Reid vs. Shanahan is Super Bowl LIV's most intriguing matchup

When the Chiefs and 49ers meet in Miami on Sunday for Super Bowl LIV, old-school tactician Andy Reid (age: 61) will go toe-to-toe with the new school’s Kyle Shanahan (age: 40). We’ve examined their résumés to determine if either team has a pronounced edge.

Reid has been to the Super Bowl only once in his 21-year career as a head coach, when he guided the Eagles to Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. His team lost, 24-21, to the Patriots, and his clock management skills were called into question, as Philadelphia’s offense was not in a hurry down two scores in the final five minutes. However, Reid is widely respected throughout the league and his 221 wins are the most of any coach who has never won a Super Bowl.

Reid lives in the film room

According to Pro Football Focus, Reid gets more out of his offense play-for-play than any offensive playcaller in the NFL. PFF’s play-by-play coaching metric has rated him the best in the NFL in this department in each of the last two seasons.

Reid is also known as a film-room enthusiast and one of the game’s great innovators—never afraid to try something new.

"He studies like no other coach I’ve ever been around," Chiefs receivers coach Greg Lewis told The Ringer "He studies college games, high school games, CFL games, European games. He’ll go look at stuff from 1910. … He is able to compartmentalize everything, then bring it out at the right moment. ‘Oh, this is something I saw on film from 70 years ago.'"

Reid has the perfect quarterback for his system in Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has a cannon for an arm but can deliver a touch pass, too, and he isn’t afraid to improvise out of the pocket. Mahomes is 46-for-70 (65.7%) for 615 yards, with eight touchdowns and no interceptions, so far this postseason. He’s also rushed more than 106 yards.

"(Reid) is so open to adapting and adjusting the nuances of the offense," Lewis said. "He has never been stuck on what he did before."

Shanahan is looking for Super Bowl redemption

Shanahan will attempt to expel some Super Bowl demons of his own. As Atlanta's offensive coordinator, he watched the Falcons blow a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI against the Patriots. That defeat wasn’t necessarily his fault, though.

His offense hasn’t even realized its full potential in these playoffs – the Niners’ defense did the heavy lifting in a 27-10 throttling of the Vikings before halfback Raheem Mostert (220 rushing yards) took over the NFC Championship game against the Packers, a 37-20 triumph. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has thrown the ball just 27 times in his first two postseason games.

Shanahan’s scheme can best be described as a 'misdirection' offense. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo described facing the 49ers’ offense as “challenging,” telling The Press Democrat, "Every play-action pass comes off something they run, and it messes with your eyes. They have lots of window dressing with all their motions and movements. You have to be disciplined and not look where you’re not supposed to be looking."

It’s difficult to find a discernable advantage in coaching in Super Bowl LIV with two well-regarded offensive minds at the helm of these respective clubs. But their prowess combined with the weapons at their disposal could help Over bettors cash.

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