The guest game of Andy Reid and his Kansas City Chiefs at the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday will be something very special for him. If he manages a win, he would make NFL history with his former team, of all teams.

Munich – Before head coach Andy Reid shaped the Kansas City Chiefs around star quarterback Patrick Mahomes into one of the NFL’s heavyweights, the 63-year-old previously spent 14 years with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Although he was unable to lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory during that time, his record in Philadelphia is positive. At the end of his tenure, including playoff games, he stood at 140 wins, 102 losses and one tie. On Sunday, it now comes to the duel of his two stations as head coach.

Reid in front of historic NFL record

The successful coach is now facing the next milestone in his unprecedented career. If he wins with the Kansas City Chiefs from Philadelphia, he would be the first coach in NFL history to have over 100 wins with two different teams.

With the Chiefs, he currently has a record of 99 wins and 45 losses after nine seasons. As is typical for the veteran, he does not let himself be drawn out before the game: “I just want to win the next game. That’s where we are right now. I’m not worried about the other stuff,” said the 2019 Super Bowl champion.

Although it’s a nice number, he wasn’t even aware of the upcoming record until recently. “I never thought about it until I was asked about it at a press conference here in Kansas City,” he joked with reporters.

A glimpse into the past

Besides the numbers, it’s certainly an emotional return for Reid to his old stomping grounds. After all, he was in Philadelphia for over a decade. What’s more, the Eagles gave him his first chance at a head coaching position back then. “They’ve always supported me and what I’ve done,” he said in a presser.

“They believed in me. A head coach doesn’t need much more than that,” he enthused further. As fate would have it, the Eagles’ active head coach Nick Sirianni is also in his first year at the position. “I am sure they will support him as well. That’s very important,” Reid said of Sirianni.

Sirianni’s qualities are undisputed, according to Reid: “He’s doing a great job. In this league, wins and losses are so close, he’ll be able to handle it,” Reid went on to praise: “The Eagles are in good hands with him.”

The fact that it was not yet clear after the last matchday whether the generation duel on the coaching bench could take place at all had more serious reasons in the meantime.

Hospitalisation after Chargers defeat

After the Chiefs’ 24-30 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Reid was taken away to the hospital. Although it was, it came out after the fact, just a precautionary measure, the NFL world was seriously worried on Sunday.

“He came in and talked to us,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said after the game, “He seemed fine, that’s all I know.” Other players like safety Tyrann Mathieu, however, called for prayers for their head coach on social media.

Following Monday’s all-clear, the coach has since returned to flippant remarks: “I think I’m going to start my own Injury Report,” he joked on Thursday. “I’m not going to go into details, but I’m doing very well again,” he continued.

With the Chiefs somewhat surprisingly starting the season with just one win and two losses, it is even more important that the team can count on their offensive mastermind on the sidelines.

Chiefs at Eagles: Out of the mini-crisis?

Against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Chiefs allowed themselves too many careless mistakes, which is why the usually so dominant offense didn’t get the horsepower on the road. Quarterback Mahomes also committed two avoidable turnovers.

In the first loss of the season in Baltimore, a ball loss in the decisive phase caused the defeat. If the Chiefs want to get back on track, they have to eliminate such mistakes in their own game. Andy Reid has certainly made adjustments in the run-up to the Eagles game.

The defence is also likely to be the focus of adjustments. So far, they have rarely been able to keep Mahomes and Co. off their backs. In order to get into the right rhythm, the game against Philadelphia is possibly on the schedule at the right time.

After all, the Eagles were soundly beaten up by the Dallas Cowboys last matchday and also had some problems on the offensive side of the ball. Andy Reid will certainly use the knowledge gained from the game to prepare for the game, as you know the tactician.

Whether he cracks the hundred wins or not. It will be a special return to Philadelphia for Andy Reid.