sports games. He’s continuously praised by the school administration for his participation. Lubbock, Texas has even become the unofficial Chiefs Kingdom southwest hotspot because of Mahomes. Nationally televised Chiefs games are often broadcast in the area.
Texas Tech will be like most universities, celebrating its graduates virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That won’t stop Mahomes from providing some students with a special moment to celebrate their graduation.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy addressed the Rooney Rule topic during virtual press conferences.
One of the prominent offseason rule changes could affect how franchises approach the hiring of minority head coaches.
The Rooney Rule is a policy that requires NFL teams to interview ethnic-minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs. The system has been in effect since 2003 and has recently become a hot topic of discussion this offseason. The league is exploring the possibility of proposing to upgrade the draft picks of teams who hired minority coaches and kept them in that position for over a year.
The topic has had its share of criticisms, and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the issue during Friday’s virtual press conference, specifically in reference to how the rule relates to offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
”First of all, keep being you. That’s the most important thing and it’s gotten him to this point. He’ll have an opportunity here as a head coach,” said Reid. ”Listen, I think anything that helps opportunity, I’m good with as long as it doesn’t put that person in a bind or disadvantage coming in whatever it is. I think in Eric’s situation and everybody that interviews, you’re in there for only a couple of hours with the owners. So, do they really get to know you in that time? I wish there was an extended period of time where they got to visit with you. Owners are always having to cram in these interviews, but to actually get enough time to get to know what the person is all about. I think that becomes an important thing. The more you’re with Eric Bieniemy, the more you appreciate him and understand him and know he’s a great leader of men. Does an owner really have that time, or are we rushing? Some of it’s our schedule because of the playoffs. Are we rushing in and ‘OK, I have to get these three interviews done. Boom. Boom. Boom.’ And does that owner actually see the worth in that person interviewing? So, I worry more about those kinds of things. Eric has had opportunities to interview, but it’s always a bang-bang thing. You get a couple hours and then you’re out. I mean, how well do you get to know a guy in a couple hours?”
Bieniemy was infamously passed on by several teams at the end of the past two seasons for a head coaching jobs, despite interviewing with multiple teams. Many colleagues around the league view him as most deserving of an opportunity leading to speculation that the Rooney Rule needs to be updated.
“Well, I think there are plenty of candidates that are more than qualified,” said Bienemy during Thursday’s press conference. “I think that one thing that popped up was, some assistant coaches are now going to have an opportunity to interview. I think that’s huge; I think that’s huge across the board regardless of skin color, it doesn’t make a difference. Now you get an opportunity to interview the best football coach for that particular position. I think one thing with all this discussion being brought to the table just opened up different doors for many different people. Like I said, when it’s all said and done with, my job is to make sure I’m focused on what we’re doing. But yes, I am happy that that was passed so those guys can have an opportunity. But understanding that, hell, I’ve got a job to do. We’re focused on what we need to get better at this particular time and what’s going to make us the best team when we hit the ground running.”
Since 2003’s institution of the Rooney Rule, only 15 African American head coaches have been hired in the league. Bienemy will continue to spearhead one of the league’s most explosive and innovative offenses once the 2020 season is officially underway. Hopefully, a head coaching opportunity awaits Bieniemy in the near future.
One of the ideas floated amidst the COVID-19 pandemic is having no fans in stadiums in 2020. Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid weighs in…
Kansas City Chiefs fans set the world record for loudest outdoor stadium against the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football in 2014. The Arrowhead Stadium crowd was recorded at 142.2 decibels during that game, setting the world record. Chiefs fans provide the team with a notable home-field advantage, but one of the ideas floated due to the COVID-19 pandemic could have the Chiefs Kingdom sidelined in 2020.
The conversation surrounding fan-less games has evolved over the past few weeks. Broadcaster Joe Buck said FOX will use fake crowd noise and digital fans. Forbes claims that the NFL will lose $5.5 billion in revenue if the league is forced to play without fans in stadiums. What is becoming abundantly clear is that there still exists a possibility that the NFL won’t be able to have fans attending games in 2020 due to the coronavirus.
During Andy Reid’s media availability on Friday, he was asked multiple times about the potential of the Chiefs playing the 2020 season without fans in Arrowhead Stadium.
“First of all, we love our fans,” Reid said. “They are the loudest in the world. It’s ridiculous how loud it gets for our opponents. But on the other hand, we’ll still go play and it’ll be kind of that way. There will probably be a lot more talk from the players that you can here. You know, those guys get pretty creative out there in their conversations. But the fans, we’ll miss them if that’s where it goes, but we’ll still be able to function.”
It sounds like Reid is prepared for whatever possibilities awaits his team. While the fans do give the Chiefs an incredible advantage over opponents, and no one wants to play without them, they’re going to be ready to go no matter what.
“You need fans to play a game,” Donald said. “I don’t see how you could play a game without fans. The fans are what pick you up. The fans make the game exciting. Without fans, I don’t see how it could be possible. It’s not exciting. I don’t think it would be fun.”
Reid understood exactly where Donald was coming from.
“As far as the fans go, I understand what Aaron is saying” Reid said. “It just doesn’t make sense, it just doesn’t feel like it makes sense to be without fans. But it’s also part of what we all would have to deal with if that’s the situation that it comes to. My hope is that we can get everybody back out there and that we can have stadiums full of people and we can go and everybody can stay safe. That’s probably the most important thing — well it is the most important thing as we go forward. . .”
Each team will be faced with the same challenges if the NFL is forced to play without fans in stadiums during the 2020 season. It’ll hurt teams from a revenue standpoint and it’ll make for some awkwardness when players take the field. Reid, however, remains hopeful that fans will be able to grace the stands at Arrowhead Stadium and across the NFL. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to keep everyone safe and healthy. If there’s a way for the NFL to keep fans healthy and have them in stadiums, you can rest assured it’ll happen.
On one hand, Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid prefers to stick to the integrity of the game. On the other, he has Patrick Mahomes.
Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid commented on potential changes to the NFL’s onside kick rules during Friday’s media availability.
The proposed rules changes for the 2020 NFL season are scheduled to go to a vote next Thursday. When asked about the proposed rules to onside kicks, where a team would have an opportunity to convert a fourth-and-15 from their own 25-yard line to retain possession of the ball, Reid had mixed feelings. On one hand, Reid prefers to stick to the spirit of the game.
“Listen, I don’t know if it’s going to pass or not,” Reid began. “I know the special teams coaches aren’t real big on that. It takes away, obviously, one of the elements of theirs and then the kickoff, which has been under big scrutiny here, and kickoff returns. To keep the integrity of the game, you’d like [to keep] that part of it.”
Reid, however, feels pretty good about the situation even if it does pass. Because the Chiefs just so happen to have one of the quarterbacks most equipped to convert those fourth-and-15 tries.
“On the other hand if it does pass, we’ve got a guy [Patrick Mahomes] that can do fourth-and-15,” Reid said. “I mean he would give us an opportunity to be able to do that. So I’ve got kind of mixed thoughts on it. Being an old guy, I would probably stick with the integrity of the game as it sits right now. But I can also see how the other part of it would be exciting too.”
Sticking to the old way might be a favorable decision for Coach Reid, but he’s right. It’s hard not to get excited about the prospect of seeing Mahomes in action on these proposed fourth-and-15 plays. Whatever happens it seems like Kansas City will come out of the situation prepared to handle their business when it comes to onside kicks.
The Reid family discussed faith, hope and football on the Latter-day Saints of Greater Kansas City’s YouTube channel.
On Sunday evening, Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid and his wife Tammy Reid conducted a virtual fireside chat for the Latter-day Saints of Greater Kansas City. During the chat, they talked about faith, family and a whole lot of football. You can watch the full discussion with Andy & Tammy here.
Here’s a look at just a few of the things we learned from the discussion:
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What football means to Andy Reid
Andy Reid started off with a unique analogy between himself and his desk, he specifically talked about longevity and what has kept him going for so long. The first “leg” of his journey was football. He talked about what football means to him and what it has taught him throughout the years.
“Football has been there since I was born,” Reid explained. “My brother was a football player. I was 10 years younger than him, so when I was born, he was playing. When he left High School, I was eight and now I started playing and then I’ve kept going. I’m doing what I’ve done since I’ve known what a ball is. I love football, I love everything about it. I just think that it’s a microcosm of life. It teaches you so many great values, it teaches you how to work hard. It teaches you what a team is, what teammates are, and how to get along with other individuals in great times and in adverse times. It teaches you honesty — I mean if you’re going to hang with the guys you’ve got to be honest because these guys can read right through you and do it in a heartbeat. It’s a humbling sport — You can be high and then it’ll knock you down if you get too high. You can be too low and then it’s going to crunch you and keep you down. But then it also teaches you that if you get knocked down to come back up, learn from the mistake that got you knocked down, but come back with even more clarity and the reasons why you might’ve been knocked down.”
The final three legs for Reid included his wife Tammy (companionship), Faith and Family. Football also served as a lead-in for the Reid’s to talk about their faith and how it helped them get through many trials personally and professionally.
One of the reasons we love the sport of football is the intricate strategy that goes into each and every play. More so than any other sport, coaching matters in the NFL. A game pitting two brilliant coaching minds can be just as fascinating to watch as a game featuring a handful of great players
With that in mind, I’ve looked over the 2020 NFL schedule and picked out the X’s and O’s matchups that I’m most looking forward.
For the purpose of this list, I’ve focused on inter-divisional matchups that we don’t already see every season. And I’m only looking at coaching matchups that pit an offensive-minded coach against a defensive minded coach, so you won’t see a matchup like Bill Belichick v. Pete Carroll on here, even if those two are considered to be two of the very best coaches this league has to offer.
So with that out of the way, let’s look at the 10 best X’s and O’s matchups on the 2020 NFL schedule.
10. Bruce Arians v. Vic Fangio, Week 3
We’ve seen these two square off in the NFC West, but this is the first time these respected minds will go head-to-head as head coaches. Fangio’s complex coverages have given even the best quarterbacks problems, but how will he will he try to slow down the NFL’s greatest quarterback ever and the league’s most intimidating receiving corps? And what designer route concepts will Arians have drawn up to mess with Denver’s coverage rules and create big plays downfield? We won’t have to wait long to find out with the Buccaneers visiting the Broncos early in the season.
9. Kellen Moore v. Don ‘Wink’ Martindale, Week 13
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Wink Martindale of the Baltimore Ravens is your defensive coordinator’s favorite defensive coordinator. What makes him such a fun coach to watch? It’s his disguised coverages and exotic blitz looks, which always make it difficult to figure out what the defense is up to before the snap. To tell you the truth, it doesn’t get much easier after the snap, either. But Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore showed in his first season as a play-caller that he knows how to unlock the secrets of a defense with the help of pre-snap motions and shifts. In this matchup, the pre-snap chess matchup might be more interesting than what happens after the snap.
8. Todd Bowles v. Andy Reid, Week 12
This might be the most underrated matchup on the list. The X’s and O’s battle will be fun, but it’s the aggression with which these two call plays that has me most excited. We know Andy Reid likes to throw the ball over the field on any down and distance and Todd Bowles is his defensive equal when it comes to fearless calls. The Bucs defensive coordinator has endeared himself to Bruce Arian for a reason: You don’t need to encourage him to take risks. Bowles will blitz anywhere on the field and he’s not afraid to ask his corners to man-up on receivers with no safety help deep. We’ll see how that works out against Patrick Mahomes and that loaded receiving corps.
7. Kyle Shanahan v. Sean McDermott, Week 13
I love watching well-coached defenses, and Sean McDermott’s teams are always at the top of that list. The thing that stands out about this Bills defense is how disciplined it is, no matter what an offense throws at it. Well, that discipline is going to be put to the test by Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers offense, which is based on manipulating certain defenders. Typically, Shanahan focuses on the weak links of a defense, but take a look at the Bills’ defensive depth chart. Good luck finding a true weak link there.
6. Bill Belichick v. Greg Roman. Week 10
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Last season’s Patriots game was a proving ground for Lamar Jackson and this unique Ravens offense. There were still plenty of skeptics out there before Greg Roman’s group took it to Bill Belichick’s defense in the first half before New England found its footing in the second half. The rematch will be fascinating now that Belichick has a better understanding of how Roman will attack his run fronts. We know the Patriots coach will have some new tricks for Lamar and his offensive coordinator. What will those two have in store for the greatest defensive mind in sports? We won’t find out until November.
5. Bill Belichick v. Kliff Kingsbury, Week 12
Just a warning: Belichick is going to show up a few more times on this list. He is the greatest coach in league history after all, and the 2020 season might be his greatest challenge yet.
He’ll get a brand new challenge in Week 12 when Kliff Kingsbury brings his version of the Air Raid offense to Gillette Stadium. Belichick is always on the cutting edge when it comes to defensive scheme, so he’ll be prepared for Kingsbury’s various RPO’s and option run plays. Maybe he’ll give his buddy Nick Saban a call this offseason to pick up some tips on how to better deal with a college-inspired spread. The Cardinals adding a true No. 1 receiver in DeAndre Hopkins adds another layer to what should be a tremendously fun X’s and O’s battle.
4. Kliff Kingsbury v. Sean McDermott, Week 10
Everything I said about the McDermott-Shanahan matchup applies to this one. The Bills’ defensive gameplan for the Ravens’ college-inspired scheme was one of the best of the 2019 season. The challenge will be somewhat similar for Buffalo in this one — fitting the run while still having enough numbers to defend the pass — but Kingsbury attacks defenses in a different way, using every inch of the field to put pressure on the opponent. McDermott is a coach who isn’t afraid to switch things up every week, so we should be in store for a unique gameplan from one of the NFL’s best defensive coaches.
3. Kyle Shanahan v. Bill Belichick, Week 7
The last time we saw these two great coaching minds face off, we got maybe the greatest Super Bowl ever. After Shanahan overwhelmed the Pats defense for the first 40 minutes, Belichick adjusted and helped engineer the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. This will be the first time these two will match wits as head coaches. Shanahan’s offense has changed since then and he’s picked up a few new tricks that will test the discipline of Belichick’s team. Staying sound against the run while not being sucked in by play-action fakes will be the key to the matchup for the Pats. As always, it’ll be fascinating to see how Belichick deploys his personnel in order to strike the right balance.
2. Andy Reid v. Bill Belichick, Week 4
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These two have had so many classic battles, it almost feels like this is a matchup we see every year. But we don’t know how many more of these Belichick-Reid showdowns we’ll get, so we better start appreciating them. The challenge will be the same for Belichick: How will he cover all of the weapons Reid has at his disposal? How aggressive will he be with the pass rush vs. Mahomes? And which Chiefs receiver will he look to take away on high-leverage downs? We’ll find out in Week 4.
1. Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo v. Sean Payton and Dennis Allen, Week 15
This game is a two-for-one with Sean Payton’s machine-like attack going up against Steve Spagnuolo’s diverse scheme and Reid’s air show taking on Dennis Allen’s defense, which has quietly become one of the most interesting units in the league. It’s always fun to watch two great offensive play-callers go back-and-forth, but Reid and Payton will get challenges from the opposing defensive coordinators. Spagnoulo will use his two star safeties (yes, I think Juan Thornhill is already a star) to try to take out Michael Thomas — good luck with that — and Allen has the players and scheme to matchup with Kansas City’s loaded receiving corps. With all that talent on the field and four smart minds on the sidelines, this is the early frontrunner for game of the year.
Head coach Andy Reid joined both the Chiefs’ broadcast and the NFL Network broadcast revealing the schedule for the team. He shared his unique insight on the schedule, what he looks for and the opponents the Chiefs will face during the upcoming season. Below you’ll find five takeaways from what Reid had to say during both interviews.
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Things that Reid looks for in the schedule
Andy Reid is excited about the schedule announcement just like everybody else. There are a few specific things that he looks for in the schedule, just to find some assurances about the season and have an idea of the challenges the team might face.
“I think we all get excited,” Reid told Chiefs team reporter BJ Kissel. “Not necessarily with the way the schedule is set up but just to find out when you’re playing these teams. We kind of know who we’re playing, we just don’t know when. You go to that prime time. What games did you get there? Your Sunday night, Monday night, and Thursday night. When do those happen and who are you playing at those times?”
The Chiefs get a healthy dose of prime-time action early on with two big games in the first three weeks of the season. Reid also often finds himself looking at when he plays AFC West opponents and whether he plays in any cold-weather teams.
“Also, you always look for, ‘Am I going to be playing in Green Bay or Buffalo in December?’ You look at those things,” Reid said. “What home games you have and when. Your division opponent, AFC West, when do you play the AFC West? How does that work out, are you home, are you away? What part of the season are you in? And so on. You look at those things. Now, does all that matter? Eh, I don’t know if all matters, but it’s kind of fun to look at.”
At the end of the day, Reid isn’t certain that any of what he looks for in a schedule matters in terms of a Chiefs win or loss. What he knows is that he has fun looking at it and thinking about it, just like the rest of us.
Now Durant will get a chance to be coached by someone he admired while growing up in Andy Reid.
The Kansas City Chiefs are continuing to add to their training camp roster in preparation to defend their Super Bowl title in 2020. The team announced the signing of more undrafted free agents, including offensive lineman Yasir Durant, who played college football locally at the University of Missouri.
Durant was introduced to the media on Wednesday to share his thoughts on joining the Chiefs and ambitions to make the regular-season roster. The decision to sign with Kansas City fulfills a childhood dream for Durant, who grew up a Philadephia Eagles fan during Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s long tenure.
“I’ve been an Eagles fan since I was younger,” said Durant. “I remember watching the Super Bowl, and they lost. I watched every Eagles game that I could. I loved the Eagles, and the coach Andy Reid was. So it appealed to me to sign with the Chiefs.”
The Super Bowl, Durant is referring to is the infamous Eagles and Patriots matchup back in 2004 as Reid’s Eagles would come up short.
The 6-6 331-pound offensive tackle is a team player. He noted that he’s willing to switch positions and play guard if necessary and provides size on the line that can’t be coached. Durant also has Chiefs connections through Hall Of Fame offensive lineman Will Shields.
“He was our Hall of Fame coach at the East-West Shrine Game, so working with the offensive line,” said Durant. “He gave us his tips gave us stuff we can use in our game, It was a blessing. I was honored to be around him and have conversations with him. So we kind of started our relationship there.”
The Chiefs are keeping their options close to home in both proximity and relatability with Durant. The importance of team chemistry is a vital factor in building a championship franchise, and these connections are positive in the long run.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson finishes at number five in a RotoWorld ranking of NFL head coaches
Doug Pederson has taken the Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs in three of his first four seasons as a head coach in his respect level is high around the league.
Pederson has consistently been thought of as a top-10 coach and in a recent ranking of all 32 NFL head coaches by RotoWorld, the Eagles head coach landed at No. 5 on the list.
5. Doug Pederson
Career Record: 38-26 (.594)
With The Eagles Since 2016
Last Year’s Ranking: 4
Doug Pederson quickly gained a reputation as the league’s analytics prince, but his recent seasons have been more MacGyver than mathematics. If you need to win a playoff game with your backup quarterback, Pederson is your man. A 4-0 finish to steal the division after starting 5-7? Pederson will get it done. Craving normalcy? Pederson hasn’t really had it since Carson Wentz’s 2017 ACL tear. That’s when things got weird and have stayed so. A huge part of it has been personnel. The Eagles routinely don’t have it in the secondary, while the injuries got so bad on offense last year that “Greg Ward” spent time as the No. 1 receiver. Pederson continues to make lemonade out of lemons, which can obscure his continued devotion to cold, hard logic. Even at 9-7, the Eagles remained one of the league’s most efficient offenses last season, as well as one of the most aggressive on fourth down. Pederson knows what he’s doing, and it will look even better if his team can get just a little bit healthier with a little bit better roster.
Peterson landed behind John Harbaugh, Sean Payton, Andy Reid, and the legendary Bill Belichick.
Following the death of Don Shula, the NFL’s all-time leader in coaching victories, let’s take a look at his win total and those who rank behind the Miami Dolphins legend. Totals include playoff and Super Bowl/League Championship Game wins.
