Andy Reid gets praise in NFL coach power rankings

The Kansas City Chiefs went through a rough patch at the start of the decade when trying to find a competent head coach. First, it was Todd Haley who looked promising, only to fired midway through the 2011 season because he couldn’t get along with general manager Scott Pioli. Then it was Romeo Crennel for a year and change, who you could argue is the worst head coach in franchise history.

Then, like a beaming ray of sunshine through the clouds, owner Clark Hunt was able to lure Andy Reid to Kansas City. Over the first two years of the Reid era, the Chiefs have gone 11-5 and 9-7, making the playoffs once but getting better each season (yes, Kansas City of last year would have pummeled the 2013 team).

Over at NFL.com, Elliot Harrison decided to rank all 32 head coaches. He put Jim Tomsula of the San Francisco 49ers at the back of the line and placed Bill Belichick at the top. He also found a spot for Big Red at No. 10, which feels right. Here’s what he had to say about Reid.

"One of the most veteran head coaches on our list, Reid has the skins on the wall to make the top 10. He led the Eagles to four straight NFC title games in the early 2000s and a fifth in 2008 … after Philadelphia had been in all of one championship game since 1960. In his first season in Kansas City, Reid directed the Chiefs to the postseason. They lost their wild-card matchup with the Colts by one point — and lost six players to injury in that game, including star running back Jamaal Charles. Injuries also helped hold Kansas City back in a playoff-less 2014. With the defense healthier and receiver Jeremy Maclin now on board, the Chiefs could win the AFC West in 2015."

This is a good analysis of the last two years. Reid’s teams are always good and always in the mix. Going into 2015, there is no reason to believe this won’t be the case again. If the Chiefs are healthy, they are going to the playoffs and likely winning the AFC West. Much of that is due to having such a terrific coach.

Also, for our daily laugh at the Denver Broncos, Harrison ranked their former head coach, John Fox, ninth. His replacement, Gary Kubiak? 20th. Boom Elway. Boom.