The Fruit of Their Labor: How a Smith & Reid Super Bowl Victory Would Mean More

With Alex Smith in his final year, and Andy Reid attempting to get his team their 5th-straight winning season, I wanted to take a look at how we got here. The 2012 season may have been the lowest point in the history of the Kansas City Chiefs, but they were able to bounce back quickly and sustain a reasonable level of success since Reid and Smith came here. And most of that, I’m sure, is because Smith is a better-than-average player who “won’t lose games for you,” and Andy Reid is one of the best coaches in history. But there’s also another, less quantifiable element outside of X’s and O’s that has lent itself to success, and basically, it’s one of culture.

The culture that was created by Andy Reid and his staff is one with many complications, but believe that the union between Reid, Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs is one of serendipity. All three elements – Reid, Smith and the Chiefs organization – have traversed very heavy personal tragedies, and came to Kansas City at a time when they all needed something more than anything: a family.

I’m sure someone else could weave a book-length tale from these three elements, but I am only going to provide a timeline of events below to give you a general picture of how things came together:

• August 10th, 2008 – Alex Smith’s best friend, David Edwards, takes his own life.

• Smith’s 2008 Season – Smith injures shoulder and misses the entire season.

• Smith 2009-2010 – Smith’s level of play improves, and his QB jumps to the low 90’s.

• January 9th, 2011 – 49ers hire Jim Harbaugh as Head Coach.

• 2011 Season – Alex Smith plays great under Harbaugh, finishes the season with a career-high QB rating of 90.7.

• August 5th 2012 – Andy Reid’s son, Garrett dies of a drug overdose.

• November 11th, 2012 – Smith suffers a concussion that ultimately opens the door for the 49ers to run with Colin Kaepernick.

• December 1st, 2012 – Jovan Belcher murders his girlfriend, and shoots himself in the parking lot at Arrowhead Stadium.

• December 31st, 2012 – Andy Reid is fired as Head Coach of the Eagles.

• Reid’s 2012 Season – His final year in Philadelphia, Reid finishes with his worst record as a head coach (4-12).

• Chief’s 2012 Season – The Chiefs finish tied for the worst record in franchise history (2-14).

• Smith’s 2012 Season – Smith watches his backup take his team to the Super Bowl (and lose).

• January 4th, 2013 – Andy Reid is hired as Head Coach of the Chiefs.

• January 4th, 2013 – Scott Pioli is fired as GM of the Chiefs.

• January 12th, 2013 – John Dorsey hired as GM of the Chiefs

• March 12th, 2013 – Chiefs trade for Alex Smith

• 2013 Season – Reid and Smith’s Chiefs go from 2-14 to 11-5, repeatedly referring to the locker being a “family.”

• 2014 – Present – Winning football.

Basically what you see here is one organization and two individuals who suffered tragedies, poor seasons, and disappointment. But what you also notice is that these guys – Reid and Smith –  joined a hurting locker room and were able to bring it together and turn around the franchise almost immediately. Reid and Smith brought with them the hope of second chances, the understanding of personal tragedy, and ultimately created something that’s probably more than culture. They created a “family.”