Andy Reid Is the NFL's Most Successful Failure Since Marv Levy

Andy Reid is cementing his legacy with some of the NFL coaching greats who have achieved their own special brand of notoriety.  These men have earned winning records, catapulted their team to several postseason appearances, but never won the Big Game.

Two other prominent coaches who share this dubious honor with Reid are Marv Levy of the Buffalo Bills and Bud Grant of the Minnesota Vikings.

Let’s compare their careers:

Bud Grant’s NFL regular season record is 158-96-5. This is not too shabby in the NFL world.  His winning percentage is also a very decent 62 percent. However, in the post season, Grant’s winning light dimmed as his record fell to 10 - 12 with a below average winning percentage of 45 percent.

Marv Levy’s NFL regular season record was 143-112-0 with a winning percentage of 56 percent. In the post season, he also stayed above the .500 mark with a record of 11- 8 and a winning percentage of 58 percent.  Unfortunately, this winning postseason record did not produce a Super Bowl ring.

Andy Reid’s NFL regular season record as of now is 97-62-1 plus he has achieved a winning percentage of 61 percent. In the post season, Reid still sports an impressive 10-7 record with a winning percentage of 59 percent.

The reason we have dubbed him the “most successful failure since Marv Levy” is because he has, like the other two coaching legends, failed to win at the Super Bowl. Levy and Grant drove their teams to four Super Bowls of which they have lost all four. 

Reid has only had the pleasure of attending one Super Bowl as Head Coach, and if our memory serves correctly and it does, resulted in a loss.  He has had the privilege of going to five NFC Championship games.  Of course, he did lose four of them, but he took the trip nonetheless.  

This road trip has befuddled and exasperated Eagles’ fans for years. At PossessionPoints.com, we hear from the Philadelphia Faithful who crave that Super Bowl victory to the point where many would like to see Andy Reid go.  Always remember, be careful what you wish for.   

During the offseason, we analyze a team’s chances by looking at their draft picks, free agents, and of course, coaching changes.  If the Eagles made such a change and replaced Andy Reid, we would most certainly make negative adjustments to their projections for next season.

Coaching continuity is a big factor in winning seasons. Replacing Reid is probably not the catalyst needed to book a quick trip to the Super Bowl next season. We’re guessing that if the Bills or the Vikings had the chance to put a Levy or Grant (in their coaching prime) back at the helm of their teams, they would do so in a heartbeat.  Unfortunately, great coaching does not always equate to a Super Bowl victory. 

Another common component that exists between Reid, Levy and Grant is that they all had a “star” Quarterback for a majority of their post season appearances. Grant had Fran Tarkenton, Levy had Jim Kelly, and Reid—well, he has Donovan McNabb, an amazing athlete who also is the world’s most maligned and misunderstood Quarterback according to every media outlet there is in this world. 

Another interesting “small world” tidbit that Reid, Levy and Grant share is the Philadelphia Eagles organization.  Grant played for the Eagles from 1951-1952. Levy had his first pro coaching job in 1969 as the Eagles’ Kicking Team Coach, and Reid’s first Head Coach gig was and is at the helm of Philadelphia.     

We do not want to end here on a down note especially when it comes to these coaches’ contributions, so let us also remember that these three men are the “winningest” coaches in each of their franchise’s history. 

Three great men; three great coaches; and not one Super Bowl winner.  What can we say? Frustration: thy name is the NFL.