Andy Reid has become one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, and he cemented his spot in the Hall of Fame during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs.
After a successful start to his career with the Philadelphia Eagles, Reid took his resume to another level, winning three Super Bowls and posting a 143-53 record and .730 winning percentage since arriving in 2013. With a coaching tree that includes John Harbaugh, Ron Rivera, and Doug Pederson, Reid also knows talent when it comes to the coaching realm, and his endorsement should not be taken lightly.
This is why his words about a recently retired Chief speak volumes and could foreshadow what his next step could be after calling it a career.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid Thinks Tyrann Mathieu Will Be a Tremendous Coach After Retirement
Reid addressed reporters after another practice at Chiefs minicamp and took the time to address Tyrann Mathieu’s retirement. A 12-year veteran who spent three years with the Chiefs, Reid had praise for the three-time All-Pro and suggested that he could become “a tremendous coach” now that his playing career has concluded.
“Just a shout out to Tyrann for a great career,” Reid said. “What a great career he had. The game will miss him, miss his energy – definitely an energy giver, a great leader. …Hopefully, he gets into coaching, because he’d be a heck of a coach if he decides to go that way. He’d be tremendous, but we wish him and his family all the best going forward.”
Mathieu’s playing resume suggests he has the knowledge to be a coach. The LSU product was a third-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2013 draft and earned the nickname of “The Honey Badger” for his aggressiveness. That physical style was combined with a studious approach on the back end of the defense, racking up 36 career interceptions and 100 pass defenses over his career.
For what it’s worth, Mathieu also acknowledged he’s had an interest in coaching after his playing career, most specifically joining Brian Kelly’s staff at his alma mater.
“I saw what coaching did for me,” Mathieu said in a 2022 interview with The Advocate’s Wilson Alexander. “Having great coaches, having coaches that challenged me, having coaches that really pushed me to the next level, it helped me transform my life. From my high school coach to Andy Reid in Kansas City, I’ve had a good deal of great fortune, especially when it comes to coaches. I want to be like some of the men that reached me, that inspired me, that told me and showed me how to play the game the right way. I do think I can do that for the next person.”
Learning from Reid could help Mathieu get his foot in the door. He also learned under the tutelage of Bruce Arians in Arizona and Steve Spagnuolo in Kansas City, which could help his coaching journey if he makes that decision.
While it’s unlikely he’ll be a last-minute coaching addition for the Chiefs, it seems like Mathieu’s vision is clear and could lead him back to the sidelines soon.
