ANDY REID WAS at a career crossroads in the early days of 2013. He had just finished the most difficult year of his career, beginning with the death of his son Garrett -- he died of an accidental overdose, according to the Northampton County, Pennsylvania, coroner -- during training camp and finishing with the Eagles at 4-12, the worst record of his career.
His 14-year tenure as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles ended in his firing.
Some friends told Reid, then 54, that it might do him some good to step away from football for a year to relax and refresh.