Fresh off winning Super Bowl LVIII, the Kansas City Chiefs’ third title in the last five years, coach Andy Reid and tight end Travis Kelce both confirmed they plan to return next season.
“I haven’t had time to think about it, but yeah,” Reid said after the 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. “I’m mad at (Bill) Belichick and Pete (Carroll) because now I get asked all of those questions.”
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Belichick and the New England Patriots mutually agreed to part ways in January after 24 seasons and six championships. Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks did the same following 14 seasons and a Super Bowl win.
Earlier in the news conference, Reid explained his reasoning for wanting to be back on the sideline.
“I appreciate every day I get to do this,” he said. “I work for a great owner and ownership family, between (team president) Mark Donovan and (general manager) Brett Veach and myself, we’re lucky to be Kansas City Chiefs. And we have a good locker room and good coaches.”
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt added postgame: “I expect Andy to be back next year as we go for the three-peat.”
Reid, 65, has been a head coach for 25 years, 14 with the Philadelphia Eagles and 11 with the Chiefs.
Kelce also shot down any notion that he would step away. The 34-year-old caught nine passes for 93 yards against San Francisco, including crucial receptions late in the second half and overtime. He set the all-time record for postseason receptions last month.
“The goal is always to get three (in a row),” Kelce said. “But we couldn’t get here without getting to two and having that target on our back all year. I love these guys right here. The men that we just won this thing with? Family forever, baby. I couldn’t be prouder of these guys. And how about it? We get a chance to do it three times in a row.”
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(Photo: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)