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Philadelphia Eagles Press Release
posted 01/11/99
The Philadelphia Eagles today announced that Andy Reid has become the 20th head coach in franchise history. Reid joins the Eagles after spending the last seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
With Green Bay, Reid helped the Pack reach the playoffs six straight times from 1993-98. During that span, Green Bay defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI and reached the NFL's title game again the following year after earning the NFC crown with a victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
During the Packers' remarkable run, Reid played a significant role in helping put together that club's renowned offensive attack. Indeed, Reid put his signature on nearly every part of the Packers' offense while coaching three different positions and assisting head coach Mike Holmgren and offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis with their game-planning duties.
"Frankly, I'm very excited about this decision," said Eagles director of football operations Tom Modrak. "I think he has got a great football background, a great football mind. I met with Andy last week and was thoroughly impressed. Andy's enthusiasm for the game and his organizational abilities are certainly outstanding qualities, qualities that have me really looking forward to working with him.
"In terms of his ideas on how we can take this program and get it headed in the right direction, I was, again, extremely impressed. Andy has a strong reputation in NFL circles."
The 40-year old Reid, who has an extensive and diverse background, achieved notable success coaching the Packers offensive line, tight ends, and quarterbacks, including three-time NFL MVP Brett Favre during the 1997-98 seasons.
Reid took over the responsibility of presiding over the quarterbacks after Marty Mornhinweg departed Green Bay to become San Francisco's offensive coordinator in 1997. During his first year at that post, Favre garnered NFL MVP honors along with Detroit running back Barry Sanders.
Prior to becoming quarterbacks coach, Reid served as the Packers' tight ends and assistant offensive line coach. Under his patient and resourceful tutelage, tight end was a consistently productive position during his tenure, a span punctuated by Mark Chmura being named to the Pro Bowl following the 1995 season - the first such honor for a Packers tight end since 1983 - and Keith Jackson to an identical honor following the 1996 campaign.
Andy, who built a reputation for developing outstanding offensive lines while in the college ranks, saw Chmura and predecessor Jackie Harris put up near-record numbers under his direction upon his arrival in Green Bay. Harris registered 55 receptions in 1993, a total only one shy of the Packers single-season record, and Chmura posted 54 catches in 1995, the third highest collection in team annals.
In 1996, Reid elicited a hallmark season from Jackson, whose 10 touchdown receptions fell only one short of the Packers' record for TD catches by a tight end and who played a major role in the Pack's Super Bowl XXXI triumph over the New England Patriots. Reid, who had been offensive line coach at the University of Missouri from 1988-91, was named to the Packers' staff by Holmgren on January 21, 1992, to assist Tom Lovat with the offensive line in addition to coaching the tight ends.
Quality pass-blocking offensive lines, in both the Division I and II ranks, had been Reid's hallmark since launching his coaching career at San Francisco State in 1983. The school led the nation in passing offense and total offense for three consecutive years (1983-85) while serving as the school's offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and strength coach.
Reid moved to Northern Arizona as offensive line coach in 1986, then to Texas-El Paso in 1987. When Bob Stull took over as head coach at Missouri in 1989, he joined Stull's Tiger staff and spent three years there prior to being recruited by the Packers in 1992.
Reid's coaching career began at his alma mater, Brigham Young, as a graduate assistant under Lavell Edwards in 1982. An offensive tackle and guard on three Holiday Bowl teams as a collegian, Reid first met Holmgren who was a member of BYU's coaching staff. Reid went on to earn three varsity football letters, graduating with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He also received a master's degree in professional leadership in physical education and athletics.
Born in Los Angeles on March 19, 1958, Reid and his wife Tammy have five children: Garrett (4/13/83), Britt (4/28/85), Crosby (3/17/88), Drew Ann (3/9/90) and Spencer (6/9/92).
ANDY REID'S CAREER AT A GLANCE
| 1979-81 | BYU | Tackle/Guard |
| 1982 | BYU | Graduate Assistant |
| 1983-85 | San Francisco St. | Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach |
| 1986 | Northern Arizona | Offensive Line |
| 1987-88 | Texas-El Paso | Offensive Line |
| 1989-91 | Missouri | Offensive Line |
| 1992-98 | Green Bay | Quarterbacks/Tight Ends/Assistant Offensive Line |
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT ANDY REID ...
Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre:
On the input Reid had in game-planning with Green Bay:
"Andy was very involved. Mike [Holmgren] called the plays to a large extent. But Mike was not involved ... believe it or not, most people think Mike was really involved in the whole installation of the offensive game plan during the week. He really wasn't. Andy was kind of the computer behind it all.
"I think Andy studies the game better than anyone and knows situations better than anyone. When I say situations I mean short-yardage, goal line, nickel, base, four wide receivers vs. two and three wide receiver sets. There are a lot of different things that go into this offense and a lot of different situations that factor into winning ball games and Andy was probably the sharpest of anyone, including Mike.
"I mean there were times that Mike would call a play from his own personal game plan and Andy would have to correct him. (laughing) I can say that now that Mike's gone to Seattle. But that's true. I know Andy will probably hear this and deny it. But it's the truth. Really, I'd look to Andy in crucial situations before I looked to anyone else. (laughing) Like I said, I can say that now that I don't have to worry about my job."
On Reid leaving the Packers:
"Sometimes the bad thing about having a great coach is that you lose them. And I've lost three in Steve Mariucci, Marty Mornhinweg, and now Andy. It's obvious what those first two guys have done out in San Francisco and I have no doubt that Andy will do the same type of job. I've been fortunate because all three of those coaches have not only been great coaches but great friends as well. I liked going into work and being in meetings with them. It's just a shame they've had to leave."
On the fact that Reid becomes the Eagles head coach without having been an offensive coordinator:
"The great thing about Andy is he can overcome anything. He can step right in and, right away, get the respect of the Eagles players and put them in a position to win. It could happen as soon as the season starts. I mean, if he has some players around him, he'll do a good job."
San Francisco 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci:
"He's not much of a skier since he blew out his knee while skiing with me in my hometown of Iron Mountain, MI, but he's a heck of a football coach.
"Andy's got an outstanding football mind and a real love for the game. He's also a great family man. I'm extremely happy for him. He'll do real well.
"He has a great grasp of the West Coast offense and he's a very versatile coach. He's coached offensive line, tight ends, quarterbacks; he's truly capable of teaching and implementing the West Coast system. Andy is going to make an excellent head coach."
Green Bay Packers General Manager Ron Wolf:
"This is a great opportunity for Andy. He's certainly worked his way up and done a tremendous job here with the Packers in all phases. He's a very, very impressive person. Andy has an excellent work ethic, great knowledge of the game, and he's a very good evaluator of talent. All those things play such an important role in the step he's about to take."
On Reid's making the jump from QB coach to head coach:
"I don't think it's going to be a problem. When you're ready, you're ready. I assume that it would be nice to have 'coordinator' as a part of your resume but I'm sure that he has the capability of continuing on and doing quite well. I don't think that's that big a deal really."
courtesy Philadelphia Eagles