A homecoming of jokes! Alex Smith’s return to the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp brought plenty of laughs. The legend strolled back into the scene during SiriusXM’s Town Hall, on August 13th, but this time he was the one asking questions from his former HC Andy Reid. The conversation had a laid-back, candid vibe, but the highlight? When Reid revealed the one thing he does NOT like about away camp days!

The 66-year-old did not hold back as he quipped, “I mean, I like coming away and not the beds, ehh,” sparking a roar of laughter from all present in the room. His humor brought a lighter touch to the discussion, contrasting the grueling reality of camp. And Smith’s instinctive laugh was an affirmation in itself. But how did this conversation begin? Alex’s curiosity led him to ask, “What does it mean to you to go away to camp and why are you still doing it?” Guess the question might have been itching for a long time!

“Probably even more important now than it was before,” Reid began. Why? You might ask. According to the coach, technology, specifically, smartphones, has made it important. Do you blame him? These are the biggest distractions, not only for us, but for up-and-coming athletes as well. That’s where these camps promote a culture of crucial team bonding that modern tech can’t replace. “The kids, they’ll get on their cell phones and not communicate. They’ll communicate through their cell phone. Here, they are eating dinner with each other. They’re sleeping in the same dorm rooms and sharing bathrooms. You’ve got to talk and you’ve got to communicate—you develop relationships.” Reid’s words are enough to emphasize the importance of bonding that happens beyond the X’s and O’s.

But his love for camp is not new. “I love being up here,” Reid expressed in August 2023, per The Athletic. “I look forward to it.” His passion for the camp experience has become vital for the Chiefs’ preparation. Fast forward to exactly one year since then, Reid’s commitment to team-building remains unwavering. “For a team, the stronger that bond is, the more you respect that guy next to you, you go that little extra mile. I like it,” he shared at the Town Hall. This sense of togetherness is a hallmark of Reid’s approach and has been the mantra of KC’s success under him.

Under Andy Reid, the Chiefs have been nothing short of magic. With a 128-51 record and 15 playoff victories, Reid has transformed the Chiefs from a team in need of a rebuild to history chasers! Complete the 3-peat and they would etch their name in the annals of NFL history. It’s important to note that Coach Reid’s last losing season was before he joined Kansas—the 4-12 season with the Eagles in 2012.

Cherry on the cake? Reid has cemented his legacy with three Super Bowl wins. He has joined Bill Belichick and Chuck Noll in the elite club of coaches who’ve claimed three rings in just five seasons. His journey from adversity to greatness is a testament to his grit and genius. But more so, the work that goes into each training camp.

Go through Andy Reid’s camp and you can handle the season, per Patrick Mahomes

Andy Reid, a future Hall of Famer at 66, runs a boot camp that would make a drill sergeant flinch. That’s not an assumption, but a conclusion drawn from The Athletic’s 2023 report on the same topic. Since taking the helm in 2013, Kansas veterans have warned rookies about Reid’s no-nonsense training. But for OT Donovan Smith, it must have gotten lost in translation. Grinning, he said in June 2023, “How hard could it be?” He got his answer nine weeks later, “It’s definitely an adjustment here. We definitely work our tails off.”

Patrick Mahomes, now seasoned in his 7th camp, knows the drill. Recalling his rookie year, Mahomes told the Athletic how Reid threw him a curveball during the install period: “You’ll never know when Coach Reid throws those curveballs. I knew the plays, but I got up there, and Coach Reid told [Matt] Nagy (OC), ‘Call the play but don’t tell him the formation’.” That’s the decision-making test the league demands. Reid’s earned his stripes. His playbook is a blend of the old-school grind with today’s modern game.

Reid’s camp isn’t just a grueling trial; they’re mental marathons. As Mahomes puts it, “I’ve told guys if you can get through Andy Reid’s camp, then you’re going to be able to get through an NFL season.” 

With that in mind, the Chiefsdom is hoping that the players will go through the same grind again. Why? This time it’s the 3-peat that’s on the line! Can Andy Reid and his boys do it? What do you think?