Another mentor-pupil showdown set as KC Chiefs’ Andy Reid faces Washington’s Ron Rivera
Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s former Philadelphia Eagles assistants have gotten the better of him so far this season.
Reid lost to John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 and to Sean McDermott’s Buffalo Bills in Week 5.
The mentor-versus-pupil scenario takes center stage again Sunday, when Reid will look across the field and see Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera, who served on Reid’s staff in Philadelphia from 1999 to 2003.
Reid noted some differences in how he approaches a game when he knows the opposing coach is familiar with him.
“Well, they kind of know what you’re going to do and you kind of know what they’re going to do,” Reid said. “So, you try to have a couple creative things for him, but most of all, it’s going to come down to fundamental technique and so on as you go through it.
“Ron’s got a good football team, so we’ve got to make sure we have a good week of preparation as we get ready for them.”
Sunday’s opposing coaches remain close. They talk during the year and serve on some of the same NFL committees.
Their bond is typical of the relationships Reid maintains with former Eagles assistants who’ve gone on to earn head-coaching roles of their own. In addition to Rivera, Harbaugh was in Philadelphia from 1998-2007, while McDermott was there from 2001-10.
Rivera said he developed an appreciation for rigid practice structures under Reid. He also favors an up-tempo playing style that he credits to his time with Reid in Philadelphia.
He said he is grateful that Reid gave him, and others like him, an opportunity.
“I appreciate the way he empowered us — we were a bunch of young coaches — he empowered us to handle our positions and he showed that he trusted us,” Rivera said. “I think that meant the world to a lot of us. Here we are getting our opportunities and we’re being trusted by him to do our jobs, and that was always cool.”
The Washington coach still has his mentor’s approval, too.
“He uses personnel well,” Reid said. “He knows what the strengths of a person are, the weaknesses. He does a good job at I think playing to their strengths. Therefore, every time I’ve played him, it’s been a little bit different, and I’m sure this will be, too. But the base fundamentals are there.”
Reid is 15-8, including the postseason, against his former assistant coaches. He’s 1-1 against Rivera.
But when the headset comes on and the game begins, the Chiefs’ head coach doesn’t focus on playing a former assistant. While he takes pride in his coaching tree, he sees only another opponent.
“I don’t like getting beat by them, but I’m proud of them,” Reid said. “It bothers me, period, losing games. I’m not big on it. But listen, they’re good coaches, and Ron is the same way.”
ANDY REID VS. FORMER ASSISTANTS
- Reid vs. John Harbaugh: 5-2
- Reid vs. Brad Childress: 2-1
- Reid vs. Sean McDermott: 2-2
- Reid vs. Doug Pederson: 1-0
- Reid vs. Pat Shurmur: 1-0
- Reid vs. Steve Spagnuolo: 1-0
- Reid vs. Matt Nagy: 1-0
- Reid vs. Ron Rivera: 1-1
- Reid vs. Todd Bowles: 1-1
- Reid vs. Leslie Frazier: 0-1
This story was originally published October 15, 2021 at 8:20 AM.
