Andy Reid Faces Big Headache With $80M Decision as Chiefs HC Shuts Down Retirement Talk
The Chiefs are just locked in. That’s it. It’s been two successful seasons, and Andy Reid has led the Chiefs to the spot that every NFL franchise dreams about. The three-peat is just around the corner, and if Kansas City were to clinch the win, they would be the first team in NFL history to win a three-peat. But as Reid and crew have landed in the Superdome of New Orleans, a headache has popped up for the head coach. Wanna know what’s the $80,000,000 headache? Let’s dive in.
NFL reporter Albert Breer was in conversation with John McIntyre on The Colin Cowherd Show. When asked about the Chiefs’ defensive tackle position, Breer speculated on what has been troubling Andy Reid the most. The host of the show asked, “For Eagles you need interior blocking. It’s Paramount against you know their two big horses Davis and Carter inside. Do you think the Chiefs play little musical chairs and kick Joe Thuney back inside?” And Breer replied, “I think that’s one of the more underrated pieces of this game and decisions to be made in this game by Andy Reid and Matt Nagy.” So, the real problem is (or was) the defensive tackle position.
Reportedly, Andy Reid has changed the position of Joe Thuney from guard to tackle. Thuney was signed by the Chiefs for $80,000,000 in 2021 for five years. The 2025 year will be his last, if not acquired by the Chiefs. But the ‘headache’ might just have been a godsent.
Thus, Breer further continued, “And you know, all the guys who work with the offensive line that left tackle spot was a revolving door for much of the year. And it was a real problem. Credit to Joe Thuney who’s been one of the NFL’s Ultimate Iron Men. He’s going for his fifth ring here.”
Talking about Thuney’s experience in this position, he has not played it since his college days at North Carolina. But to fill in the vacuum that Wanya Morris and D. J. Humphries‘s injuries created, Reid was compelled to place him there. And it’s a decision that has been backed up: “He’s an All-Pro guard; he’s one of the best in the game. First of all, the sacrifice of moving to left tackle, at a time when you were playing three good pass rushes in a row to end the season, and not complaining about it… It really has stabilized the offense, at least the passing offense.”
Placing Thuney in that position to tackle the insane offense of Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley would indeed help at a tremendous level. However, as the Super Bowl talks are in full swing, debates about Andy Reid’s farewell are also raging on. But he shut all of them down by saying one statement. Wanna know what Reid said about his retirement?
Andy Reid closed down retirement chatter
When CBS reporters asked Andy Reid about his retirement, he just said, “I’m enjoying what I’m doing. I don’t think about that.” In addition to this, Clark Hunt also shut down the retirement talks about Reid, saying, “I’m glad we haven’t heard any of those rumors this year. I know for a fact that he’s going to be back next year. We’ll get there when we get there, but I think Andy loves what he’s doing, and he’s going to do it for a long time.” The 66-year-old head coach has been in an NFL coaching position since 1992 – and this marks his 13th year at the Chiefs since he joined the franchise in 2013.
USA Today via Reuters
But hold on… the Chiefs head coach has said more about this future and why he will be back next year. Andy Reid has said, “I just enjoy teaching… I don’t get caught up much in the stats or the records. I enjoy being around the guys. I enjoy football, the game… You can’t put in the hours you do and not enjoy it. I love the game.” And, why not? He has been one of the top most successful coaches in the history of the NFL.
So, the dust about his retirement should settle down now. The coach will be back next year, but one question is still there! Will he be the three-peat-winning HC next year with four SBs or only the three-time Super Bowl champion? Let’s see what happens in New Orleans.
