Episode 2: Andy Reid – Winning, Leadership & Building a Dynasty

In Episode 2 of On the Line with Jim Pyne, Jim sits down with one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, Andy Reid, for a conversation about leadership, longevity, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Having coached for more than three decades and built championship teams through consistency, innovation, and player development, Andy shares the philosophies that have defined his remarkable career. From mentoring generations of coaches to leading multiple Super Bowl-winning teams, he reflects on what it takes to create a winning culture that lasts.

Andy also discusses the importance of relationships, adaptability, humility, and continual learning—lessons that extend far beyond the football field and into business and everyday life.

Whether you're a football fan, business leader, coach, entrepreneur, or someone striving to lead at a higher level, this conversation offers valuable insights from one of the most respected leaders in professional sports.

In this episode:

• The mentors and experiences that shaped Andy Reid's coaching philosophy
• How great leaders build cultures that sustain long-term success
• The importance of developing people and empowering your team
• Lessons from winning championships and staying hungry for more
• Adapting to change while remaining true to your core values
• Advice for aspiring coaches, executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders
• A fun lightning round to close the conversation

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow On the Line with Jim Pyne, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who values leadership, teamwork, and meaningful conversations.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:04

Welcome to On the Line with Jim Pine. I'm Jim Pine. This episode is brought to you by PLS Aviation. Private Aviation perfectly executed. Now let's get on the line. Today on On the Line with Jim Pine, I'm honored to welcome one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. Three times Super Bowl champion, one of the winningest coaches the game has ever seen, and a great guy, Coach Andy Reid. Coach, welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

Jim, great to be on, man. Happy for you here.

SPEAKER_02 0:30

Thank you, thank you, thank you. So we go back, coach, way back, uh early 2000s, Philadelphia. I was thankful to play for you. It was the end of my career. You you you picked me up, and um, I was a great year. We went to the NFC Championship, learned a lot, and had a lot of great times, and uh really thankful for that. So those are fun times.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

That was that was good times. Uh good good players, good guys, and good city to play in.

SPEAKER_02 0:57

It was, it was. One thing that always stood out with you, coach, you got an amazing run, amazing career, Philly, Kansas City is you know that your coaching tree, the guys that work for you, you know, you really develop guys, and guys have gone on to do some great things. And you know, that's got to make you proud and make you happy. That's rare because not everyone does that.

SPEAKER_01 1:17

Yeah, I've been very fortunate. Between the good players and the good coaches, it's been it's been an awesome run uh up to this point. And and uh the coaches, I'm so proud of those guys for for moving on and being able to have some success uh as head football coaches and uh and any other roles they've been in. I mean we've got it, we've got a bunch of GMs that were with us and and they're out there uh getting after it. And so it's it's been a positive thing from a leadership standpoint for those guys.

SPEAKER_02 1:48

Yeah, absolutely. And you know, I I saw Coach Harbaugh, John's press conference when he took the Giants job. He he referenced you, he said, you know, he said I asked Andy, and Andy and you said change can be good, right?

SPEAKER_01 2:00

Yeah, well, yeah, you know, I I felt that way. I thought it we had a good run in Philadelphia and 14 years of it, and um and and you know what, sometimes change could just be good. I mean, I love the people there in Philadelphia. I love the people, I love Jeff Lurie and the the organization, Joe Banner and Howie Roseman, all these guys uh were good people. But just sometimes your time is up and and uh at one place, and and change could be good for both sides. And so I felt that that would carry over for John. He had so much success where he was at, he didn't quite get that Super Bowl win, uh, but he was right, you know, the the second Super Bowl win, but he was right there uh chasing that thing, and and so um you're in that kind of a situation. Well, maybe maybe he goes to the Giants and and and resurrects that thing up uh to a powerhouse and and gets himself back in the Super Bowl where he wants to be.

SPEAKER_02 2:58

Right, no, no, no question. And I asked him, I said, Coach, Coach Harbaugh, what's the best advice you ever got? That's anyone, his brother, his dad, this and then he he said you. He said that he said in your office in Philadelphia in the back, it said, you had a sign or something that said, Don't judge. Coach, what what what does that mean? What does that mean? What did you mean by that? What does that sign mean that was in your office?

SPEAKER_01 3:18

Yeah, well, I think we're here to be teachers, first of all. Um as coaches and people in general. I mean, that's uh we're we're all trying to help each other to get get better in whatever we're doing. And um and to if you're judging people and not give them an opportunity uh to express themselves in whichever way they're gonna take, whatever direction they're gonna take, then you have a problem. You can predetermine things that end up being false. And uh and and sometimes we think we're smarter than we are, and and that whole bit. So I try not to judge until uh the person has an opportunity to prove himself uh in in a positive way and uh and and be successful. I mean, everybody wants that that opportunity, and so I'm there. I'm in in my life, I'm I'm trying to give people that opportunity.

SPEAKER_02 4:08

And and that's the it's again one of the many amazing things about you. Uh you know, again, I coached for a few years in the NFL, and you know, I some of the staffs and rooms you're on, the guys wouldn't let you in the room. Like, hey, you you get out, hey, you you you can't learn what we're doing, what's going on. You you so it's kind of weird. Like I didn't feel sometimes people wanted your success to develop, but it's more of the the the self self-belief in the person that you're able to do that, you have confidence in yourself, self-confidence that you you can help another man do well and achieve. So that your hats off on that. That's that's very impressive.

SPEAKER_01 4:40

Well, your business that you chose and and worked your tail off to be in uh early in your life here was was uh that's a tough business. And so um I want the guys to make as much money as they can possibly make. It's short-lived, it normally doesn't last very long, but make as much money as you possibly can. If I can give you a little cracker here or there to give you an opportunity to be even better than what you already are, then then that's great. And uh and that's kind of how I've approached it. Um I I respect the game and how tough it is. It's uh you guys uh that are playing it, man, it's that's uh that's a rough sport.

SPEAKER_02 5:18

It is. No, and thank you. That's but it's rare. And another thing I you know, I did all research, you know, when you took took the job in Philly, I you know that at that time it was a religious locker room, right? And you one of your first meetings, your first meeting, you said, hey guys, you said, hey, if if Jesus Christ came in here, he'd be a middle linebacker, the toughest position. You know, you so to win over the room, you knew the room. You know, the Minister of Defense, Reggie was there a few years before. And I, you know, I'm sure that resonated well with the guys.

SPEAKER_01 5:45

Well, you know, at that time in the league, um Philly had all this talent. And so everyone goes, Well, you can't get over the hump because they're you know, because they they're ri religious, Bible bangers is the term that guys would use. And I go, I don't believe. I mean, I went I went to BYU, I went to a religious institution. We won championships every year. I was there for a conference, and then we were always ranked pretty high in the in the country, and and so I'm I'm going, boy, you can be religious and still do your job. I mean, I mean Christ was a pretty religious guy, he was a pretty tough guy, so and uh had to endure a lot of things, but uh endure a lot of things. And um, so I I just uh I wasn't feeling that uh that that that was the reason. I mean they we really needed to bear down and get focus and all the things that you need to be successful in this thing, you know.

SPEAKER_02 6:40

Sure. And you know, one of the things you have three pillars, faith, family, football, right? I mean, what I know that's a great slogan. I see it different places, but what does that mean to you, Coach, those those three pillars?

SPEAKER_01 6:51

Yeah, so family, uh, you know, I was blessed with five children. It completely ruined my body, and my wife looks great. I'm not sure how that worked, but it happened. And so um, so and then I've got 14 grandkids that we we've been blessed with. And so family, yeah, that's a pretty big thing. And then faith is also big. I uh you know, I had a I had a great opportunity at um uh you've heard of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I mean, it's everybody's heard of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Well, they invited me to come up and uh be a presenter in their Sunday program and uh do a little reading for the 250th year anniversary of the country. Uh it was a it was back at on the fourth, or it was actually on the fifth. And um I I just you know, faith ends up being such a big thing and the the strength of it, it's a great foundation for people. And the great thing about football is we've got all different faiths, we've got all different races, and um and we all get together and we pull together and uh create this masterpiece of of the of a game where everybody's dancing the same tune and we put all that stuff aside and respect each other. I think that's important. So uh but faith is all obviously important for me and my family.

SPEAKER_02 8:06

Absolutely. In transition, I think people listening would be interested. You know, I lived there for three years as a coach, uh you know, as nine years as a player, but as a coach, the schedule you guys do. And I I know it, you know, we start with a Monday, Tuesday is usually game planning, right? You coaches are in there. I I know, coach, you I've read and stuff you get in around 4 a.m. and you like your time four to eight because you don't get this bothered too much. And then you guys stay late those nights, right? It's those are late nights. Wednesday, Thursday, you're installing, and then you're you're practicing it on the field, and then you guys are still meeting at night, late nights, midnight typically, or or beyond. Then Friday might be a shorter day. You get home normal times four or five o'clock, and then Saturday morning is a walkthrough, and you either go into the hotel that night or go into the airport, right? To fly off, and then meetings at night, and then Sunday nights, the I mean Sunday's the game. So what do you do, coach? Everyone kind of does that, that's what they do in the league, right? What does Andy Reid do that's different on that schedule that makes you so great?

SPEAKER_01 9:08

Yeah, I mean it's basically that. I mean, what you what you just said there. I think um making sure that you you bring everything to a point there and do what you believe in and and try to stick to that the best you can, but still let the players let their personality show. So you don't want to I don't want to stifle the player. I want to make sure that they the their creativity shows through on this thing and and um on both sides of the ball and special team. So um, but I I work that time, but any time I can get with my family, I'm gonna I'm gonna do that. Any opportunity I get there. I'm and now I'm older, and so we're in empty nesters, but uh still I like spending time with my wife too. So she comes on the road with me, which is a good thing. That's I I I'm guaranteed I'm gonna see her at least uh on the road games. But um it's it's tough. The season's tough that way for the hours, but I try to make sure that you know we you do read the scriptures and and then take care of the family when I when I have a chance to.

SPEAKER_02 10:13

So sure, sure. Uh maybe ask it this way. Offensively, you're a great offensive mind, you have great offenses, you've developed quarterbacks, you've done so many things. I guess what do you do? Maybe you just do everything just a little bit better, more attention to detail. That makes you great. But is there anything specifically you do that you feel is different than what everyone else does preparation-wise going into the game? Because you know, there's a lot of great players out there, different teams, great coaches. But what do you do slightly different and better than others in Europe? I know you're a humble guy, so this is hard, it's hard to get this out of you, but I'm trying to get you.

SPEAKER_01 10:45

Yeah, so so listen, I've been blessed to have great GMs and to have great players like Jim Pine. So as long as you're feeding the guys, as long as you're feeding the guys the information and they're willing to absorb it, right? I I've been around some of the greatest players. Uh you mentioned Reggie White, one of the greatest deep, maybe the greatest defensive end to play the game. Uh Bret Favre, um, Sterling Sharp, Brian Dawkins. I mean, you just start naming these names. These are all Hall of Fame guys, and and um and as you know this with your career, you were always looking, like these great, you know, all the great guys were looking for one thing to make them even greater than they were already were. The great ones, right? You lasted a long time in this league and you were striving. Give me something, just give me something that I can continue to do this thing and be as great as I possibly can be. And so that that's what's great about coaching is we can try to find those nuggets and get them to you and allow you to, you know, maybe uh gain another couple paychecks, right? And you can inevitably win games. And so uh that becomes I mean, that's anyways, that's important. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:07

100%. I and I remember.

SPEAKER_01 12:08

I'm sorry if that answered your question, but that's that's got Yeah, that's you're a humble guy, coach.

SPEAKER_02 12:13

I know you're not gonna give me the edge. I I know you got a lot of things. You're just a smart guy who knows football and you know how to put players together. And I can attest from playing for you is you were a rare guy because you you you the players love playing for you because you're a good man. You you stood up in the room, you you commanded the room, and guys respected you and knew you worked hard. You're a humble guy, and you know, people will follow that type of guy. And then obviously, I and don't take my word for it. Take the last 27 years. You you've you've been amazing. So hats off to you on all that. I I know the answer, but I just want to see if you had a maybe a little tidbit. Offensive football, you're gonna give me wow. We on third down, this is what we do.

SPEAKER_01 12:51

Well, let's give our fellow offensive linemen a plug, man. We we know how to bring it together. How's that?

SPEAKER_02 12:56

That's right. That's it.

SPEAKER_01 12:57

We'll say that.

SPEAKER_02 12:58

All right, hey man. No one knows how to bring it together, right? I always tell my my wife I'm a protector, right? I grew up, I'm an offensive lineman. I protect people and help people. On the front line, I get my head hit, and I don't get any of the glory the guys behind me do. And I'm not a quarterback, and I'm an old lineman.

SPEAKER_01 13:13

Well, you're not a quarterback, but you're as close to the quarterback as anybody, and now you've raised one. Pretty good football player, man. This guy he is something special.

SPEAKER_02 13:22

So no, thank you. Yeah, we'll talk about him in a second. I was gonna ask you a question on that. But you know, I remember early in Philadelphia, I go up to your office at times, knock on the door, and I remember you had the the treadmill and the elliptical there. You look great. You had there right in front of the film projector. So you're multitasking, right? So that's something you still do that, you still walk on treadmills and watching film and all that?

SPEAKER_01 13:43

I do, I just don't eat quite as much. I mean, in Philadelphia, man, people would bring the food to the office, and I'm just going, oh my goodness gracious, it's too much food, and uh I I used to eat too much. So I've I've tried to work that, you know. In Philly, I worked it so the off season I can play racquetball. So I'd work out during the season, so I wouldn't like uh pull a Achilles or something. And now I just uh I I still work out and I enjoy that part of it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:10

That's great. That's great. What do you do to keep the energy and enthusiasm going? 27 years as a head coach. Like what you're going into this 28th season. What how do you keep your energy and enthusiasm going?

SPEAKER_01 14:21

Yeah, you know, I it's funny because you work like crazy to get to that uh 55, 60-year-old level, make sure that you're everything's okay. I've got things set up so I can live the rest of my life. Uh and your whole focus is on that. And I think that's common in America. Everybody's trying to do that. When can I retire and am I set for that? Then you get to that age, and then you start going, man, I'm loving every day of this. Uh you you have even more respect for every day that you get a chance to do it. Now, I I know that I'm on the down end of this thing, downside of it, but I love doing what I'm doing. I uh like you, I was I'm one out of 32 guys in the whole world that had it that have a chance to do this and have my position. And and so I respect that and I love doing it. And um my guys, uh the players, I you know, I like that the whole group that we've got. Uh Brett Veach has done a nice job of putting all these guys together, and uh it's a good group of guys. And um the challenge uh this year is we we were we were a little roughed up last year, and now we gotta come back and and do a better job. So we're uh we're excited about that.

SPEAKER_02 15:38

Yeah, you you you'll do it. And I I saw one of the shows you have you four four things on your ceiling wall in your office, I believe it is in Kansas City. Haven't been to it, but you know, number one, eliminate distractions. What do you mean by that, Coach? What do you do by that?

SPEAKER_01 15:54

Yeah, so it's eliminate distractions, create energy, fear nothing, uh attack everything. So the the last two kind of fit together, and that's only why I mentioned those. But the um eliminate distractions, uh, we've all got them. Uh all phase of life, we have them. Every guy in the room, we're just microcosm of the world. Everybody's got issues uh that they have to deal with. That's life. Uh but when you come to work, let's eliminate that. Let's eliminate the outside part of it, and let's really focus in on what we've got at hand here. And um I I think that becomes important for life uh if you're gonna sustain a job and make a living and be able to take care of your family, and that you know you've got to be able to do that, focus in.

SPEAKER_02 16:40

Sure. And how do leaders create energy instead of simply demanding it?

SPEAKER_01 16:44

Yeah, so are you gonna be an energy giver or an energy taker? So you you are you were in that position where you had to bring it every day. You're the transmitter between the right side and the left side, and you're telling the quarterback half the time what to do. So are you gonna come in with a uh you know with an attitude and be duh? No, you're gonna people hate being around that. And so um I want guys that they don't have to be rah-rah, but I want guys that are focused in and and tuned in and they're bringing their energy with them uh to the game, to practice, to meetings, and um and I think that helps you. That's the same way in life. I mean, people don't like somebody that's a downer. They want they want people that are they that give you a little juice.

SPEAKER_02 17:33

That's right, that's right. And what fears did you have, say, early in your career, Coach?

SPEAKER_01 17:38

You mentioned something about so look, we all have yeah, we all have fears. That's where these two things come together. We all have fears. Like uh, you know, uh people don't realize you go to training camp, and I mean I have guys doing those 110s.

SPEAKER_02 17:52

Remember the one ten, the oh yeah, 1611.

SPEAKER_01 17:54

Yeah, yeah, 1611. Well, there's certain guys that are throwing up before that because they've got this angst. And and uh and uh so there's a there's a certain fear of that, but they they overcome it. And then the game's the same way. I mean, you know that. You get that knot in there and you're working through it, and and you've got that whole angst thing going, um, but you attack it. You kind of flip it around and you use that as a positive energy, and you attack everything. You go after the guy over you. It's a man-on-man, uh, and that's been the way it is for time. I mean, you start reading about the history of man and uh the wars that have gone on, and I mean it's the same thing. The the it's the same angst and anxieties and all that stuff that took place. And how are you gonna handle that? So so you fear you fear nothing. Well, we all have fears, but we're we're we're gonna attack those fears, counter them, and and not let them just settle and control us uh in a positive way. Positive way.

SPEAKER_02 18:57

Yep. So, and you know, you you've developed a lot of great quarterbacks. You mentioned Favre, McNabb, Alex Smith, Mahomes. You know, here's what I'm talking about. I sent you some film, my son, Michael Pine, right? You you you coach, thank you for everything. You've been great. You you often you respond first before anyone. I've said I sent it to a handful of guys, you're always there, encouraging, positive. But what I guess what do you think? Michael Pine, my son. He's a young guy. He's gonna watch this. It probably means a lot. You said say something good about it.

SPEAKER_01 19:24

Oh, I know he's gonna watch it because he's on top of everything. He's like a straight A student, too, man. I mean, that guy's phenomenal. So um I I like the I like his strength. He's strong. He's got kind of your presence, but he can throw the ball. Now, I'm not saying you couldn't throw the ball, I'm saying he throws it for real back there. And and um, and then he can also run. He's strong when he runs. So I look at that. I look at that lower body and the feet and how they're they're organized there. And and uh can I bend and throw? Can I move subtly in the pocket? Um, can I see the field, which he does a great job, and he's a great long ball thrower on top of that, which most guys aren't. But he and I'm saying outside the numbers, which is big. So he but he maneuvers in the pocket and he sees the field. And uh for a young guy, man, that's uh that's special. And I think by the way he plays, I I see him now. I mean, you send me the game tape, so I'm seeing him like tell guys, hey, like make sure things are right, organized there. And uh on the offense, and he's not afraid to show that part of it. And then all he has to do is carry it over to that next level, and and then and then then he's he's good. And I he'll have that trust, I know, because the family, man, you got that fine name, dog guy.

SPEAKER_02 20:48

Yeah, we've been doing it for a little while. I used to be humble, like you're you're a humble guy. I you know, my dad played my grandfather. We've depine, we've been paying playing football for over a hundred years, so it's it's yeah, it's kind of the family business, right?

SPEAKER_01 21:01

Yeah, that's right. All head crackers, too, right?

SPEAKER_02 21:04

Yeah, all lineman, yeah. All linemen. Yeah, Matt. He's a he's a quarterback, so we're trying to we're trying to evolve into maybe something a little different. But he he he he he's a quarterback that that knows what a lineman is. He was raised by a lineman, so it's that's right.

SPEAKER_01 21:18

That's what I'm talking about. He respects the boys, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:21

Yep, and then coach, uh you know, you you brought her up earlier. You cut your wife Tammy Reed, amazing lady. I remember on every plane ride she was there that the fur coat in Philadelphia. She was always at the team functions, good energy, just a really nice lady. You know, I've been around other teams and stuff. You didn't see that, and her presence was great. I guess what has she meant to your career and how is she what does she mean to you? Obviously, a lot.

SPEAKER_01 21:42

Yeah, I I normally cry every time I talk about her because she's a she's like the head coach of the head coach, but I've known her forever. So um I love the way she goes about it. You talk about an energy giver now, man. She's constant energy. Um I mentioned, you know, that she looks great. I mean, she had the five kids, and somehow I've got Jelly jelly. So uh you know, but she she looks great and she juggles all these grandkids now, which is amazing. Um, but as far as my career, she's always been there. She was there when I played, and then she's uh there when I'm coaching, and she loves the players, she loves players, gals, uh significant others and wives and all their kids and everything else. Uh she shares all the yeah, yeah. Brings a little bit more of that family atmosphere to it.

SPEAKER_02 22:27

Yeah, no question. And I remember back too when I got into coaching, I believe it was when I was coaching, we saw one of the maybe the senior bulls something. Yeah, I was working, I worked for Jim Hazlitt, John Gruden, different guys. You had it, you worked with John in uh Green Bay, I think. We wanted comments, you said, ask John who would turn the lights on and turn them off. What was the story there, coach?

SPEAKER_01 22:46

Yeah, John and I were young, we were two youngest guys on the staff. And uh so we would uh race to the office, you know, and and um he was an early morning guy. And um so but we were both we were both working and we we bounced stuff off each other all the time, and excuse me, we bounce stuff off each other all the time, challenge each other. Mike Omgren had a way about it where he would allow us to do this. I mean, and and Sherm Lewis. Um Sherm Lewis never stepped in the way of it. Sherman was a coordinator. He kind of promoted it, and and uh it was it was a great it was a great learning atmosphere. John's a brilliant football coach. It was a great learning atmosphere um that we had and and a great friendship that we developed.

SPEAKER_02 23:33

Sure. Well what's it what's maybe a story from those Green Bay days that no one's ever heard or something? I mean those are great teams. I I used to hate playing against the Packers. Reggie White was was the best guy I've ever seen played against strongman. But what's some of those funny story from those that those those years?

SPEAKER_01 23:49

Yeah, you know, I listen, I mean I coached Brett Favre, and man, there are a lot of stories, but I can't tell them.

SPEAKER_02 23:56

I mean it's a family show, coach.

SPEAKER_01 23:59

Yeah, family show, yeah. Uh no, it listen, it was uh it was fun. Reggie White was unbelievable. I joke we used to have this tight end named Ed West, and Ed was the old guy, an older guy on the team, veteran. Ed was one of the great blockers in the National Football League. He was about 6'1, but uh, you know, and just you would never think that he was this guy, but he was so dirty tough that I can't tell you. He was from Auburn, and um he you wouldn't have ever guessed that he would play in the league. So, but he had he was he he knew how to hold. But anyway, so the the offensive line are doing their one-on-ones, and we were standing there uh for seven on seven, and and um and and Reggie's like slinging guys. He's just slinging these offensive tackles out of the way of these one-on-ones. And Ed goes, man, you can't do that, you can't do that with me. He took Ed and did the hump move. And he took Ed, Ed was probably 260, 250 pounds, somewhere in there, 260. He took Ed and threw him about 10 yards backwards. And the look on Ed's face, it was priceless. It was just one of those priceless times on the field where we were all gut laughing. The whole team had just stopped and you know, watched this thing, and it was it was a beautiful deal.

SPEAKER_02 25:22

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:23

That's a good family story. I that's a good one.

SPEAKER_02 25:26

I like it. G-rated, I like it. You know, Reggie White, it's a funny story with me. I played against him in Tampa, Detroit, and I get to Cleveland as a lineman too. And Reggie's wife was from Cleveland and he was done playing, thank God. And he he he came to camp one day and he's walking around, oh it's a lineman. I'm like, oh, this is Reggie White, this is Reggie White. It probably one of the highlights of my career, coach, is we're standing in all the linemen, and he goes by, he goes, Hey Jim, how are you doing? I was like, he remembered me, right? You remember me. So I felt like, all right, I accomplished something. Reggie White knew who I was. That's right. Great player. A legend, a legend, great player.

SPEAKER_01 25:59

Yeah, I've got a good Reggie White story that's also clean. So it's uh I mean Reggie walked the you know, he walked when he talked and did that whole thing. He was he was a great guy. And uh I ended up being real close with him. So uh, but and and then going to Philadelphia you come talk to the team and that. Uh so uh we're we're in Green Bay and we're flying down to play you guys at Tampa, and we have one of those thunderstorms. And I mean, I'm in the back of the back of the plane because Mike would have the assistants go back there and interchange it, you know. So it was my week back there. And I mean, it it was brutal. That plane was rolling, man. And guys were gagging and the whole deal. Leroy Butler, who's still who's still living, Leroy and a Hall of Famer. Leroy was back there and he was crying. I mean, he was just crying, and Leroy was always getting after Reggie about being so religious. You know, he just needled him about being religious, and Leroy was crazy. Um, so he so Leroy's back there crying, and Reggie's sitting in front of him.

SPEAKER_00 27:08

Reggie turns around, he goes, he goes, Leroy, you believe in him now, don't you, Leroy? And uh and and Leroy goes, I promise I'll be good if we land. I promise. If we can land this plane, tell him, Reggie, tell him. But it was another classic moment.

SPEAKER_02 27:30

Uh I love it. We we were probably playing that the the the plane turned around and went back to Green Bay. Yeah. That was probably us praying the other way, so that's fine.

SPEAKER_01 27:38

Yeah, yeah, no. Big Reg. Good stuff.

SPEAKER_02 27:42

Yeah, so I got I got a last few questions, Coach. Really appreciate it. I mean, again, best player you ever coached. I know you've coached a million. So do you have a best?

SPEAKER_01 27:52

Man alive. Um, there's too many. I mean, it's too many. I mean, Jim Pine. How's that? I mean, let's go, man. Let's let's roll. Let's roll.

SPEAKER_02 28:02

All right, here you go. Hardest defense to game plan against. What do you what's the hardest defense you think out there?

SPEAKER_01 28:08

Yeah, so they're um uh right now Denver is rolling. You know, I mean their defense has done uh done a nice job. And um so it's uh I I think that's uh their strength, but New England does a nice job likewise. And um Rabel's a heck of a football coach and does a nice job with that thing. Takes a lot of interest out. So but they're they're just uh there's so many good ones in this league. The parody is like stupid. And um, you know, that that's what makes it so fun because you the challenges of those things, uh trying to work your offense versus their defense and um and the you know the whole game plan there, the chess match.

SPEAKER_02 28:52

Sure, sure. What's the favorite play you ever called? Do you have one?

SPEAKER_01 28:58

Well, the the last one that won the Super Bowl was pretty good. So I'll take that one for right now. I mean, you know, I've there's been a lot of them. I mean over the years, you you know, you accumulate so many things that um in in these games, when I say there's parity, there's also the point differential in games is so low. I mean, it's I mean over 50% of games are determined by seven points or less. And it's crazy how this whole thing has come together for the for the commissioner and the NFL. Uh they they want every city to have an opportunity, and they do now.

SPEAKER_02 29:33

So well, then and then getting offside on business, then you know, gambling, gaming's allowed now. So the Logan, I mean it's uh it's a business there, Coach, right? You're coaching football we're we're playing, but this there's a business.

SPEAKER_01 29:46

They were all setting up for that, I guess. Maybe maybe they saw into the future, you know.

SPEAKER_02 29:52

What's the best coaching advice you ever received?

SPEAKER_01 29:55

Yeah, you know what? Uh Lavelle Edwards, who was my college coach, Hall of Fame coach of BYU, uh, said, when you go to the head coach, well, this is when he was kicking my tail out, my tail out the door, he goes, When you go to the head coach with a problem, have a well thought out answer. And he might not accept it, but at least he knows you thought about the question before you presented it to him for the situation. And so I've used that in my life. I mean, in marriage and dealing with my kids and everything else. Just try try to make sure that I've thought through, take a minute to kind of think through what you're gonna spit out there to him.

SPEAKER_02 30:32

That's great advice. You know, listeners and stuff, you know. I'm in business, and you know, people come to you with a problem. I that's something I tell people, hey, come with a problem, come with an answer too, or some answers or some thoughts there, so we can work it out. Don't just give me a problem and let me, you know, I everyone's busy, right? So come come with a solution. That's that's a good one.

SPEAKER_01 30:49

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 30:51

Which assistant coach made you laugh the most?

SPEAKER_01 30:56

Uh-huh. Probably Sherm Lewis. Sherm Lewis was he was uh he was a funny guy. He uh I mean really funny. He he'd make me he'd make me we're racquetball partners for seven years, so I I just uh um I but he would get me laughing just with that voice of his, you know. Funny guy.

SPEAKER_02 31:19

That's great. That's great. How about favorite road stadium?

SPEAKER_01 31:25

Um the toughest one's Seattle. I mean, that's the loudest. Yeah. So that that's uh that's a pretty tough one, and it's kind of tucked up in there in the far northwest there. So it's it's always a long haul to get there, and they're always uh a little bit crazy, and sometimes that weather's a little fickle up there.

SPEAKER_02 31:45

That's right, yeah. They're the 12th man, it's a different different time zone, everything. You're your way up there, it's raining probably, and that is a tough place. Yeah. So last couple, what what still excites you about coaching?

SPEAKER_01 31:59

Uh, the challenge, teaching, the players. I love all that stuff.

SPEAKER_02 32:04

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 32:05

I mean I'm I'm listening I I'm I'm having a look at myself as we do this podcast up in the corner here. And I I'm I'm I'm old, uh, but all the players kind of are that same age. And so they just kind of cycle through, and then I get a chance to see when they're old and uh older, and then I can rouse them a little bit. But the guys that I have, I'm I'm dealing with that same age group. So until I look in the mirror, until I look in the mirror, I I still think I'm like 30, you know. So that's right.

SPEAKER_02 32:38

You look great, Coach. You look great. I guess last one, when it's all said and done, how how would you like to be remembered or thought of, Coach, or talked about?

SPEAKER_01 32:47

Yeah, as someone that was honest, a good teacher. And I'm good, I'm good with that. Uh I think through life I'd like that to be, you know, the best or to be known that way, you know, in all my dealings.

SPEAKER_02 33:00

100%. You're definitely that, coach. You I can say that. You're a great man, and congratulations again on all your success. And I appreciate the time and the help with my son and family and things. That's amazing. And you know, best of luck this season, and you know, I'd love to do it again sometime down the road and stay in touch on everything. But thank you, thank you, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 33:19

All right. Listen, keep playing, man. I know where we're at and where we're going, man. You're doing a great job with everything.

SPEAKER_02 33:25

So thanks, coach.