Kansas City radio host ties Tyreek Hill case to Andy Reid’s late son to try to make a point

Kansas City radio host Kevin Kietzman tied coach Andy Reid’s family life to the Tyreek Hill situation in a Monday segment.

Speaking on WHB 810, Kietzman compared Reid’s ability as a father being noteworthy to the Chiefs’ handling of Hill; the Chiefs wide receiver has been suspended due to allegations of child abuse and is meeting with NFL investigators this week. Reid’s late son, Garrett, died of heroin overdose in 2012.

“The thing is, (the Chiefs) probably think (Reid) can fix (Hill), but they thought they could fix him before and they failed,” Kietzman said. “Andy Reid does not have a great record of fixing players. He doesn’t. Discipline is not his thing. It did not work out particularly well in his family life, and that needs to be added to this, as we’re talking about the Chiefs. He wasn’t real great at that either. He’s had a lot of things go bad on him, family and players.” 

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reacts on the sidelines against the New England Patriots during the second half of the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. (Photo: Mark Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

ESPN analyst and former NFL player Louis Riddick, who worked as the director of pro personnel with the Eagles when Reid was the team’s coach, blasted Kietzman on Twitter for the commentary. 

“You are trash for referencing Andy Reid and his family and his son,” Riddick wrote. “To speak about another man’s child is out of bounds.” 

NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Amy Fadool Kane called Kietzman’s words “lower than low” and CBS reporter Will Brinson tabbed the remarks “absolutely repugnant.” Many social media users called for Kietzman’s firing. 

Whoever this clown is that said this, you are trash for referencing Andy Reid and his family and his son. You don’t “fix” people dumb ass. To speak about another man’s child is out of bounds. Embarrassing what people will do to try and be relevant. https://t.co/MW9QMveDbN

— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) June 25, 2019

WHB 810 has not commented, and efforts by USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday morning to reach the station were not successful. Kietzman is vice president and sports director of the radio station, according to the WHB 810 website.

Reid is set to begin his seventh season with the Chiefs, where he is 65-31 and has won the AFC West the last three seasons. Reid and his wife Tammy had five children. His other son, Britt, has been on the Chiefs’ coaching staff for the past six seasons after spending five months in jail in 2007. 

In a Twitter response to the backlash, Kietzman tried to explain he was referencing Britt, not Garrett.

“When they served time and Reid hired them to work for his football teams, it was no longer a private matter,” he wrote, in part. “But blaming a parent for the death of their child in these circumstances is unthinkable and reprehensible.”

addiction and convictions for dealing drugs. When they served time and Reid hired them to work for his football teams, it was no longer a private matter. But blaming a parent for the death of their child in these circumstances is unthinkable and reprehensible. Period. It (2/3)

— kevin kietzman (@kkwhb) June 25, 2019

was NEVER mentioned or discussed and NEVER entered my mind. It makes me sad that somehow that’s what some of you thought I was saying. That would be despicable. (3/3)

— kevin kietzman (@kkwhb) June 25, 2019

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.