On Sunday Feb. 7, 2021, the Kansas City Chiefs lost Super Bowl 55 to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 31-9 drubbing in which the Chiefs were outplayed from start to finish. KC’s offense was stifled by Tampa’s aggressive blitz’s on defense, and Qb Patrick Mahomes played his worst game of the season.
The Chiefs entered the game as slight favorites after defeating the Buffalo Bills 38-24 in the AFC Championship game. Meanwhile, Brady and the Bucs entered the game as underdogs after winning all four of their playoff games on the road (2007 NY Giants anyone)? The Chiefs, after the loss, had to hear about Tom Brady extend his G.O.A.T status winning his 7th Super Bowl and earning another MVP trophy. Overall, it was a very bad showing for KC, as the team was unstoppable all year. Nobody looked like they were going to take Mahomes down, until one assistant coach decided to make a bone headed move. And this was before the game had even started.
Distractions on the Team
The Chiefs looked like they were distracted for not only the game, but it messed up their game preparation as well. Normally, teams arrive for the Super Bowl on Thursday, so they have time to settle in before meals and practices. Unfortunately for KC, they had bigger fish to fry. Reid’s accident occurred on Thursday, and he went to the hospital later that day. Plus, Ariel (the little girl) in the hospital suffered from a severe coma and she also had internal and external bleeding in her brain. To make matters worst, the Chiefs did not have one of their assistant coaches with them coaching them, whom they had with them day-in-and-day-out, which would be distracting for any other team in the position. Sometimes, things in life are bigger than football, and also more important than a championship.
Do you think that the Kanas City Chiefs players and Coaching Staff may have had other things on their minds?
“The Accident”
On Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, Kansas City Assistant Coach Britt Reid jeopardized the life of an innocent 5-year-old girl that will affect him with future coaching opportunities as well as change the lives of Felicia Miller’s family forever. Reid admitted to the police that he had 2-3 drinks, as well as taking Adderall.
While on the side of a highway interchange, Reid slammed his truck into Miller’s Chevy Traverse, causing severe brain damage to Miller’s 5-year-old daughter Ariel according to Yahoo Sports.com. Miller was on the interchange to aid her cousin, who ran out of gas on the side of the road. Ariel suffered swelling and bleeding in her brain and since then, she has tragically been in a coma. On top of that, Ariel’s four-year-old cousin who is also a little girl was also injured. According to Miller’s Aunt Tiffany Verhulst, “Ariel remains in the hospital in critical condition and is not awake.”
Raising Money
As of Monday, the family has raised over $300,000 on a GoFundMe Page. This will offset major medical bills and lost earnings for the family. The question is, should Reid’s actions have even led to this type of GoFundMe Page. Or does the team even realize that there may be a concern here?
Yahoo Sports Columnist Dan Wetzel, wrote “By now, either the Reid family, who have made tens of millions coaching in the NFL, or the Hunt family, billionaires who own the Chiefs, should have stepped up and said they would cover the all cost.” The Miller family said that as of midday Monday, they haven’t heard a word from either of them.
While the team has not offered any compensation, they did offer a brief statement. It simply said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.” Meanwhile, Head coach Andy Reid quoted, “My heart goes out to that young lady”. I’m also a dad so I get that so I have concerns obviously on both sides… That little girl, my heart goes out to her.”
Britt himself did not coach in the Super Bowl, as he was injured in the accident and ended up in the hospital and had to have surgery.
Background
Reid was born on April 28, 1985 in Los Angeles, California to parents Tammy and Andy Reid. Along with his father, the two coach together for the Kansas City Chiefs (now Britt is on administrative leave). Britt Reid won his first Super Bowl in 2020.
So happy Andy Reid finally caught it pic.twitter.com/9oUxdyznPL
— Pick Six Podcast (@picksixpod) February 3, 2020
He grew up in Rosemont, Pennsylvania where he attended Harriton High School. He was a 4-year varsity football player and was named captain for 3-years. As a senior, Reid played in the East-West Bowl (not to be confused with the hit comedy, “Key and Peele“ East-West Bowl). He then went to college at Temple University, and received a bachelor’s degree in communication. Despite being raised as a Mormon and attends The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Reid has had un-holy trouble with the law, especially with alcohol problems.
Reid’s Past Problems
Reid’s issues with the law go back to when he was a young adult at 21-years-old in 2007. Reid along with his late brother Garrett were sentenced to 8 to 23 months for running their own “drug emporium” at their home. (In 2012, Garrett passed away at only 29-years-old due to an accidental heroin overdose).
The behavior would then continue that same year when Reid was involved in a road-rage incident that included driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and a gun. He was sentenced 23-months in prison in Pennsylvania. He also pleaded guilty to another charge of DUI and possession of drugs in another incident in which he served five-months in jail.
Now the question is, where will the team go from here?
But more importantly, Our thoughts and prayers go out to The Miller family and little Ariel.
