Written by The big game in the United States of America is going to start in a few hours. Two great teams are going to battle it out. Millions of fans are going to watch and many NFL players are going to watch as well, hoping for their own chance at a Super Bowl ring.
One on of the sidelines is a unique coach, one that I have never met, spoken to, or even know much about. Outside of wins, offensive, defensive, and special team’s statistics, I have really only heard one thing about Coach Andy Reid: He makes everyone feel that they are a valued part of the team. Is this why his team, the Kansas City Chiefs, are playing in back-to-back Super Bowls?
ESPN’s Adam Teicher recently interviewed Eric Bieniemy, who was a free agent in the late 1990s. He was receiving lucrative offers from a number of NFL teams, but he chose to join Coach Andy Reid at the Philadelphia Eagles for the league minimum salary. Why did Eric Bieniemy turn down big contracts to play for the league minimum? Because Coach Reid made him feel that he would be a valued member of the team and felt at home. Another former player, Geoff Schwartz, said that everyone loves playing for him. Other players have added that they completely trust Coach Reid in everything that he says and does and that he does everything for the betterment of the organization. It sounds like any athlete would be extremely lucky to be part of an organization that Andy Reid is a part of.
This type of positive team culture significantly contributes to high performance and success of the athletes and team. It is encouraging that others in the NFL can see Coach Reid in action and that bringing a positive culture is how the Kansas City Chiefs went from winning only a few games a year in the late 2000s and early 2010s before his arrival to being in back-to-back Super Bowls. This was not a fluke; it was a positive team culture and Coach Reid’s belief in his assistant coaches, support staff, and athletes that have brought them there.
While I do not know Coach Reid, I know what he stands for. Not by his words but by his actions and how countless athletes’ praise his efforts. I will be cheering him and the Kansas City Chiefs on today as he is a true leader and testament to what a positive team culture can accomplish.