Andy Reid Doesn't Want To Hear Dynasty Talk Because He's Got More Pressing Issues
ORLANDO – Andy Reid has plenty of problems he's been trying to solve and apparently putting on a crown and adding the weight of preserving an NFL dynasty isn't one of them.
That's why Reid basically dismissed my question about the Chiefs being the NFL's newest dynasty after winning two consecutive Super Bowls and three in the last five seasons.
"It's up to you guys to do the dynasty thing," Reid said at the NFL annual meeting. "I'm back to training camp and the meat potatoes of the things. That's where I go. Just make sure the guys come back in shape and we're ready to roll. That's kind of the part we'll control there. Make sure the guys build a nice foundation at training camp."
Andy Reid and the Chiefs beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Reid Getting Another Tommy Bahama
But, but, coach, your guys are really good and history beckons and …
"Every year in the NFL is a new year," Reid said. "Every team is a different team. The guys know how I go with that. Don't get caught up in too much of the fluff. So we just roll. Put another Tommy Bahama shirt on and let's go."
Yes, I smiled.
How can you not when the NFL's best coach is talking about the NFL's best team and is dismissing all that best stuff and thinking of getting his island wardrobe ready for training camp and going at it again.
But Reid can't help himself.
He's been kind of too busy this offseason solving problems for next season to ponder dynastic rules.
And there have been plenty of pressing issues.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 7: Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs, talks to his players during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 7, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
Locking Up Spagnuolo Was Key
Issue No. 1 was keeping defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the former New York Giants coach who transformed the Kansas City defense into a unit that carried the team multiple times throughout the season.
"He was on the last year of his deal and so I think his dream was to become a head coach. And still is," Reid said. "Hopefully he has the opportunity next year to do that. It didn't work out that way [this offseason] so we jumped on it. So we just jumped on it, knowing teams were going to be coming after him."
Reid said there were a couple of teams interested in hiring Spagnuolo away. One of them might have been the San Francisco 49ers, who fired 2023 defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
"I wasn't asking questions," Reid said, "I was just trying to get it done."
Reid hoped the Chiefs could find a way to keep cornerback L'Jarius Sneed. The Chiefs put the franchise tag on Sneed, but it was clear to them they wouldn't be able to sign their lockdown cornerback.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 11: L'Jarius Sneed #38 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates during the game against the San Francisco 49ersduring Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
Big Loss For Chiefs Secondary
So the Chiefs traded Sneed to the Titans for a 2025 third-round pick and a swap of seventh rounders this year. Not a lot.
Painful.
Now the Chiefs have to replace a player Reid calls "a better person than player" because salary cap constraints demanded it.
Four weeks ago, the NFLPA's annual report card dinged the Chiefs on multiple fronts with player complaints. One of those was players complaining they'd been promised a new locker room after the 2022 season.
The players didn't get their new digs even though they did collect their second consecutive Lombardi Trophy.
"Yeah, I don't think that [promise] was made necessarily," Reid said. "I'll get to the bottom of that when I get the players back just to see what was said.
"But you know how it is in transitions with all this going on that we have going on with a new stadium and new facilities – do we stay, do we go with all the politics that's involved there on seeing what happens. Certain things could be said or misconstrued, I don't know."
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid meets San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan after the Chiefs' 38-27 win on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS)
Andy Reid Advice To Shanahan
Reid is in a position where he doesn't have to worry about what is said about him. Because what's said is he's the winningest active coach in the NFL.
But there was a time he was questioned about his ability to win championships – both NFC and Super Bowl titles.
Now, Reid is in a position to give advice to coaches such as Kyle Shanahan, whose ability to win big games is in question after losing two Super Bowls to Reid.
"Just keep going," Reid advised. "He knows. He's a smart guy and a heck of a football coach. Things happen in this game. Our game could have gone either way. It was just a toss up there – in really both games for that matter, both Super Bowls.
"We just keep plugging. You just keep doing what you're doing. I know he's got a great, young quarterback. And him, with a great, young quarterback, is deadly."
Great advice from a coach that doesn't want to delve into discussions about building a dynasty – which is exactly what Reid has done.
"It's so hard to win in this league," Reid said. "At the highest level it's so hard to win. Everything has to bounce your way. It didn't there for a while. But you figure you keep pounding, something's going to change."