For the better part of the last decade, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has generally been considered one of the top offensive play-callers in the NFL.
However, in a new Pro Football Network ranking that was shared with Heavy ahead of training camp, the Chiefs HC was dropped outside of the top five. Slotting in at No. 6 overall.
Although sixth is pretty high, this ranking is still a bit disrespectful considering everything Reid has accomplished throughout his career. Especially when a couple of the names above him have not been calling plays all that long.
Pro Football Network ranked San Francisco 49ers head coach and play-caller Kyle Shanahan No. 1, followed by Los Angeles Rams head coach and play-caller Sean McVay.
It’s hard to argue with those two selections, although Reid has tested his mettle versus both and won, including two Super Bowl victories over Shanahan’s 49ers.
Nos. 3 through 5 are much more of a stretch.
PFSN ranked new Chicago Bears HC and ex-Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson third, Minnesota Vikings HC and play-caller Kevin O’Connell fourth, and Green Bay Packers HC and play-caller Matt LaFleur fifth.
Don’t get me wrong, obviously, all three of these coaches are bright young offensive minds. And they’ve each impressed over the past three to five years, with LaFleur having done it the longest, and Johnson and O’Connell surging up the ranks as the new kids on the block.
But a few years of success do not make one better than a play-caller who has been finding ways to outsmart defensive coordinators since the late 1990s.
More than anything, you survive in the NFL by adapting, and Reid has had to adapt again and again. These other play-callers have yet to be tested to that extent.
Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Still Ranks No. 1 for All AFC Play-Callers
Although Pro Football Network has Reid behind five NFC play-callers, he is first in the AFC, which is still an accomplishment. Denver Broncos head coach and play-caller Sean Payton placed just behind the Chiefs HC, at No. 7 overall.
“Andy Reid has consistently been one of the NFL’s best play-callers,” PFSN wrote, explaining his ranking. “It’s not because his offenses are always the flashiest, but because they’re calculated and efficient.”
“Reid seemingly uses the regular season to experiment in preparation for the postseason, which could be why the Kansas City Chiefs have looked mortal at times,” the NFL site acknowledged.
Continuing: “Nevertheless, under his direction, they usually deliver when it matters most. Even with issues at wide receiver and on the offensive line, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs finished 10th in EPA per play (+0.05) and points per drive (2.24) in 2024.”
“There haven’t been quite as many fireworks as in previous years, but Reid’s play-calling remains razor sharp, though the scheme seems to rely on Mahomes making things happen when the play breaks down,” PFSN concluded. “The numbers aren’t gaudy, but Reid’s unit is built to peak at the right time.”
Chiefs & Reid Still Rank No. 1 for Head Coaching Ahead of Training Camp
To be fair to Pro Football Network, they dropped Reid in the play-caller rankings but not the head coaching rankings. Ahead of Chiefs training camp, “Big Red” is still the No. 1 head coach in football, according to PFSN.
“Now a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the winningest coaches in NFL history, Andy Reid has solidified his status as not just the best coach in today’s NFL but one of the greatest of all time,” they wrote.
Adding: “The Kansas City Chiefs have reached the Super Bowl five times since 2019 under Reid’s leadership, an unprecedented run in the modern era. Losing to the [Philadelphia] Eagles in this past Super Bowl doesn’t change the fact that he remains the gold standard.”
Later, they noted that “what makes Reid’s greatness even more remarkable is how sustainable it’s been. Over 26 seasons with the Chiefs and Eagles, he’s won half of his six Super Bowl appearances. His consistency, creativity, and leadership remain unmatched.”
