This old Clark Hunt quote predicted everything about the Chiefs’ rise

It might seem hard to believe but the Kansas City Chiefs weren't always winning Super Bowls and definitely weren't always viewed as the villains of the NFL. In fact, before Andy Reid was hired by the Chiefs, the team seemed to be stuck in a cycle where they'd put together a decent season, then string together multiple "meh" to bad seasons in a row.

Part of this cycle was due to not having the right head coach leading the way. The 2012 season certainly was the worst season in Chiefs history but the major silver lining for fans who sat through that monstrosity of a season was that it forced the organization to take a major swing.

Fresh off a 2-14 season, tied for the worst record in Chiefs history, then-head coach Romeo Crennel was fired and owner Clark Hunt was forced to find yet another person to run the team. Four days before he eventually hired Reid to become the next head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Hunt spoke with Mitch Holthus about what traits he wanted in his next head coach.

"Well, I want somebody who's a proven leader... Somebody who's been part of building a successful program, [I] want somebody of high intergrity. [I] want somebody who's an effective communicator and teacher, somebody who has a high football IQ, enjoys working hard, and is willing to hold himself and those around him accountable."

Clark Hunt described Andy Reid to a tee in resurfaced quote

Does this not sound exactly like Andy Reid?

Let's see, as a proven leader, Reid's résumé spoke for itself before he joined the Chiefs. Yes, he had a rough go of it toward the end of his time in Philly and it was time for both sides to move on and start fresh but the team was competitive more often than not during Reid's time coaching the Eagles. Everything Hunt described above sounded exactly like who Reid was then and who he still is, even 12 years later.

While Reid didn't have the Super Bowl titles before coming to Kansas City, he had been the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for 14 years and led them to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2003 season, his sixth year on the job. The Eagles appeared in five total NFC Championship Games while Reid was in Philadelphia so clearly, he knew how to get teams to the playoffs.

The problem for Reid was that he never seemed to be able to win the big one. That problem did continue to follow him for the first six years of his Chiefs coaching career until he finally found a quarterback that could help him win Super Bowls.

After not winning a Super Bowl for the first 20 years of his head coaching career, Reid finally got over the hump. Now he has three Super Bowl titles and an easy ride into the Hall of Fame when he does decide to call it a career.

The Chiefs knew they needed to take a big swing following their devastating 2-14 season in 2012 and Hunt knew exactly who he wanted to lead his team. Reid made an impact right away, turning a 2-14 team into an 11-5 squad and making the playoffs in three of four seasons before drafting Patrick Mahomes. From there, well, the rest is history.

It's fun looking back at this quote and hearing Hunt describe his future head coach down to the very last detail. Reid changed the entire course of the Chiefs organization and fans will always be forever grateful for him.