Eagles, Reid agree to 3-year extension

December 10, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — On the day he signed a new contract, Andy Reid joked about his weight.

The usually stoic coach has plenty of reasons to be happy, and it’s not because he can afford his own cheesesteak joint. Despite failing to win a Super Bowl in his first 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Reid got a three-year extension through 2013.

“He has all the ingredients: leadership, football knowledge, the ability to gain the respect of everybody that he works with, especially the players, assembling the staff,” owner Jeffrey Lurie said Wednesday.

“Every ingredient you could possibly look for, including a phenomenal track record of getting very far and if you don’t get very far you have no chance. I am extremely confident that we have a great opportunity going forward.”

Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Reid reportedly will earn between $5 million and $6 million per season.

“I’m a piece of the puzzle here, and by my waist size I’m a big piece, but in reality I’m just a piece of the puzzle,” Reid said. “I love Philadelphia.”

Reid is the winningest coach in team history, leading the Eagles to the playoffs seven times with five trips to the NFC title game and one Super Bowl appearance in 10 seasons. The Eagles are 8-4 heading into Sunday’s game at the New York Giants and in solid position to make another postseason run.

Since joining the team in 1999, Reid has won 115 games and compiled a .611 winning percentage, both best in Eagles history.

Reid took over a franchise that was considered a laughingstock in the NFL a decade ago. He inherited a team that was 3-13 a season earlier and quickly turned them into perennial contenders. Reid selected quarterback Donovan McNabb with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 draft, a crucial piece in the rebuilding process.

The Eagles improved to 5-11 in their first season under Reid then went 11-5 a year later and made the playoffs five straight years.