Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has become a prominent figure in the NFL thanks to his longtime success in the league, including owning three Super Bowl rings as a head coach.
Reid is officially nearing 300 career coaching victories ahead of the 2024 season, which officially begins when the defending Super Bowl champs take on the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Sept. 5, to start the new league year. But the head coach earned, arguably, his biggest win over 40 years ago.
Who Is Tammy Reid, and How Did Andy Meet Her?
Tammy Reid has been by the side of the multiple Super Bowl winner since the early 1980s.
Andy and Tammy Reid first met on the college campus of Brigham Young University in 1980. The future NFL head coach apparently was so enamored with Tammy, that he officially converted to the Mormon faith.
Tammy Reid was born in New York City on Nov. 6, 1959. Although, she lived in Tennessee and Arizona, and the latter state was where she attended high school. Tammy came from a tight-knit family and was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon church. She went to BYU to study physical education and was attracted to Andy immediately upon meeting him.
It wasn’t football that brought the couple together, though. Surprisingly, it was the tennis court as both took a class on campus involving the sport. They eventually bonded over a love of sports.
But it wasn’t Andy who attempted to shoot his shot first. Tammy made the first move by proposing a date, which involved playing racquetball. Only a year into meeting one another, the couple fell for each other quickly and were married in 1981.
Their relationship has grown more into the light as Andy has established himself as a winning NFL head coach. He even spoke about how integral her presence has been following his first Vince Lombardi Trophy. Andy gave out some rare relationship advice after defeating the San Francisco 49ers.
“Every day is a special day, I’m telling ya. I call her my girlfriend for that reason. You never lose interest if you do that, right, you guys out there? Call them your girlfriend, and you always do special things for them,” Andy said following the 31-20 victory down in Miami.
The Reid Family Bond Is Strong, Even After Tragedy
The Reid companionship, again, has stretched four decades since that racquetball date. Five children have since entered the picture, three sons and two daughters.
Andy has taken 160 career losses in the NFL, with Tammy witnessing each one. However, the couple has had to overcome personal grief too.
Their oldest son, Garrett Reid, died of a heroin overdose in 2012. When Andy won his first Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2020, Tammy said that she knew Garrett was always watching over them.
Despite legal issues, Britt Reid has coached under his father, strengthening their family bond. Tammy refers to Andy as a family man, and time with his children and grandchildren is very important to him. The Reid family lives by the values of hard work and perseverance.
Andy and Tammy Reid Win on and off the Field
Although Tammy stays out of the NFL limelight, she is always by Andy’s side after every game. She supports Andy’s career and praises his wonderful qualities as a head coach. She has everlasting faith in Andy’s career and coaching decisions and has moved from state to state with him. Their values go beyond football, and they take pride in giving back to the community as exemplified below.
Listening to Andy Reid discuss Faith, Family and Football … the Football part .. good stuff. pic.twitter.com/ITOyts5NQQ
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) May 19, 2020
Their collective résumé is quite impressive. Andy actually owns four Super Bowl victories in total, though only three come as a head coach — a trio while leading the Kansas City Chiefs and one with the Green Bay Packers as the quarterbacks coach under Mike Holmgren. That was also during a time when the franchise was led at quarterback by future Hall of Famer Brett Favre.
Through wins or losses, Tammy shared the type of person she is after every game.
“Maybe people don’t know this about me but I’m a very positive person, and I have the ultimate trust in Andrew as a coach,” Tammy explained in a Chiefs profile of Andy. “We’ve been through 38 years of coaching, and so I never don’t think we’re going to win.”
Tammy’s Off-Field Endeavor
While her husband demands excellence, hustle, and playing collectively on the field, Tammy has one endeavor she advocates for.
She has served as an advocate for those who have dealt with domestic violence and abuse. Tammy has planned events and worked with youth groups through her church. She has also volunteered with multiple women’s organizations. Her work first started in Philadelphia through the Laurel House.
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She went on to join the organization’s advisory board, allowing her to brainstorm community ideas plus help plan yearly galas.
Outside of her work with Laurel House, Tammy founded the Eagles’ Women’s Association to help encourage the soulmates of NFL coaches and players to become more involved in the community.