Why the Chiefs need to give Andy Reid a contract extension now

Andy Reid needs a shiny new extension right now. Any further inactivity from Clark Hunt only hurts the franchise and the fan base.

Jay Gruden just received a two-year extension from the Washington Redskins. The same Jay Gruden with a .448 winning percentage. The same one that has never fared better than a 9-7 record, who finished just above .500 last year at 8-7-1, and whose defense has been ranked No. 28 overall in yards allowed for two straight seasons. That Jay Gruden.

This isn’t to knock Jay Gruden. Seriously. It’s just about a bit of perspective. I personally think Gruden can be a good coach, and Washington is likely doing a good thing by extending him at this point. But what I cannot understand, for the life of me, is why the Kansas City Chiefs aren’t giving Andy Reid any sort of extension while the Jay Grudens of the coaching world receive some security. It’s baffling.

Here’s what I know: Andy Reid is heading into the final year of his contract. One year from now, he can walk into any front office and sign any document. Clark Hunt says he wants to keep Andy Reid and John Dorsey as part of the Chiefs family. Reid and Dorsey have, by all accounts, reflected favorably upon living and working in Kansas City. They like the city. They like the fans. They’ve certainly built a great team. So why the delay?

Here’s what I also know: The lack of stability and the question marks about Reid’s future can only hinder this franchise. There’s nothing to be gained by dragging this out. One Philadelphia sports talk host is openly questioning whether or not Reid might return to the Eagles in some sort of executive role. John Dorsey has been the subject of rumors to replace Ted Thompson as the general manager of the Green Bay Packers. It’s all conjecture at this point, but even that can be damaging.

Imagine being a free agent who is considering Kansas City. You’re guaranteed to play for Andy Reid for a single year and then what? Do you take a chance that you might have to learn an entirely new playbook under a new staff that has zero investment in you as a player? They didn’t bring you in. The NFL’s recycling process eschews all kinds of players and coaches every year from several teams simply because they don’t “fit” the new regime. There’s no loyalty in this game, except for the oasis here and there where stability can actually be found.