Because the Philadelphia Eagles had been gearing up for the season in the summertime of 2012, tragedy struck the staff’s then-head coach, Andy Reid, and his household.
“We had been on the point of play a preseason recreation that week,” former Eagles director of professional personnel, Lewis Riddick, recalled in episode 2 of The Kingdom, premiering Thursday, August 14, at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN. “I might inform one thing was mistaken instantly.”
Reid was not in attendance at Eagles observe that day after receiving the information that his oldest son, Garrett, had been discovered lifeless in his room at Lehigh College, close to the staff’s coaching camp services.
It was later revealed that Garrett died of an unintended heroin overdose. He was 29 years previous.
On the time of his loss of life, Garrett was working as an Eagles assistant energy and conditioning coach.
“These outcomes sadly confirmed what we had anticipated all alongside,” the Reid household mentioned in an announcement after the post-mortem outcomes had been revealed. “We understood that Garrett’s long-standing battle with dependancy was going to be troublesome. He’ll, nevertheless, at all times have our household’s love and respect for the braveness he confirmed in making an attempt to beat it. In the long run, we take consolation in our religion and know that he’s in a greater place.”
Riddick, who now works as a commentator for ESPN, mentioned he was conscious of Garrett’s dependancy struggles throughout their time collectively in Philadelphia.
“I had simply seen Garrett the day earlier than,” Riddick recalled. “Garrett was a type of tales the place you rooted for him due to every thing he had been via with drug dependancy. However he was such a frickin’ likable man. He had this large character.”
Riddick added, “He was a child who had an dependancy who was making an attempt to kick it and was making an attempt to get his life so as and was residing in a dorm room proper throughout the corridor from his father at coaching camp. These demons acquired him. Easy as that.”
Head coach Andy Reid stands on the sideline as a photograph of his son, Garrett Reid, is proven on the scoreboard earlier than the sport towards the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lincoln Monetary Subject on August 9, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drew Hallowell/Philadelphia Eagles/Getty Photos
Garrett’s funeral was attended by many throughout the Eagles group, together with quarterback Donovan McNabb, who performed for Philadelphia from 1999 to 2009.
“I used to be there on the funeral as a result of it’s household,” McNabb defined on The Kingdom. “Andy places his emotions to the facet to ensure that all people else is okay. He continued to be the spine for the household, catered to all people who got here to assist.”
Riddick additionally mirrored on a poignant second from Garrett’s funeral, the place Andy was a pillar of assist for him at his personal son’s memorial service.
“I used to be a large number,” Riddick mentioned. “And [Andy] is placing his arms round me and comforting me. That is his son that’s laying two ft from him. I bear in mind taking a look at him and I bear in mind considering to myself, ‘It’s unattainable so that you can be that sturdy.’”
Simply days after Garrett’s loss of life, Andy took to the rostrum at Eagles coaching camp the place his energy was on full show.
“I’m a humble man standing earlier than you,” Andy mentioned. “A really humble man. I’m humble due to the outpouring. It was unbelievable. I do know my son would really feel the identical method.”
Garrett was survived by his father, his mom, Tammy, his brothers, Britt and Spencer, and his sisters, Crosby and Drew Ann.
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The 2012 season would mark Andy’s ultimate season in Philadelphia, because the Eagles would hearth him in December of that 12 months after 14 seasons.
Andy was named head coach of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in January 2013, the place he has coached the final 12 seasons and gained 3 Tremendous Bowls.
The primary two episodes of The Kingdom premiere Thursday, August 14, on ESPN at 9 and 10 p.m. ET, with episodes 3 and 4 premiering on Tuesday, August 19, and episodes 5 and 6 premiering on Wednesday, August 20.
In case you or somebody is struggling or in disaster, assist is out there. Name or textual content 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In case you or somebody is fighting substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration (SAMHSA) Nationwide Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
