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Head coach Andy Reid was making just $12.5 million a year. Half of what Bill Belichick is believed to be doing in New England.
He had to change. Finally changed. And while it shouldn’t have taken the bosses that long to take care of Reid, better late than never.
Down the road, the Chiefs were setting up a scenario where Reid could retire after the 2023 season. It didn’t change the fact that his superiors were preparing for his talent. (Although many Chiefs fans believe that Reid never considered Reid, not retired, and that the Chiefs never considered the opportunity.)
This is where I pull back the curtain a bit on how to stuff a sausage. If I’m barking up the wrong tree about something, I’m bound to hear about it – from someone on the team, someone related to the person (if not himself), or an intermediary assigned the task of straightening me out. Not once have I heard from the Chiefs or Reid or anyone associated with them that the Chiefs shouldn’t or weren’t prepared for the possibility that Reid might retire.
He said what everyone else was saying in public. Privately, the bosses were preparing for Reid’s possible retirement.
Without a major raise, he probably would have. Perhaps he (the agent) suggested retirement without a new contract as an option. It might be an option. Why are we still making 50% of what Belichick is getting?
There is no salary cap for coaches. Reid, in theory, pulls a Shane Payton, takes a year off and pays the Bills.
The move helped Payton earn $20 million a year. Regardless of what happened behind the scenes, Reid got what he deserved. Along the way, if the bosses have to think about life options without Raid to make it happen, so be it.
Because it worked.