Sam Madison is appreciative for Andy Reid, who let him out his contract to join the Dolphins. pic.twitter.com/hPQT9u15uC
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) February 23, 2022
The Kansas City Chiefs lost CBs coach Sam Madison to the Miami Dolphins coaching staff where he’ll serve in a similar role.
After three seasons in Kansas City, Madison moved to what will be just his second NFL coaching job. His decision to join Miami wasn’t a matter of a contract expiring (he still had one year on his contract) or some sort of rift on the coaching staff. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Madison clarified why he left. He explained that Chiefs HC Andy Reid encouraged him to go back home and coach the team he played for.
“It was something that he did not have to do,” Madison said. “Meaning, you look around the NFL and normally you’re under contract and guys reach out to him and try to get interviews and they’re denied because they’re under contract. But Coach Reid did call me and talk to me about the situation and was like, ‘Sam, this is something that is unprecedented. . .’ He understood and saw my work ethic when I was in Kansas City, but he was like, ‘Your family is there, you played there and played there at a high level.’ He just wanted to give me the opportunity to go home and be closer to family.”
Madison, a former draft pick by the Dolphins in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft, was still living in the Miami area when Steve Spagnuolo recruited him to his staff in 2019. He still has family, a house and calls the area home. Even though he still had a year remaining on his contract, Reid understood that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“It was my first time being in that situation, so I really didn’t know what to expect,” Madison said. “I didn’t know any of the rules or anything like that and I asked him, ‘Coach, can you please give me some information or some guidance on what I should be doing or what should be expected.’ Because my hiring process last time was totally different. He gave me a very good rundown of what to expect and he gave his graciousness to be able to have the opportunity to go out there and talk to the Dolphins.”
