Andy Reid immediately grew teary-eyed, pausing for reflection, when he was asked in a recent podcast interview how his marriage has carried him through the past 45 years.
His wife — who has warmly titled herself the “head coach of the head coach” — has brought “such great energy” to their life and marriage, the Kansas City Chiefs head coach said in the podcast interview released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“We’ve been through some ups and downs,” but there is strength and trust in the relationship, he said.
Reid, a Latter-day Saint and NFL coach, was interviewed by Derrick Porter, host of the Tabernacle Choir’s signature broadcast, “Music & the Spoken Word.”
Their interview was released ahead of Reid’s upcoming guest appearance on the choir’s July 5 episode of “Music & the Spoken Word,” which will celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The conversation centered around the people, principles and pillars that have carried Reid’s team, faith and family.
“There’s no greater coach than Christ,” Reid said. Christ has made it through a “whole lot of years being a pretty good coach” and is a “great example to all of us.”
See the video podcast, syndicated by the Church News, and highlights of their 30-minute conversation below. Information on how to watch Reid perform with the Tabernacle Choir this weekend can be found here.
Reid’s yearslong relationship with the Tabernacle Choir
Reid’s upcoming performance with the Tabernacle Choir, where he will guest narrate the choir’s July 5 episode of “Music & the Spoken Word,” will not be the first time the head coach has shared the stage with the choir.
Back in 2003, Reid — then-head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles — actually led the choir in singing “Fly Eagles Fly” during their July 2003 concert at Philadelphia’s Mann Theater.
Porter asked Reid about this unique experience, and Reid said it was “really one of the highlights of my life.”
“You compare this to what you do when you win a Super Bowl,” he said. “It was just that exciting.”
In a 2003 Church News report about the event, Reid said: “It was a rush to see all those faces smiling and looking back at me. I think they were enjoying it as much as I was.”
How Reid has kept his faith and family strong
As part of a business often requiring him to work 12- to 15-hour days, Reid said in the podcast there are three pillars and priorities he has adopted to guide his focus, time and energy.
These pillars are faith, family and football.
Faith and family are important to him and his wife, Reid said, so he makes the time to pray, study his scriptures, and regularly communicate with his wife and kids.
Making the time for each of these habits often requires him to wake up early so he can arrive at work at the Kansas City Stadium at about 4 a.m. and maximize the quiet hours of the morning, he said.
Reid also said he makes the effort to partake of the sacrament each Sunday, even during busy football seasons.
Doing so “keeps everything real,” he said.
In “this world you can get caught up in, like I say, the fluff of the National Football League — it’s big,” he said. But it really comes down to the players, the relationships and family.
The principles Reid and his players have cultivated for success
Four main principles guide Reid and his players. They are displayed in their locker room and have often been repeated by players in tough situations, Reid said in the podcast.
The four principles are:
- Eliminate distractions
- Create energy
- Fear nothing
- Attack everything
Football is “an emotional game and it’s a crazy thing to go out and to really battle with these guys — that’s your livelihood,” Reid said.
It is crazy, mentally and physically, he added, and “you’re going to be nervous. … But you can’t run from that. You’ve got to get in there and you’ve got to focus on it and handle it.”
Learn more about how to watch Reid perform with the Tabernacle Choir this weekend here.