Details About The Sad Death Of Andy Reid's Son

On Feb. 7, 2021, the Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the former team vies for a back-to-back Super Bowl win. However, for Chiefs coach Andy Reid, a second consecutive victory might be bittersweet, as his son Garrett Reid won't be there to see it. Per USA Today, Reid's son Garrett died from an accidental heroin overdose on Aug. 5, 2012. At the time, the 29-year-old was staying at Lehigh University, where he was working as an assistant with the Eagles' strength and conditioning coach. He was discovered in his dorm room, where investigators found evidence of drug use. Garrett's struggles with substance abuse had previously been made public following a 2007 arrest. According to NBC Philadelphia, Garrett confessed to being under the influence of heroin while driving after he crashed into another car. He ended up injuring the other driver. While Garrett was out on bail, he found himself under arrest once again after failing a drug test. Ultimately, Garrett was sentenced to 23 months in prison. After serving seven months, he was sent to a half-way house. In 2009, Garrett was arrested once again for failing a drug test. Andy Reid paid tribute to his son in 2020 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers. After Reid lifted the Lombardi Trophy, his family joined him on the field for a long group hug. Reid told The Philadelphia Inquirer, "You can't help but think of him. Absolutely. I'm all right there. I think of the good things. I try to. Always the good things." Speaking about how the Super Bowl win was "great" for his family, Reid said, "It's a positive. With the loss of Garrett, he was there for us, with us." Wife Tammy Reid told the The Philadelphia Inquirer that she was wearing a sapphire-encrusted ring in honor of Garrett. The other Reid children had each gifted her a ring when they got married, and they eventually decided to buy her one on behalf of Garrett, as well. Garrett was the oldest of Andy Reid's five children. He was born in 1983, and attended Harriton High in Rosemont, Pa. As The New York Times reported, he and his brother Britt both played football in high school and would sometimes accompany Andy, an assistant coach at the time, on his scouting trips. After his 2007 arrest, Garrett wrote a heartfelt statement about addiction for his hearing. According to ESPN, he admitted that he had first tried hard drugs as a teenager and that he began dealing to teenagers and parents in his neighborhood by age 20. Garrett also stressed how much he wanted to get clean, however, and agreed to go through a drug treatment program, per ESPN. Andy Reid's legacy as a great football coach was secured at Super Bowl 54, but he had been working towards that victory for years. During his time with the Kansas City Chiefs and his previous tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, whom he left in 2012, Reid has earned 238 combined victories in the regular season and playoffs. According to the Washington Post, that means he ranks fifth on the all-time NFL list. As CBS Sports pointed out, working with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes could earn him even more accolades. According to Mahomes, the pair have a great working relationship: Reid was a "key factor" in the quarterback signing his record-setting $500 million contract with the Chiefs in 2020 since the coach assured Mahomes he was not retiring in the near future. Reid even gave Mahomes a special shoutout following the Chiefs' victory of San Francisco. Mahomes told CBS Sports, "He told me he's not trying to leave anytime soon! He's all in. The family atmosphere that he has with everybody is special. You see the amount of plays he draws up on a daily basis and he's showing me — you know his fire is still burning bright and he's not trying to dim out any time soon." And we're sure Andy Reid's late son Garrett would be proud of all he has accomplished. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse and mental health, please contact SAMHSA's 24-hour National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). #Football #KansasCity #AndyReid