Garrett Reid, the eldest son of Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid, died Sunday in the dormitory room he stayed in while helping the National Football League team at its training camp. He was 29.
A cause of death will be determined after an autopsy is conducted and the results of a toxicology report are received in about 30 days, said Edward Shupp, chief of police at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., where the Eagles train.
Garrett Reid, who had an arrest record for drug violations, had been assisting the team with strength and conditioning, the Philadelphia Inquirer said on its website. Shupp declined in a telephone interview to say whether drugs or drug paraphernalia were discovered at the scene. There were “no suspicious activities” or evidence of foul play, he said.
“This news is heartbreaking for everyone in the Eagles family,” Eagles Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement e-mailed by the team.
Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek said he will investigate with the cooperation of the university police.
Andy Reid spent Sunday morning informing family of the news before leaving camp, Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman said at a news conference. The coach told team executives to continue with training and the Eagles held their scheduled session, Roseman said.
“From a football perspective, I can tell you that Andy has asked that we go forward with training camp,” Roseman told reporters.
Training will be run by Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and Defensive Coordinator Juan Castillo until the head coach returns. Lurie said he expects Reid will coach the Eagles in their Aug. 9 preseason game against Pittsburgh.
Andy Reid is in his 14th season with the team, which he’s led to nine playoff appearances, six National Football Conference East division titles, five conference championship games and one Super Bowl defeat.
“We’ve been together longer than any owner and head coach tandem in the NFL and I knew Garrett when he was 14, 15 years old, all of his kids,” Lurie said. “The thing with Andy is he’s strong and rock solid, but deep down, he’s a teddy bear and the players who know him know that really well.”
Shupp told reporters that his office received a 911 call at approximately 7:20 a.m. yesterday reporting an unresponsive male in the Sayre Park dorms at the university.
“Upon arrival, attempts were made to revive the individual,” Shupp said. “They were unsuccessful.”
Garrett Reid pleaded guilty in July 2007 to recklessly endangering another motorist and driving while under the influence after causing a traffic collision. Police found him in possession of heroin and amphetamines after the accident.
The following May, while incarcerated for those misdemeanors, he pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle 89 prescription pills into jail, the Associated Press reported at the time.
A month after Garrett Reid pleaded guilty to the driving and drug-related charges, his younger brother, Britt Reid, pleaded guilty to charges that included felony possession of a firearm without a license.
Britt Reid was arrested after a Jan. 30 traffic confrontation in which he was accused of pointing a handgun at another driver.
Garrett Reid’s car crash occurred the same day. Police said his vehicle ran a red light at almost 20 miles an hour above the speed limit and collided with a vehicle driven by Louise Hartman, who was treated for cervical strain and a head cut at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Andy Reid and his wife Tammy have another son, Spencer, and daughters Crosby and Drew Ann.
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