Philadelphia Eagles Football

Eagles name Reid as new coach

Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles public relations

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 11, 1999) — The Philadelphia Eagles announced that Andy Reid has become the 20th head coach in franchise history. Reid joins the Eagles after spending the last seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

From their Mouth

Brett Favre,

San Francisco 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci:

Green Bay Packers General Manager Ron Wolf:

See what they are saying about Reid

With Green Bay, Reid helped the Pack reach the playoffs six straight times from 1993-98. During that span, Green Bay defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI and reached the NFL's title game again the following year after arning the NFC crown with a victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

During the Packers' remarkable run, Reid played a significant role in helping put together that club's renowned offensive attack.

Indeed, Reid put his signature on nearly every part of the Packers' offense while coaching three different positions and assisting head coach Mike Holmgren and offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis with their game-planning duties.

"Frankly, I'm very excited about this decision," said Eagles director of football operations Tom Modrak. "I think he has got a great football background, a great football mind.

"I met with Andy last week and was thoroughly impressed. Andy's enthusiasm for the game and his organizational abilities are certainly outstanding qualities, qualities that have me really looking forward to working with him.

"In terms of his ideas on how we can take this program and get it headed in the right direction, I was, again, extremely impressed. Andy has a strong reputation in NFL circles."

The 40-year-old Reid, who has an extensive and diverse background, achieved notable
success coaching the Packers offensive line, tight ends, and quarterbacks, including
three-time NFL MVP Brett Favre during the 1997-98 seasons.

Reid took over the responsibility of presiding over the quarterbacks after Marty Mornhinweg departed Green Bay to become San
Francisco's offensive coordinator in 1997. During his first year at that post, Favre garnered NFL MVP honors along with Detroit running back Barry Sanders.

Prior to becoming quarterbacks coach, Reid served as the Packers' tight ends and assistant offensive line coach. Under his patient and resourceful tutelage, tight end was a consistently productive position during his tenure, a span punctuated by Mark Chmura being named to the Pro Bowl following the 1995 season — the first such honor for a Packers tight end since 1983 — and Keith Jackson to an identical honor following the 1996 campaign.

Andy, who built a reputation for developing outstanding offensive lines while in the college ranks, saw Chmura and predecessor Jackie Harris put up near-record numbers under his direction upon his arrival in Green Bay. Harris registered 55 receptions in 1993, a total only one shy of the Packers single-season record, and Chmura posted 54 catches in 1995, the third-highest collection in team annals.

In 1996, Reid elicited a hallmark season from Jackson, whose 10 touchdown receptions fell only one short of the Packers' record for TD catches by a tight end and who played a major role in the Pack's Super Bowl XXXI triumph over the New England Patriots.

Reid, who had been offensive line coach at the University of Missouri from 1988-91, was named to the Packers' staff by Holmgren on Jan. 21, 1992, to assist Tom Lovat with the offensive line in addition to coaching the tight ends.

Quality pass-blocking offensive lines — in both the Division I and II ranks — had been Reid's hallmark since launching his coaching career at San Francisco State in 1983.

The school led the nation in passing offense and total offense for three consecutive years (1983-85) while serving as the school's offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and strength coach.

Reid moved to Northern Arizona as offensive line coach in 1986, then to Texas-El Paso in 1987. When Bob Stull took over as head coach at Missouri in 1989, he joined Stull's Tiger staff and spent three years there prior to being recruited by the Packers in 1992.

Reid's coaching career began at his alma mater, Brigham Young, as a graduate assistant under Lavell Edwards in 1982. An offensive tackle and guard on three Holiday Bowl teams as a collegian, Reid first met Holmgren who was a member of BYU's coaching staff.

Reid went on to earn three varsity football letters, graduating with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He also received a master's degree in professional leadership in physical education and athletics.

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