When Andy Reid was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, he would pass messages to quarterback Donovan McNabb via notecards. Reid called them nuggets. They were usually short, just a thought or goal or a few words of motivation. They weren’t supposed to be life changing.
“His thing was like: ‘I’ll give you a li’l nugget,’” McNabb said. “Just something to take in.”
Reid was a young coach, and he was always jotting down ideas, a lesson from Bill Walsh or Winston Churchill that would find its way onto a 3 x 5 card. Some of those cards went to McNabb. Others to coaches. But one card in particular ended up behind Reid’s desk. It featured just two words, and two decades later, it still offers the simplest understanding of Reid’s leadership.
“Don’t Judge.”
At 66, Reid is one of the most successful coaches in NFL history: fourth all time in victories with 300; first in playoff appearances with 20; tied for third with three Super Bowl championships, with his Kansas City Chiefs two wins from the first three-peat in NFL history.
At the heart of that success is a straightforward leadership style that has guided players and influenced assistants, including his opponent on Sunday. (Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott is one of 11 former Reid assistants to become an NFL head coach.) It’s built on a simple premise: Don’t put people in a box. They might surprise you.
Read more about Reid’s successful coaching philosophy below.
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Why a simple 3 x 5 notecard with two words explains Andy Reid’s leadership style
