For Andy Reid, every football field is a school, complete with laboratories, homework, and students seeking the influence of dedicated teachers. It’s the setting that Reid believes best leads to long-term success.

The career of this former BYU football player—a graduate assistant under LaVell Edwards who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BYU in physical education—bears that out. Reid is the only coach in NFL history to win 100 games with two different teams. He has coached in numerous Super Bowls—winning three—and is widely considered one of the greatest coaches and best “football minds” ever.

But ask Reid’s “students,” and you’ll hear other accolades: father figure, player’s coach, builder, and giver of both second chances and accountability. Reid is uniquely beloved, and in an interview this spring, just before he was given a BYU Distinguished Alumni Award, he gave credit for that success to his family, his faith, and the mentoring he received from fellow coaches who were also good men.

Here is his interview with the McKay School, edited for space and clarity, along with highlights from other portions of Reid’s sit-down in Provo.

Q: You’ve often said you enjoy teaching, and a lot of people have described you as a master teacher. How important is teaching in coaching an NFL team? And what traits of Jesus Christ, the Master Teacher, have shaped you?

A: I’ve gotten labeled as being a teacher. The Church obviously has been a big influence in that: we know we’re here on this earth life to be teachers. That’s what I try to present to the people I come in contact with, and I try to do it to the best of my ability. Everybody learns a little differently. It’s my responsibility to find the way people learn best and give them an opportunity to succeed. These are all things that, again, we’re taught in church, and I’m able to carry that into my profession.

Q: You’ve been described as treating each of your players as an individual, offering grace and second chances when you can. How much does your faith play into this approach?

A: I think people deserve a second chance. We’re all going to make mistakes. What matters is the ability and the attack of how you try to right the wrong. I’m into giving second chances if I know you’re willing to make it right. I’ve been fortunate to have guys that needed that who have made the best of it. Are all people going to be able to handle that? Not always. But I’ve been very fortunate to have guys who have made it and who have come out on a very positive side of that.

Q: You’re known for being willing to try unorthodox ideas. For example, there’s that famous story about you running a play suggested by a janitor. How do you maintain that eagerness to learn?

A: I’ve been said to take plays from anybody and everybody—it’s to better the team. It’s also to keep people involved. Originally, I was the one who kind of started it off and said, “Why can’t we do this? Within the realm of the lines on the field, within the rules, why can’t we do something different?” I want to see us use our creativity. We all have a creative side to us.

A janitor and his family cleaned our offices in Green Bay, and the janitor kept telling me for six years that he had a play for me that was going to work. So finally I had him draw it up, and it looked pretty good, and we ran the play. It worked, and we were able to score a touchdown on it. It was a good learning lesson when I was relatively young, before I was a head football coach.

Q: Harking back very briefly to your experience as a student and reflecting on your time at BYU, how do you feel you’re using those lessons of learning by faith and intellect as a coach?

A: I would say that it’s a pretty easy thing to do, as long as you’re living the way you’re supposed to be living. We’re given blessings in our lives, and if we do certain things, good things are going to happen, and we’ll be able to touch others and be able to teach others.

I try to follow those guidelines, and I think it has benefited me to be able to communicate with people, to help teach people in a simple form. I have tried to take something that might be a little complicated, simplify it, let others show their talents, and also make some money at the same time.

Q: Your practices have been compared to laboratories in which you empower everybody to try different things. Do you think that’s a factor in how many leaders you’ve helped produce as a coach?

A: We do actually have a laboratory—that’s what we call it—during our special-teams period. Players will go over and experiment with different things with the special teams. There are some red lights for them in terms of what they can try, but the yellow light with us is a long yellow light, and the green light is open for them to go for it. As a coach, you have a lot of smart guys out there, guys who understand the game. If they have something to put out there, let’s put it out there. Let’s see what we have.

More Wisdom from Andy Reid on Teaching, Learning, and Life

On Teaching and Mentoring

Some of the last words from LaVell Edwards when I left BYU were, “When you go to the head coach with a problem, have a well-thought-out answer.” I have not only used that in my football life but have also used it in my married life and with raising my children. When I go to them with a problem, I’m going to have a well-thought-out answer. They might not like it, but at least I’m coming to the table with something, and we can work from there.

There have been a few people who have mentored me, but none more than LaVell Edwards when I was at BYU. How many head coaches call one of their players, an explayer, once a week until the day he passes away? It just doesn’t happen. What a great example it was for me—for that, for not being afraid to be yourself with your players, for giving part of yourself to the players, and for cherishing those relationships.

On Living His Faith

In my business, sometimes people talk about how religious they are, but when the light’s not on them, they’re not shining. They’re going a different direction.

I’ve been blessed in a lot of different ways: in family, in my job opportunities, in the people I’ve met with, and in my job. I give all the credit to my faith. I bank on it, I live it, and I’m very fortunate to be honored and humbled to be where I’m sitting today.

His Advice to Students

I’m gonna give you what I give my players, and this would be the advice that I think helps you in a lot of different areas:

•Eliminate distractions. We’ve all got issues and things that we have to deal with. But it’s important that you focus on whatever job is at hand.

• Create energy. How am I going to go into this business? I am going to go into it with a positive attitude, telling our players, “I’m bringing it every day. I’ll give you my best every day.” You don’t want to be an energy taker. None of us likes to be around that kind of people. So keep that positive energy consistently.

• Fear nothing, attack everything. To overcome your fears, the best way to do it is not to walk around them but to go right out and attack. I think Heavenly Father has taught us this. Christ has taught us this in His journey here on earth. I’m sure He had fears, but He went right after them.

The Legacy of a Master Teacher

Andy Reid Alumni on Their Coach's Influence

Tyreek Hill

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver from 2016 to 2022

[Coach] used to pull me to the side all the time and say, “Ree, . . . I’m in your corner. Don’t mess this up, dog.” My parents loved him; he loved my parents. He used to call my granddad all the time when my granddad was going through his situation. He used to check on him without me even telling him to. It was like, “Bro, this dude . . . really cares for me. . . .” I really never had that in a coach, besides my granddad. I was like, “Bro, every . . . play that I play, I don’t care if I’m hurt. I’m going to give this dude 110 percent, no matter what. . . . I know he has got my back no matter what, and he’s going to put me in the right positions to succeed in life.” And that’s what he did, on and off the field. [If there’s] anyway he can help you out, he’s going to help you out. [Tyreek Hill, host with Julius Collins, “Mike Vick: Black NFL Quarterbacks, Falcons Moving on While in Prison and Second Chances from Andy Reid,” It Needed to Be Said, podcast, season 2, episode 10, 1 July 2023, YouTube video, 55:45–56:33, youtube.com/watch?v=tLyum_Vq4hw&list=PLf-vajRc1jAt9RQ9CzBwtUnbJvGr47CPA&index=1]

Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback since 2017

The biggest thing for me when you talk about . . . Coach (Andy) Reid is that he knows how to win with a lot of different players. That speaks to the person he is. You always have to build a different culture; you always have to adapt your team to the players you have on your team. And he’s done a great job of that not only here but in Philly . . . [but also] when he was an assistant coach all around the league and in college. . . . He can relate to everybody, and he can go out and get the best out of every single person. [Patrick Mahomes, press conference; quoted in Chiefs Player Quotes, 29 November 2023, in “Chiefs Quotes: 11-29-23,” Salina Post, 30 November 2023, salinapost.com/posts/6c196f4d-61bc-4516-8e8d-0ac35e587a3e]

Jason Kelce

Philadelphia Eagles center when both he and Reid were with the Eagles and whose brother, Travis, plays for Reid on Kansas City Chiefs team

One of the beautiful things . . . behind your coaching philosophy is everybody gets to lead in their own way. Trav does it his way, I do it mine. [Jason Kelce, cohost with Travis Kelce, speaking to guest Andy Reid in “Andy Reid on Drafting the Kelce Brothers, Coaching Mahomes, Super Bowl Memories and More,” New Heights, podcast, episode 38, 10 May 2023, YouTube video, 12:27–12:35, youtube.com/watch?v=JWTwkwoqHK4]

Dexter McCluster

Running back and return specialist for the Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, and San Diego Chargers; drafted by the Chiefs in 2010 and coached by Reid from 2013 to 2014 

I thank God for Andy Reid. That man came right on time. . . . He was able to put me in a situation to showcase who I was as a player. He didn’t put a seal on me. He just let me go. . . .

We use this term a lot, and you’ve all heard it: player’s coach. He’s a guy who wants you to show your personality. He’d say, “Deuce Deuce, when you make that first down, I want to see you dance.” . . . What that gives a person! You don’t walk around tight. You can go out there and play football. He lets his coaches coach, and everybody can do their job. You see what type of success they’re having. Shout out, Big Red! . . .

Having a leader like that and having guys that really believe—if they’re losing by 10, or if they’re losing by 20, there’s no doubt in their mind that they’re not going to lose that game. . . . We have everybody believing it. . . . He has his players. They trust in him, they believe in him, and they want to make sure—“We’ve got to win this for this guy.” [Dexter McCluster with hosts Takeo Spikes and Tutan Reyes, “He Was Too Small for College Football Now He’s an SEC Legend! Dexter McCluster’s Incredible Journey,” Behind the Mask, podcast, 26 December 2024, YouTube video, 6:20–8:17, youtube.com/watch?v=xaVqXHvF-3M]

Ben Roethlisberger

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback

You never hear Andy Reid complain about getting more credit. . . . It’s like Andy doesn’t want the shine. He’s like, no, give it to the players. [Ben Roethlisberger, speaking with cohost Spencer Te’o, “Chiefs/Refs, Best QBs to Never Win a SB, Steelers Coaching Changes, Jayden Daniels and More!” Footbahlin’ with Ben Roethlisberger, podcast, episode 69, Channel Seven, 28 January 2025, YouTube video, 38:52–39:06, youtube.com/watch?v=-qyAEGNUgy4]