Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes dynasty reminds us: Caleb Williams needs an elite coach
The Kansas City Chiefs are officially an NFL dynasty, now that they have won three Super Bowls in five years and, more centrally, have become the first NFL franchise since the New England Patriots in February of 2005 to win back-to-back Super Bowls. The Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime to win Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday night in Las Vegas. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are the new immortal coach-quarterback combo, replacing Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. All of this is surely being noticed by Caleb Williams before the 2024 NFL draft.
Caleb Williams is special, but special quarterbacks still need the right fit. They need a coach and an organization equipped to unlock their talents.
Let’s talk about this a little more:
ANDY REID KNOWS HOW TO MAKE MAHOMES SING
Andy Reid made Donovan McNabb a very good, productive, and successful quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles. He took someone with even more talent and turned that quarterback — Mahomes — into an all-time great. Caleb Williams has elite talent. We can’t emphasize enough the need for Caleb to have a coach who knows how to scheme and design plays in ways that are tailored to his gifts and strengths.
MAHOMES CAREER ARC
Patrick Mahomes is 28 years old and has three Super Bowl titles in four appearances. That’s what Andy Reid has done for him. Caleb needs and deserves a great coach, not a mediocre one. If he goes to the Bears and Matt Eberflus, he will not get what he needs.
KEY POINT ABOUT THE CHIEFS
The Chiefs won this Super Bowl without Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator. This championship was won with Matt Nagy — a failed head coach (with the Bears, ironically enough) as offensive coordinator. It’s a reminder that Andy Reid is the coach who holds the Chiefs together. Caleb Williams needs a strong head coach, not just a decent coordinator, to fully thrive.
VIKINGS REMAIN A GOOD FIT FOR CALEB
A great outcome for Caleb Williams: The Minnesota Vikings push all their chips into the middle of the table and make a kingmaker offer for Caleb. Kevin O’Connell is a bright, young coach who has made lots of great adjustments to the Vikings. If he is willing to move mountains to get Caleb, that’s an organization where Caleb could thrive. It’s hard to find a better fit among teams with non-elite quarterbacks.
VIKINGS REMINDER
Jordan Addison plays for the Vikings. Justin Jefferson plays for the Vikings. Caleb would have his 2022 USC receiver to throw to … and Justin Jefferson. Holy smokes. Caleb really couldn’t ask for a better situation. If I’m the Vikings, I’m willing to give the Bears the crown jewels for Caleb Williams. The cost will be worth the return.
QUESTION FOR ALL OF YOU
Here’s a question everyone needs to reflect on for a few seconds: What if Patrick Mahomes went to the Chicago Bears or Arizona Cardinals instead of the Kansas City Chiefs? Would he be one of the greats, or a frustrated 28-year-old searching for success?
JOE MONTANA
What if Joe Montana, coming out of Notre Dame, went to the 1979 Detroit Lions or New York Jets instead of Bill Walsh and the San Francisco 49ers? Would he have become a legend?
TOM BRADY
Tom Brady made Bill Belichick to a considerable extent, but even then, it remains that if Brady had not found Belichick in New England and was instead drafted by the Jets or the Cleveland Browns, he probably doesn’t become the GOAT. Coaching matters. For everyone.
NFL HISTORY
The great Steeler and Cowboy teams of the 1970s had great head coach-quarterback combinations: Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw for Pittsburgh, Tom Landry and Roger Staubach for Dallas. Vince Lombardi had Bart Starr in Green Bay with the Packers. Don Shula had Bob Griese with the Miami Dolphins. Jimmy Johnson had Troy Aikman with the Cowboys. Mike Shanahan had John Elway with the Denver Broncos. Now we have Reid and Mahomes, following Belichick and Brady, as a dynastic coach-QB tandem. The great NFL champions have great coaches and quarterbacks. Caleb Williams can only hope he will find the right guide as he starts his NFL career.
