Chiefs’ Andy Reid names the toughest head coach he’s faced during his NFL career

Andy Reid’s career as an NFL head coach is nothing short of remarkable, earning him a place among the most successful in league history. His journey hasn’t always been easy, and while leading the Kansas City Chiefs through one of their most glorious eras, Reid had to face off against some of the greatest coaching minds on the opposite sideline. Among them, he singled out one in particular as the toughest to go up against.

In recent years, the multiple-time Super Bowl champion alongside Patrick Mahomes has faced off against some of the NFL’s top coaches, including the likes of Sean Payton and Pete Carroll.

In early 2024, Andy Reid spoke to the media, stating that while he considers, for instance, the current Raiders head coach to be an excellent professional, he singled out Patriots legend Bill Belichick as the toughest of them all.

“Those are two great coaches (Carroll and Belichick). I mentioned after our game, Bill’s the best I’ve ever gone against,” he told reporters during a press conference. “I don’t know if they’re done coaching or not, at their particular spots, but great coaches, phenomenal coaches.”

Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs shake hands after the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots defeated the Chiefs 27-20.

His final reflection came at a time when there was speculation about the short-term future of both coaches. As of today, Carroll has decided to return to the league to take over the Las Vegas Raiders, while Belichick made the move to college football, becoming the new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels.

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Two of the most successful coaches in NFL history

When it comes to naming the coaches who have defined an era in the NFL, there’s no doubt that two of the first names that come to mind are Bill Belichick and Andy Reid.

The first one built a dynasty in Foxborough alongside Tom Brady, earning a total of six Super Bowl rings over the course of his long career—an extraordinary number that will be incredibly difficult for anyone to match anytime soon.

Reid, for his part, had the chance to close the gap on the current North Carolina head coach, but a recent loss to the Eagles earlier this year left him with three Vince Lombardi trophies—still an incredibly impressive and enviable achievement.

While there are still three championships separating these two extraordinary coaches, many in Missouri remain confident that the gap can be narrowed in the coming seasons.