Over the years, Andy Reid has done a tremendous job of putting together his coaching staff, understanding that having effective assistant coaches is integral to the success of a football team. He has also imparted his knowledge of the game to his assistants. One of those former assistants is John Harbaugh, who is now the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. In his second season with the Ravens, Harbaugh sports a 17-11 overall record and in his first year he took the Ravens to the AFC Championship game.
Harbaugh said that Reid's ability to keep the Eagles in contention for a championship year in and year out is very tough to do in the NFL.
"I have the highest regard for Andy Reid. Much of what we do at the Ravens comes from what I learned from Andy," Harbaugh said. "The Eagles, not surprisingly, did the right thing (by giving him a contract extension). A head coach has to be a leader of men, in good and bad times. Andy is a real leader and his players always respond. He puts them in position every year to contend for a championship. That's hard to do in the NFL."
Harbaugh is one of seven former assistants under Reid who is now either a head coach or a coordinator with another team.
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 10:11 a.m., December 10
