Sep 20, 2013
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Thursday night football’s match-up between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs brought two men back to Philadelphia from arguably the most successful football era in the city’s history. Andy Reid, fired last season after 14 seasons as head coach, returned as the opposing coach. Donovan McNabb, Reid’s quarterback for 11 of those years, returned for an emotional half-time ceremony where his jersey number was officially retired. The two men long divided opinion in a city that judges success by championships. On Thursday, the only losers were the Eagles as Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs improved to 3-0 with a comfortable 26-16 victory.
The McNabb-Reid era has long divided opinion in Philadelphia, a city with no Super Bowls and no NFL championship since 1960. The franchise had appeared in one Super Bowl and had not advanced past more than one round of the postseason before Reid and McNabb arrived just about simultaneously in 1999.
That would quickly change under Reid and with McNabb as QB. They suffered a 24-21 heart-breaking Super Bowl loss against the New England Patriots in 2004 and appeared in four NFC championship games (2001, 2002, 2003 and 2008). However, despite that period of sustained success, the organization did not win a Super Bowl championship. That frustration, along with an ageing core, would ultimately break the duo and the Eagles’ franchise apart.
McNabb would be traded to the Washington Redskins after an extremely successful 2009 season, which ended with an early playoff exit. His career would peter out with a poor 2010 campaign in Washington, before he played in just six games with the Minnesota Vikings in 2011.
Reid’s Eagles won the NFC East in 2010, but suffered a second consecutive first round playoff exit. A 12-20 record over the next two seasons including the disastrous 4-12 performance last season sealed the veteran coach’s fate and he was replaced by Chip Kelly.
The history is still playing out in terms of how McNabb and Reid will be judged. The failure to win a Super Bowl considering the numerous opportunities will obviously be something that continues to haunt them.
AP Photo
(AP Photo/The Express-Times, Matt Smith)
However, the sound of McNabb’s name being chanted on Thursday as fireworks went off and a banner was unveiled with his name and number on it suggests that the fan base do appreciate the success that he brought to the city.
McNabb holds team records for passing yards, completions and touchdowns. The struggles for the team at the quarterback position since that era of stability have reminded the fan base of the value of a strong, reliable presence at QB.
There was some intrigue surrounding the likely reception that Reid would receive. A standing ovation banished any thoughts of it being anything especially negative. The glamour of that blazing week one victory has clearly died down in Philadelphia after two straight losses. Meanwhile, Reid has a team that went 2-14 last season off to a 3-0 start. The Chiefs looked organized defensively and offensively. This is a team that could be making a return to postseason football.
For the Eagles they have put the trip down memory lane behind them. Chip Kelly’s ‘football revolution’ is looking less like a revolution and more like a premature title given by over-excited pundits and fans. A trip to face the Denver Broncos next weekend is hardly provides a great opportunity to re-build after two tough losses either.
