During the recent episode of New Heights, the Kelce brothers were joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman. Travis asked Aikman a question about a moment when Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid tried to recruit him out of retirement to play for the Philadelphia Eagles during a game in 2002.
Aikman was a few years removed from retirement after 12 seasons in the league and well into his broadcasting career when he received a call from Reid seeking backup after Donovan McNabb went down with an injury.
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“He said, ‘Hey, it’s Andy.’ I said, ‘Andy Reid?’ He says, ‘You heard what happened (to Donovan McNabb), didn’t you?’ I said ‘Yeah, we just did a game break on it.’ He says ‘Well, I wanna talk to you.’ I said, ‘Andy, I’m in the middle of a broadcast,’” said Aikman, “And he says, ‘I know you are. I need you to call me after the game.”
“I called him after the game, and he was selling me on why I should come out of retirement and go sign with the Eagles and play for him,” said Aikman, “Obviously, I didn’t do it.”
The Eagles that season would go on to the NFC Championship game after a streak of victories by third-string quarterback AJ Feeley, until McNabb recovered and played—another unique Andy Reid story for many to reflect on in his stellar coaching career.
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This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs HC Andy Reid tried to recruit Troy Aikman during a game