The Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars will meet in the Divisional Round on Saturday. And with it, two head coaches who have a history together. Will the apprentice finally step out of his master’s shadow?

This picture says more than 1,000 words. It touches, impresses, moves.

It illustrates, thanks to a small gesture, the special relationship that Andy Reid and Doug Pederson have with each other. Because there is pride when Reid puts his hand on Pederson’s cheek in 2017. But also respect. Respect. A connection. It seems a bit like father and son, even though Reid (67) is only 13 years older than Pederson (54).

Therefore teacher and pupil is a much better fit. Which doesn’t take anything away from the scene’s emotional interlude, from the closeness that is rare in this sport, but no less pleasant because of it.

The first duel of 2017 went to the teacher

It was the first duel between the two as head coaches in the NFL, it was Pederson’s second season and he had just lost 20-27 to Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs. But that didn’t matter at that moment.

Because it was also an eye-opening moment.

Reid felt vindicated; he had urged Pederson to get into coaching a good 20 years earlier. There Pederson was with the Green Bay Packers, backup to Brett Favre – and a confidant of the legend, with the right approaches for a coach in the NFL.

And Pederson was grateful, he had already spent twelve years alongside Reid in the NFL to that point, playing quarterback with the Green Bay Packers (1995 to 1998) and Philadelphia Eagles (1999) from 1995 to 1999, when Reid was an assistant coach in Green Bay and head coach with the Eagles. Later, Pederson was Reid’s assistant in Philadelphia (2009 to 2012), and the two worked together in Kansas City from 2013 to 2015.

“He coached me, I worked with him, worked for him and so on. The players love him. He’s tough. He’s a disciplinarian. He asks a lot, all the things I strive for in my job,” said Pederson, who has taken a lot from Reid in that regard, as a players’ coach who can get tough. Who focuses on offence. And is considered a quarterback whisperer. The influence can’t be overlooked.

Doug Pederson has “a lot to thank Andy Reid for “

He owes a lot to Reid, Pederson stressed. “The things he taught me, not only as a player, but as an assistant coach and when I became a coordinator in Kansas City.” The time spent together was valuable, the one-on-ones educational, the experiences priceless.

And now would be the opportunity to get it done against his teacher, too, in the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Saturday. According to the motto: all good things come in threes. Because the second duel between the two also went to Reid, in the Regular Season 2022 the Chiefs won 27:17.

“He and I are good friends and it will be great to see him. At least until the game starts,” Reid laughed. “I’m proud of everything he’s done. I’m a big fan of his.”

And certainly will be even if Pederson finally steps out of Reid’s shadow.