The NFL kicked off its Super Bowl festivities on Monday, hosting the event’s opening night in Phoenix, Arizona which featured a gargantuan press conference that seemed more like a football-themed circus than an actual media briefing.
In front of hundreds of reporters, both Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni took center stage to answer questions from reporters who came from across the country to cover Super Bowl LVII.
What a way to kickoff #SuperBowl week on @nflonfox. Had a little quality time with Andy Reid and Nick Sirianni up on stage here at Opening Night. I’m a very blessed boy! pic.twitter.com/AAmWwUPHVh
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) February 7, 2023
Both coaches are at vastly different points in their careers, but each told reporters about the immense respect that they have for their opponent ahead of the Super Bowl matchup. Reid, an NFL legend at his peak in his twilight years, was once Sirianni’s boss and expressed his enthusiasm for his former protege’s success with his former team.
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid: "I'm proud of some of these old guys for the Eagles. I'm proud of my guys with the Chiefs. Let's go!"
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) February 7, 2023
Sirianni, the younger upstart head coach, responded in kind, commenting about the “deep respect” he has for Reid after his experience working under him in Philadelphia nearly a decade ago.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said he has “so much respect” for Chiefs coach Andy Reid during Super Bowl opening night in Phoenix. https://t.co/Fz46iIlftk pic.twitter.com/vUNwLc1Ub6
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 7, 2023
Ahead of this matchup, it seems that the leaders of both teams know what they are up against, and were quick to praise the other at any opportunity. Reid and Sirianni have both fought hard to bring their squads to the championship game, and over the course of seasons have earned themselves the chance to compete to reach the pinnacle of their profession this weekend.
Days away from this battle of former colleagues, the candor and grace Reid and Sirianni showed in their comments about each other were indicative of the respect each has for the game of football and the stakes at hand.