The Green Bay Packers used to be known as an organization that churned out NFL head coaches. Under the regime of Mike Holmgren, several Packers assistant coaches went on to have successful tenures as the head coaches of other teams. Former Holmgren assistants that were future NFL head coaches included Jon Gruden, Andy Reid, Steve Mariucci, Marty Mornhinweg, and Ray Rhodes.
Of these notable assistants, none has been more successful than Reid, who not only won Super Bowl XXXI as Green Bay’s assistant offensive line and tight ends coach but has also won three Super Bowls as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.
This season, Reid is entering his 25th season as a head coach in the NFL. Prior to being hired by the Chiefs, he was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2012. Recently, he sat down with Dianna Russini and Chase Daniel of The Athletic to discuss his current team. During that interview, Reid revealed one thing he learned in Green Bay that has made him into such a successful head coach.
Andy Reid Learned 1 Important Thing from Coaching Brett Favre and Reggie White on the Green Bay Packers
Russini and Daniel are also the hosts of the Scoop City podcast. In their most recent episode, which was released today, they ask Reid about how he keeps his star players hungry. After all, Kansas City has won three Super Bowls in the last five years. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are internationally famous. How is he able to coach such big personalities and players that have already accomplished so much?
Fortunately for Reid, he began his NFL coaching career in Green Bay and was able to be around several players that wound up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He knows what it took for them to be great. He told the reporters, “You always work fundamental techniques. And I think that’s probably where most of the effort goes. And then try to give them new things to keep their minds active.”
Reid continued, “Great players, I was around Reggie White early in my NFL career, and Brett Favre, and they were great players. Arguably two of the best to ever play the game. All they wanted from a coaching standpoint was ‘Give me one more thing that helps me be greater than I already am.’ So as a coach, you think ‘I’m going to go find that nugget and give it to them.'”
Former Green Bay Packers Assistant Coach Andy Reid Is One of the Greatest Head Coaches in NFL History
While Reid will undoubtedly be remembered for his work with the Chiefs and the multiple Super Bowl titles he has won, it is a very interesting bit of trivia that he got his start in the NFL on Mike Holmgren’s staff in Green Bay. Reid was such a good coach that when former quarterbacks coach Steve Mariucci became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Holmgren had to block him from hiring Reid away.
Reid got his first head coaching job in 1999 with the Philadelphia Eagles. Holmgren had left Green Bay for the Seattle Seahawks at that point.
In Philadelphia, Reid was also in the de facto general manager. Though the Eagles had general managers, Reid had the final say. He drafted Donovan McNabb and guided Philadelphia to four-straight NFC East titles and four-straight NFC Championship Games.
Reid is currently fourth in NFL history in wins as a head coach with a record of 258-144-1. He also has more wins than any head coach currently in the NFL. Reid is just one of five coaches in NFL history with at least three Super Bowl wins.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
