(Las Vegas) Michael Vick once played for Andy Reid in Philadelphia, and when he saw the potential in young Patrick Mahomes, he knew this enormous talent was in good hands.
“I remember the first thing he said to me: ‘Hey, you’re going to be special. Look at this imposing man [Reid] over there. He’s going to take you to another level,’” Mahomes recalled the day after the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory at the 49ers of San Francisco during the Super Bowl on Sunday.
That’s what Reid did, overseeing a burgeoning dynasty in Kansas City and a quarterback, in Mahomes, who rose to the category of greatest of all time, like Tom Brady and his seven championships.
Victory against the 49ers made the Chiefs the first team since the New England Patriots 19 years ago to win back-to-back titles. They have won three of the last five Super Bowls and appeared in four of them.
The Chiefs don’t look like they’re done yet, as they openly talk about trying to become the first team to win the final game in three consecutive seasons.
Reid warned, however, that it wouldn’t be easy, noting that the Los Angeles Chargers signed Jim Harbaugh and the Las Vegas Raiders named Antonio Pierce as head coach.
“We have a lot of competition in the Western section of the American Association,” said Reid. “They are good football coaches. It won’t be easy. »
No matter what happened, Reid made sure to earn his place among the greatest coaches of all time. His three Super Bowl titles are surpassed only by Bill Belichick’s six triumphs with the Patriots and Chuck Noll’s four titles with the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers.
Reid is tied with Bill Walsh of the 49ers from San Francisco and Joe Gibbs, former head coach at Washington. Walsh was known for his innovative offense while Gibbs is the only head coach to win three championships with three different quarterbacks.
Reid has demonstrated his ability to adapt his attack to his personnel and maximize their potential. However, his success will be mainly linked to Mahomes. Before Mahomes arrived, Reid wondered if he could win it all.
In 14 years in Philadelphia, he posted a 224-130 record and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance and four consecutive NL Finals.
But no championship ring.
Since then, the question has become not whether Reid can win it all, but where he stands among the best coaches in the NFL.
“I think he’s the best head coach ever,” Mahomes said. “I know he didn’t have any trophies [avant Kansas City] and I have a lot of respect for some of these great coaches. But the way he’s able to lead every team he has, continue to have success no matter where he is.
“He brings out the best in me because he lets me be myself. I think it’s important. He’s not trying to make me into someone else. I don’t think I would be the quarterback I am if Coach Reid hadn’t been my head coach. »