Jon Gruden, the former Packers assistant coach, explained how quarterback Brett Favre’s rise helped Andy Reid gain the experience and attention that propelled his NFL coaching career.

Speaking on Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, Gruden looked back at the Packers trading a first-round pick to Atlanta for Favre in 1992. Reid was then an assistant offensive line and tight ends coach on head coach Mike Holmgren’s staff.

“He was the kingmaker. Favre is the guy that got all of us jobs cuz when he took off, man, he took off,” Gruden said on Wednesday. “If your quarterback is great, there’s a good chance your team is going to be good, and your coaches are going to be coveted.”

Favre became the center of Green Bay’s return to winning. He recorded 61,655 yards and 442 touchdowns for the Packers and helped them win Super Bowl XXXI. Reid spent five seasons with the Packers before becoming Favre’s quarterbacks coach in 1997.

“I knew Favre because he played at Southern Miss against my brother at Louisville. But I don't think [Steve Mariucci] Mooch, I don't know if Andy [Reid] knew who the hell Favre was. He was a backup quarterback for the Falcons. And we traded a number one pick to Atlanta to get Brett Favre," Gruden said on Not Just Football with Cam Heyward.

That connection gave Reid a bigger role with Favre. During his first season coaching the position, Green Bay won another NFC title, and Favre completed his three-year MVP run.

Favre later admitted he at first doubted Reid when he became Green Bay’s quarterbacks coach in 1997. That view changed, and Favre later praised Reid for making difficult ideas easy to understand.

Reid then became Philadelphia’s head coach in 1999. That early break became the starting point for a coaching rise that has lasted for decades.

Andy Reid built a winning career after Green Bay

Andy Reid started his NFL career as an assistant with the Packers, coached the Philadelphia Eagles, and later became the Kansas City Chiefs' head coach.

But last season was rough for Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs as they finished 6-11. Still, the Associated Press ranked Big Red as the NFL's top coach entering 2026.

“Andy Reid was voted the NFL’s No. 1 coach by The Associated Press in a preseason survey for the fourth straight year. Despite coming off his first losing season in Kansas City, Reid remains the standard for coaches,” Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press wrote.

By the end of the 2025 season, Reid had 307 total wins, the fourth-most in NFL history. The Chiefs also made the playoffs in 11 of their first 13 seasons.

Favre was not the only reason for Reid’s success, but coaching a great quarterback on a winning team helped Reid earn more attention before he became a head coach.

Can Andy Reid bounce back from a tough season and add another win to his career this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Written by

Shreya Mishra

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore