Andy Reid on hospital visit: ‘I’m feeling great’

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid returned to the team’s practice facility on Tuesday after missing his usual post-game press conference following Kansas City’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

With the 63-year-old Reid reportedly headed to the hospital in an ambulance, special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Dave Toub took over those duties. On Monday — a day when Reid typically speaks with reporters — defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy stepped in.

On Wednesday, Reid addressed the media for the first time since Sunday’s 30-24 loss.

“I appreciate everything you (the media members) did — respecting the situation,” said Reid. “I’m feeling great, first of all, and it’s good to be back and getting on with business as usual here. But all is good, and I do respect you for what you did, and I also respect the people that attended to me at that time. They were top-notch.”

While there was uncertainty on Sunday evening, Patrick Mahomes put his quarterback role aside and played that of the messenger for the team.

“(Vice president of sports medicine and performance) Rick Burkholder and those guys — they kept us informed,” said Mahomes in his first presser since the incident. “They kept the leaders in the team, and we kept everybody informed. And everything looked good, and he’s back and seems totally normal now.”

Mahomes’ initial concern quickly gave way to calmness.

“You obviously are worried just in general when stuff like that happens,” started Mahomes. “But they told me the scenario. They told me what was going on. They kept me at ease knowing that it wasn’t a real crazy situation. It was something that they had under control, that they had handled. So whenever you get a sense like that from the people you trust, your emotions can settle a little bit.”

Reid was reluctant to discuss any details about what happened.

“I’d probably just skip that,” he said. “I’m not much on talking about all that stuff. I wish it would never have happened — but it did, and I’m moving on.”

Nor did Reid want to discuss any changes in his routine that might come about after his hospitalization.

“You go back [and] you look at things,” he noted. “You’re asked a lot of questions, so you look at things. I feel great right now — and everybody that’s dealt with me is confident that it will continue that way. I’m good if they’re good, right? They’re the experts.”

Entirely in character, Reid joked about missing his normal press appearances on Sunday and Monday.

“I wish I could have gone on a couple of more of these,” he deadpanned — to laughter from the reporters. “But I’m glad I’m here.”

So it seems that all systems are go, with Reid set to take the sidelines Sunday on the road in Philadelphia against the Eagles, where he spent the first 14 years of his head-coaching career.

Mahomes wrapped up the entire situation nicely when asked if he ever worries about Reid’s long-term health.

“I don’t, just because I’m around him so much,” explained Mahomes, “So I know how much fun he’s having — how much he’s enjoying this. I don’t think he wants to be anywhere else in this world than in this (Chiefs) building with us. So I don’t have that worry.

“Obviously, I want him to stay healthy and be a part of this for the long run, but I know he wouldn’t rather be anywhere else than here, so why not let him be here?”