Reid received five first-place votes and one second from a panel of eight AP pro football writers. He was left off two ballots. The recognition comes even after the Chiefs posted a 6-11 record in 2025, ending a run of 12 straight winning seasons, and even as injuries slowed Kansas City. The story also notes that Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 15.
Reid’s résumé is credited in the rankings: he has three Super Bowl rings and leads both Kansas City and Philadelphia in all-time wins. The survey also listed Los Angeles’ Sean McVay, Seattle’s Mike Macdonald, San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan, and Denver’s Sean Payton in the top five, with other coaches receiving additional votes.