For the Kansas City Chiefs’s HC Andy Reid, nothing is as important as the family! Andy has made a huge name for himself in the NFL world. He is the only coach to win over 100 games, heading two different franchises. Ranking fourth all-time in regular-season victories, he has carved a niche for himself. And, amidst this, he never fails to give the due credit to his family, including his older brother Reggie for supporting him throughout.

Andy grew up with his brother, Reggie, in the Los Feliz neighborhood situated in Los Angeles. Born to Walter, a scenic artist, and Elizabeth, who was a doctor in radiology, both Andy and Reggie shared athletic aspirations. Reggie is significantly older than Andy, almost by 10 years. Despite the huge age gap, they were inseparable. Andy dearly idolized his brother in the early days, following him around everywhere.

While Reggie was a part of the John Marshall High School Varsity football team, Andy became the ball boy to remain closer to his brother. Even Reggie’s friends would comment, “Would you get your little brother out of here? I’m sick of him coming up to me and asking for my chin strap.”

It was Reggie who exposed his brother to football, which led Andy to become a standout athlete. Talking about it, Andy recalled the early days hanging out with Reggie and his friends, adding, “He and his buddies made sure I wasn’t going to be the big, soft kid.”

With Reggie’s guidance, Andy launched himself confidently into football.

The brotherly bond of mutual respect and support

Things took a tumultuous turn as Reggie Reid faced a terrible accident when he was 23. The motorcycle accident left him paralysed on one side. But he did not give up on the face of adversity. He went on to earn a degree to become a successful aikido instructor.

Andy is very proud of his brother for showing incomparable resilience. He added, “You’re talking about a guy that went through a severe motorcycle wreck and has a third-degree black belt in aikido and is an instructor. He’s a great example to me from all the things he went through and still came out on the strong side of it.”

After Reggie’s complete paralysis on his right arm, Andy went forth to become a part of the John Marshall High School football team. Pleased with Andy’s determination, Reggie had never been prouder. “What amazed me was how many guys were running around him, keeping him going, egging him on. Guys that had already finished came back and were just running along next to him. ‘Come on, Andy, you can do it! You can do it!’ He had a lot of heart.”

Nobody understands Andy better than his brother. Reggie believes that Andy has inherited his humorous side from their father, Walter. Reggie recalled that it wasn’t unusual for their father to use various props from the film studio, where he worked in Hollywood scene design after his military service.

He brought the props home for fun to amuse them. Andy has picked on this trait, tricking his team now and then, according to Reggie. Truly, no one understands each other as beautifully as the siblings!