Getty Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Usually following a Kansas City Chiefs game, the coaching staff and select players immediately take questions from the media. After the team’s Week 3 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers, a familiar face was notably missing at the podium: Head coach Andy Reid.
According to NFL Network reporter James Palmer, the 63-year-old immediately left GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in an ambulance, but “should be OK.”
Chiefs announced Andy Reid was feeling ill, so he did not address media out of caution. I can confirm he left the stadium in an ambulance. Players didn’t know he wasn’t feeling well and were told he should be ok. Everything is pointing toward the Chiefs taking every precaution.
“Everything looks fine, but he’s getting checked out,” Chiefs Executive Vice President of Communications Ted Crews also said, according to 41 Actions News Kansas City.
In another tweet from national sports reporter Jason La Canfora, Reid’s exit from Arrowhead was “precautionary,” and the veteran manager was “dehydrated.”
The Chiefs organization tweeted an update on Reid’s status just after 9:30 p.m. Central time on Sunday evening.
“Head Coach Andy Reid felt ill at the conclusion of the game. He was evaluated by our medical staff in the locker room, & as a precaution, was transported to The University of Kansas Health System for further evaluation. Coach is doing well, currently resting & in stable condition.”
Head Coach Andy Reid felt ill at the conclusion of the game. He was evaluated by our medical staff in the locker room, & as a precaution, was transported to The University of Kansas Health System for further evaluation. Coach is doing well, currently resting & in stable condition
The weather in Kansas City for the local noon kickoff was a balmy 81 degrees, increasing to 91 by the final whistle.
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On Monday afternoon at noon Central time, ESPN’s Adam Teicher tweeted that although Reid did not participate in team activities Monday, he has been released from the hospital and the Chiefs “expect him back at work later today or tomorrow.”
Chiefs Stars Weigh In on Reid
During his time with reporters, quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn’t notice a problem with his coach.
“He came in and talked to us, he seemed fine, so that’s all I really know,” Mahomes said during his Week 3 postgame press conference.
When he did briefly address the team, special teams coach David Toub said Reid told the squad “you have to quit the turnovers,” per The Kansas City Star.
The prayers and well wishes for Big Red have already begun pouring in, starting with safety Tyrann Mathieu.
I’m praying for my Head Coach & I’m hoping you can send up prayers with me!! One of the best men & teachers I’ve been around!!! GOD please show us your mercy!
“I’m praying for my Head Coach & I’m hoping you can send up prayers with me!! One of the best men & teachers I’ve been around!!! GOD please show us your mercy!” Mathieu tweeted.
Fellow Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill also tweeted he was “sending prayers up for Coach Reid.”
Reid’s Recent Health History
The Los Angeles native told Adam Schefter in a 2017 episode of his podcast that he’d recently lost 60 pounds, but in the previous year, underwent knee surgery.
“Right now I’ve just got a plate in there,” Reid said in 2016, according to ESPN’s Chiefs reporter Adam Teicher. “They’ll keep that in for another five to six weeks and then we’ll go ahead and put a new knee back in, a new prosthetic, and then we’ll start the rehab from there.
“It’s kind of a freak thing,” he continued. “It had been bothering me since training camp, [swelling] up a little bit. They were working on it with antibiotics. I kind of knew once we got to the end of the season we would have to go in and get it taken care of.”
During one of the Chiefs’ earlier OTA practices in June 2021, Reid emerged with a cane, much to everyone’s surprise.
May need an injury report from Andy Reid on Andy Reid. Hoping Big Red is okay! #Chiefs
“I’m good. I hit 60 and things started aching, but I’m good,” he joked to reporters at the time.
The Chiefs are back on the road in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles, where Coach Reid was at the helm from 1999 to 2012. Should he defeat his former side, it would mark win No. 100 for him, making Reid the first NFL head coach to lead two different franchises to 100 victories.
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