Philadelphia Eagles Announce Coach Andy Reid Will Be Back As Coach

Andy Reid will be back for a 14th season as head coach of the Eagles, owner Jeff Lurie said Tuesday in his first public comments in five months.


Lurie, meeting the media for the first time since training camp in August, said Reid will return as head coach in 2012 despite the team's hugely disappointing 8-8 season and a third consecutive season without a playoff win.

“You’ve got to have the anger. You’ve got to have the motivation, the dedication, and the focus and the talent. My answer to those questions is yes,” Lurie said. “That’s why I want to see our team coached by Andy Reid next year, and I can’t wait to see that team play. There’s no doubt in my mind, if our focus is on trying to win a championship next year, the best coach for that is Andy.”

That said, Lurie opened his press conference by expressing his extreme disappointment with this season. He said his primary emotions were "anger" and "frustration." 

"This season was without question the most disappointing season since I owned the team," Lurie said.

"It's completely unacceptable to be 8-8."

But Lurie is certain they'll be better next season.

"If I didn’t think that next year would be substantially better, then I’d be standing up here announcing a coaching change or other changes," he said, "and that’s not what I think’s going to happen."

Not surprisingly, Lurie said he's not planning on extending Reid's contract, which has two years remaining. 

"Not at this point, no," he said.

He also said team president Joe Banner and general manager Howie Roseman will remain in their roles, and it will be up to Reid to make any changes in the coaching staff.

Despite several huge free agent acquisitions that led many experts and analysts to pick the Eagles to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, the Eagles found themselves 4-8 after 12 games. They tied an NFL record by losing five games they led going into the fourth quarter and set an NFL record by losing four such games at home.

Lurie called the Eagles' start "dismal" and "unfathomable" and cited a "miscalculation in implementing big scheme changes" given the shortened off-season.

"The consistent loss of games in the fourth quarter was bitter for me," Lurie said.

The Eagles finished the season by routing the Dolphins, Jets, Cowboys and Redskins, becoming the first team in NFL history to win its last four games all by two touchdowns or more and not reach the playoffs.

But the strong finish wasn't nearly enough to make up for the nightmarish start.

"We weren't playing Green Bay, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and some of the best teams in the league," Lurie said. "We proved we could dominate the last four games of the year against teams that weren't that competitive. 

"There's a lot to be said for the players coming together and the coaching staff holding this group together in a way that was impressive, but to hold on to that as the reason to be completely optimistic is I think fool's gold.

“To think there are any excuses for taking that long to come together is misplaced."

Reid’s tenure has been marked by consistent regular-season success -- since Reid took over for Ray Rhodes in 1999, only the Colts have reached the playoffs more often -- without a championship to show for it.

Reid is one of 23 coaches in NFL history with a .600 winning percentage and at least 10 years as a head coach, but he’s among only five in that group that hasn’t won an NFL Championship or Super Bowl.

Only Marty Schottenheimer, Bud Grant and Chuck Knox have reached the playoffs more than Reid without winning a championship.

Lurie pointed out that since 2008, only the Ravens have reached the playoffs more than the Eagles. Since 2006, the Eagles have made the playoffs more than any NFC team.

"You've got to be in the tournament to be able to win a Super Bowl. That's the singular goal," Lurie said. "It's hard enough to get into the playoffs, and this coach and his staff have a superb track record of getting into the tournament."

Lurie not only analyzed Reid's track record and performance in recent years but also what he called Reid's "intangibles."

"The intangibles are the overriding factor for me," Lurie said. "What I don't look for is a player's coach. I want a coach that coaches hard, and how to the players respond to hard coaching? ... This was, contrary to the 8-8 record, one of the best groups in terms of motivation and energy at practice I've ever seen.

"Does [Reid] have the fire in his belly? Does he have what it takes to take a team far into the playoffs and have a shot at the Super Bowl? It's a grueling profession, as all you know. Andy Reid to me not only has the love of the players and their respect but he also has the fire in his belly to be the best."

Lurie also cited Reid's reputation, which last summer allowed the Eagles to sign top free agents.

"Tremendous respect around league," Lurie said.

Reid has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years as the playoff wins have dried up and his most successful years -- 2001 through 2004 -- have faded into the past.

In his first six years as head coach, the Eagles went 64-32 with four NFC East titles, seven playoff wins, four trips to the NFC Championship Game and one Super Bowl appearance.

In the last seven years, the Eagles are 62-49-1 with three NFC East titles, three playoff wins, one trip to the NFC Championship Game and no Super Bowl appearances.

During the six-year period from 1999 through 2004, no NFL team won more games than the Eagles. During the past seven years, the Eagles have the 11th-best record in the NFL.

Reid ranks 11th in NFL history with 10 career playoff wins, but his teams haven’t won any postseason games the last three years -- since beating the Vikings and Giants on the road on the way to the 2008 NFC Championship Game.

The last three seasons have ended with wild-card losses to the Cowboys and Packers and this year a four-game winning streak that wasn’t enough to give the Eagles a playoff berth or winning record.

Reid, who will be 53 in March, is the NFL’s longest-tenured coach. He was hired one year before Bill Belichick of the Patriots, who has won three Super Bowls -- including in 2004, when the Patriots beat the Eagles, 24-21.