You know–I think of Andy Reid a lot when I think of Jeff Fisher.
Andy Reid is who we needed Fisher to be. He wasn’t.
Consider the Chiefs record before Andy Reid:
2007: 4-12
2008: 2-14
2009: 4-12
2010: 10-6
2011: 7-9
2012: 2-14
Total: 29-67
AFTER Andy Reid:
2013: 11-5
2014: 9-7
2015: 11-5
2016: 10-3
Total: 41-20
Rams BEFORE Fisher:
2006: 8-8
2007: 3-13
2008: 2-14
2009: 1-15
2010: 7-9
2011: 2-14
Total: 23-73
AFTER Fisher:
2012: 7-8-1
2013: 7-9
2014: 6-10
2015: 7-9
2016: 4-9
Total: 31-45
While the BEFORE records are close–the AFTER ones are not.
And keep in mind–Reid had Matt Cassell as his QB when he got there and traded for Alex Smith.
While Smith is not Tom Brady–he has been steady and they’ve won with him. It was a good decision.
Andy Reid has been around for a long time and he has earned it. No–he didn’t WIN a Superbowl but like Fisher, he made it to one.
But HE is who I wish Fisher could have been.
Andy Reid has yet to have a losing season with the Chiefs. Fisher never had a winning one with the Rams.
So that’s why I say that it was fair to judge his performance after five years. And yes–why it was fair to fire him.
I get that there will always be the context argument. But I think this is as fair a comparison as you will find. One guy made it. One did not.
I hope that the next choice by the Rams is the right choice.
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick