The Kansas City Chiefs had a chance to do something historic-win three straight Super Bowls. Instead, they walked off the field at Allegiant Stadium on February 9, 2025, stunned and defeated. The Philadelphia Eagles handed them a brutal 40-22 loss, a game where nothing seemed to click for Patrick Mahomes and company.
Head coach Andy Reid, known for his steady leadership, took responsibility right after the game. “We didn’t really play well in any of the phases. I didn’t coach good enough,” he admitted. But while the Chiefs’ struggles were apparent to anyone watching, the real fallout from the loss is only just beginning.
Justin Reid: Cut loose and speaking out
Among the early roster casualties is Justin Reid, the Chiefs’ hard-hitting safety who played a crucial role in two Super Bowl victories. After three seasons in KC, the team decided to part ways with him on March 1, 2025-a move that shocked many fans.
Reid, however, wasn’t entirely caught off guard. In an interview on the Up & Adams Show, he revealed that he tried to stay with the Chiefs, but things simply didn’t line up. “I was actually trying to wait… to see if we could get something worked out. And then, you know, cards did not fold, and then it just didn’t work out,” Reid said.
The Chiefs’ decision to cut him signals a defensive reset, a move likely driven by cap space and the need for fresh talent. But Reid’s comments suggest that Andy Reid had a specific vision in mind for the team’s future-one that no longer included him.
Was Andy Reid’s Super Bowl strategy to blame?
While some blamed Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce for the Chiefs’ struggles, Justin Reid pointed to something bigger: the game plan itself.
In that same Up & Adams interview, he suggested that Andy Reid’s approach cost Kansas City dearly, particularly in the first half. “They jumped on-they just jumped out so quickly. And then once the bleeding started, it was hard to stop it and turn momentum,” Reid explained.
The Chiefs came into the game with a reputation for making big second-half comebacks, but against an aggressive Eagles squad, there was no time to recover. By the time KC adjusted, the game had already slipped away.
A fresh start in New Orleans
Though his departure from Kansas City was unexpected, Justin Reid didn’t stay on the market for long. The New Orleans Saints swooped in and signed him to a three-year, $31.5 million contract, bringing him back to his home state of Louisiana.
For Reid, the move is both a professional reset and a personal homecoming. The Saints get a veteran safety with championship experience, while the Chiefs now have to figure out how to replace a key piece of their defense.
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