What Andy Reid Said About Kalani Sitake and BYU Football
Andy Reid may have moved on from his time as a graduate assistant at BYU, but the Super Bowl-winning coach still holds the school close to his heart. Now with the Kansas City Chiefs, Reid was in Salt Lake City for the Governor’s State of Sport Awards on Friday, where he shared his thoughts on BYU’s football success.
Kalani Sitake had an exceptional year, guiding BYU to an 11-2 record, capped off by an Alamo Bowl victory over Deion Sanders and Colorado. The Cougars finished just outside the top ten in the final AP poll and are aiming for more success in 2025. Reid praised Sitake for his work in building the program and expressed excitement about the team’s future.
“I’m a big Kalani fan,” Reid told Brandon Judd of the Deseret News. “I love the way he goes about his business. Tremendous person, great recruiter.”
One of the most significant changes for BYU has been the move from the Mountain West to the Big 12. Many believe the Cougars, among a few teams that realigned to new conferences, have emerged as one of the top schools in their new home. BYU basketball recently made a Sweet 16 run, and Sitake’s team was one win away from a Big 12 championship appearance. Reid understands how challenging it can be to coach in such a shifting environment.
“(Sitake) has a huge stage with this new conference. They did a great job with him last year, and I know he’ll build on that,” Reid said. “I watched all their games last year. The way they stepped up was impressive compared to the year before. They lost some key players, but they were able to fill in, and I thought they did a great job across offense, defense, and special teams.”
One of BYU’s offensive stars elevated his game last season. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff stepped up when the Cougars needed him, and Reid, who has mentored quarterbacks throughout his career and currently works with Patrick Mahomes, shared his thoughts on Retzlaff heading into his senior season.
“He’s a good quarterback. Looks like he has great control over the offense,” Reid said. “He’s got a good arm, and he’s mobile, which is huge in the NFL. He can escape those big defensive linemen and still make sure to get the ball out. He has all the tools.”
Reid and the Chiefs have won two of the last three Super Bowls, with their most recent loss coming to the Philadelphia Eagles 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX. With Mahomes, the Swifty mania, and one of the top teams in the AFC, Kansas City will have plenty of exciting storylines heading into the next season.
