SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Andy Reid’s path to changing into the top coach of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs started 10 years in the past at an airport in Philadelphia, the place Reid had simply been fired by the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Arizona Cardinals had despatched a airplane to deliver Reid to Phoenix for a head teaching interview. The Chiefs, with a training emptiness of their very own, despatched an entourage of entrance workplace employees, together with chairman Clark Hunt, to interview Reid on the airport.
Hunt recounted that assembly because the Chiefs and Eagles put together to fulfill in Tremendous Bowl LVII on Sunday (6:30 pm ET, Fox).
“We had no matter, three or 4 hours, laid out for it and he was speculated to get on this airplane, which I wasn’t conscious was the airplane that was there,” Hunt mentioned Tuesday.
Because the assembly went on and the airplane sat idly with its door open, Hunt started to surprise in regards to the airplane.
Lastly Reid mentioned, “Yeah, I am speculated to get on the airplane, or was speculated to get on that airplane.”
Hunt was shocked to study that this was the airplane that was speculated to take Reid to Arizona. He mentioned the nine-hour interview was by no means meant to derail Reid’s assembly with the Cardinals.
“It was actually simply that the interview was going so properly and we had a lot to speak about,” Hunt mentioned. “In some unspecified time in the future within the interview it flipped round and he was interviewing me, attempting to simply work out and perceive not solely who I’m, however what the tradition of the group was, what our services have been like, what it was like dwelling in Kansas Metropolis, one thing he hadn’t achieved, and so it ended up taking 9 hours.
“Each Andy and I left that assembly considering this was most likely going to work out.”
And it did, for either side. The Chiefs have made the playoffs in 9 of Reid’s 10 seasons. They’ve seven straight AFC West championships and on Sunday will play of their third Tremendous Bowl in 4 years.
If the interview hadn’t gone as properly, maybe Reid would have jumped on the airplane, interviewed with the Cardinals and be teaching in Arizona proper now.
However he by no means did fly to Arizona then or meet the Cardinals.
“That was a protracted day,” Reid mentioned. “The time flew by. I really feel dangerous in regards to the airplane, although. It was ready and I really feel dangerous about that. However all people concerned is aware of that is a part of the enterprise.”