On Wednesday, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke to reporters about the upcoming rematch against the San Francisco 49ers, the team the Chiefs faced in Super Bowl LVIII. Reid shared his admiration for the 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan, anticipating that Sunday's game will be highly competitive.
"As far as the challenge of playing the 49ers, heck of a football team," Reid commented. "Kyle does a great job with the team. He and [run game coordinator and offensive line coach ] Chris [Foerster] have that offense rolling right now, and their defense is one of the top defenses in the NFL; [defensive coordinator] Nick [Sorensen] heading up the defense.
"And special teams, [special teams coordinator] Brian [Schneider] does a great job there on special teams. So listen, they're well coached, they've got good players. I think both teams kind of know each other, and it should just be a heck of a game."
When explicitly asked about the challenges of facing the 49ers' defense, Reid highlighted their imposing front line.
"It starts with those guys," Reid said. "And then they've got an All-Pro linebacker (Fred Warner) sitting right there that's pretty good, along with their secondary. So they're well-rounded, but it starts with the defensive front. Those guys, they set the tempo for their defense."
Reid also acknowledged the media's focus on the rematch angle but downplayed it, emphasizing that he views the game simply as two strong teams seeking a victory.
While Reid has the luxury of coaching one of the league's best quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes, he also recognized the talent in third-year quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy is on track to surpass 4,600 passing yards this season. Having faced Purdy in February, Reid isn't underestimating the young quarterback's impact on the Week 7 matchup.
"I think he's a heck of a player," Reid said of Purdy. "I remember the head coach at Iowa State saying, 'This guy changed the program around.' And when you make a statement like that, and he's a good football coach, when you make a statement like that, that's bold. And we all see why he said it. He was right on with that. This kid, he's a heck of a football player."
The 49ers and Chiefs are set to kick off at 1:25 p.m. PT on Sunday at Levi's Stadium.
