Arrowhead Pride
After the swirling rumors around this time last year, the Chiefs chose to be proactive on the topic this week.
Around this time last year, some insisted that Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid would consider retiring following the 2023-24 playoffs. Instead, he returned and now stands on the verge of becoming the first head coach in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowl titles.
This year, the club has been proactive about the topic. On opening night, owner, chairman and CEO Clark Hunt expressed how much Reid is relishing this part of his career. Hunt doubled down on this notion when he spoke to local Kansas City writers on Tuesday.
“I don’t have a sense that he’s remotely close to wanting to be done,” said Hunt. “I think he’s always said that he’ll know when the time is right, and I’m sure he’ll share it with me before he shares it with everyone else.
“At least I hope so,” he added with a laugh, “but I don’t sense that he’s anywhere close to being done.”
While the league’s fans are fixated on the potential three-peat in 2024, Reid has quietly pushed his career win total (regular season and playoffs) to 301 — just 32 shy of Bill Belichick in second place and 46 behind all-time leader Don Shula.
Although Reid is honored by the comparisons, he urges that isn’t what keeps him coming back.
“That’s not part of it,” said Reid at the podium Tuesday morning. “I enjoy teaching. I don’t get caught up too much on all the stats, all the records and all that stuff. But I enjoy being around the guys. I enjoy football, the game. You can’t put in the hours that we do and not enjoy it. I love the game.”
Hunt mentioned he spoke with Reid earlier this season about a 2025 return. Reid — along with general manager Brett Veach and team president Mark Donovan — are currently under contract through the 2029 NFL season.
“I think he’s been public about it as well about coming back, so I feel very confident,” added Hunt. “[Our conversation] was purely organic, so it was something like, ‘I’m checking in to make sure that you’ll be back next year.’ We were already working on next year.”
Pressed on Tuesday morning, Reid finally said the words aloud.
“Yes, I’ll be back,” chuckled the head coach. “I’m glad he’s going to have me back.”
