Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Praises Former Utes QB: ‘Nobody Better Than Alex Smith’

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid praised one of his former players saying “there’s nobody better than Alex Smith.”

Reid spoke about the Washington Football Team quarterback and his 2020 NFL comeback during a Super Bowl LV media availability session.

“There’s nobody better than Alex Smith, man. I’ll tell you, just one of my favorite guys,” Reid said. “All you had to do was watch that special (Project 11 documentary) on him and you fall in love with the guy. I had the chance to coach him so I kinda knew the man behind all that. If I had to predict how he’d attack an injury, that would be how he would do it. That’s his core right there.

Andy Reid speaks on @RiverboatRonHC and Alex Smith 🙏

📱: #SBOpeningNight — LIVE on Twitter pic.twitter.com/VkWcbUezqm

— NFL (@NFL) February 1, 2021

Alex Smith & Andy Reid

Reid, a former BYU football player and coach, was Smith’s head coach during the quarterback’s tenure with the Chiefs from 2013-17.

During the five year span that the two were members of the same organization, Kansas City had an overall record of 53-27, including 1-4 in the postseason. Two of the seasons that the duo were together featured appearances in the AFC Divisional Round.

In 76 games as a member of the Chiefs, Smith threw for 17,608 yards, 102 touchdowns, and 33 interceptions with a completion rate of 65.1 percent.

Following the 2017 season, Kansas City traded the former Utah great to Washington.

"He could buy him a castle, and that wouldn't be enough to pay Alex Smith back for being in that room." Andy Reid on Mahomes learning from Smith. @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/Tja2ccBfJp

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) March 28, 2018

Alex Smith’s 2018 Injury

The former Utah signal-caller suffered a broken fibula and tibia during Washington’s game against the Houston Texans on November 18, 2018.

Doctors determined immediate surgery was required.

Days after the initial surgery, Smith developed a fever and his leg became infected with flesh-eating bacteria.

.@PatrickMahomes, @weddlesbeard, @jamthedirtybird, and others all tuned into #Project11. See what they had to say about Alex Smith and the @E60 documentary. #GoUtes #NFL https://t.co/5J5oZ4ol2V

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 2, 2020

Smith’s injury was so severe that it was considered a sports-related injury.

In total, the QB experienced 17 surgeries.

Alex Smith in 2020

Prior to the start of the 2020 season, Smith was cleared by doctors and earned a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster.

Midway through the season, he became Washington’s starting quarterback once again.

Few moments from the 2020 season were as remarkable as Alex Smith's return

📰 » https://t.co/ohwVquOSBi

— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) January 13, 2021

He helped led Washington to the NFL Playoffs and posted a 5-1 record in the games he started.

The former Utah great was unable to play in Washington’s Wild Card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he suffered an injury late in the regular season.

While the team listed the ailment as a calf injury, 60 Minutes’ Norah O’Donnell reported that Smith’s injury was a bone bruise.

Norah O'Donnell of 60 Minutes reported Alex Smith suffered a bone bruise to his surgically repaired leg, and not a calf injury as it was labeled by the team.

Smith said last week it was "obviously a little more complicated than" a calf injury, but didn't specify what it was.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 18, 2021

Alex Smith’s NFL Career

Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).