Andy Reid will go down as one of the most successful and admired coaches of all time, and that distinction is fully deserved, as he’s an innovator who’s played a prominent role in the recent transformation of NFL offenses.
Innovation often fosters growth, which is why it’s no surprise that Reid’s coaching career has coincided with decades of high-level quarterback play.
While he played a role in some of these players’ development, almost all of them eventually became symbiotic. Here are the five best quarterbacks Reid has had the opportunity to work with during his illustrious NFL career.
Patrick Mahomes
Still having not reached his 30th birthday, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has already entered the GOAT conversation.
Although most can acknowledge he still has a way to go before catching the likes of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, his career is off to a historic start. Three Super Bowl victories, three Super Bowl MVPs, and two regular-season MVPs put Mahomes in rarified air, and he may have not even hit his peak yet.
Mahomes’ game is truly one of a kind and has already influenced how teams scout the quarterback position. His awkward running motion and diverse release package make for an unconventional yet highly effective play style that no one has been able to match.
Over the years, Mahomes has given no shortage of praise to his head coach, ostensibly understanding the role Reid has played in his development.
As far as head coach-quarterback tandems go, Reid and Mahomes may very well go down as the best, as Reid’s specialization on the offensive side gives him a connection with his quarterback that exceeds that of others like Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
Brett Favre
Before Reid was at the top of the head coaching ranks, he was a modest assistant with the Green Bay Packers, joining the organization in 1992 in what his first NFL job after years at the collegiate level.
At that time, he was working with a relatively unknown quarerback by the name of Brett Favre. The two ascended the ranks together, eventually becoming franchise quarterback and quarterback coach. In Reid’s two years as the quarterback coach with the Packers, Favre flourished and won one of his three MVP awards.
Reid was more of a behind-the-scenes guy during his time in Green Bay, but his influence was certainly felt, and it’s fair to say both Favre and Reid had a pronounced impact on each other’s careers.
Favre finished his career as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks ever with three MVPs and a Super Bowl ring. And Reid’s tenure in Green Bay led to his first head coaching gig, which leads us right into the next entry.
Donovan McNabb
After securing his first head coaching job in 1999, Andy Reid’s Philadelphia Eagles drafted Donovan McNabb with the No. 2 overall pick in the ’99 draft.
The Syracuse alum was a true dual-threat quarterback and gave Reid his first taste of working with an unorthodox player. McNabb made six Pro Bowls with Philly and finished second in the NFL MVP voting in 2000, but the most impressive part of his career was how his game adjusted to his physical abilities.
Reid constructed an offense that played to his quarterback’s strengths. However, McNabb gradually became less dependent on his athleticism, making for a different style, as he became a more comfortable pure passer and took good care of the football.
Today, McNabb is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in league history. He was fairly consistent throughout his career and helped Reid get off to a hot start in Philly.
