Andy Reid's Son's Death Shocks Eagles Camp
The Philadelphia Eagles have started training camp with a heavy heart following the tragic news that the head coach's son was found dead at the training facility Sunday morning.
Garrett Reid, 29, the son of Eagles head coach Andy Reid, was found dead in room at Lehigh University on Sunday. His body was discovered by an Eagles official who immediately notified the police to alert authorities that Reid was unresponsive, according to Ed Shupp, Lehigh University chief of police.
Garrett Reid was the eldest of five children. He was a regular fixture at Lehigh University during the Eagles' training camp and was usually seen on the practice field with his father. Before players took to the field for practice they gathered and were led in prayer by the Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. Andy Reid was not present.
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"I've watched Andy try so hard with his family over the years," Lurie said.
"He cares so much about his family that it's a hard one. You see a man that really cares, and sometimes what happens in life, and, you know, as he and I discussed, it's like life throws you curveballs," Lurie told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and defensive coordinator Juan Castillo ran practice on Sunday and will continue to run practices until Andy Reid returns from his leave of absence.
The Eagles' first preseason game is against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the team opens the season on Sept. 9 against the Cleveland Browns.
After his release from prison in 2009 Reid worked as the Eagles' strength and conditioning coach, but he had always been close to operations within the organization as his parents tried to help their eldest during his fight with drug addiction.
The last time Andy Reid was away from the team was 2007 when he was away for six weeks while his son faced criminal charges stemming from an incident involving guns and drugs.
