WHB/Kansas City's Kevin Kietzman's 'Family Life' Comments About Chiefs Coach Andy Reid Ignite National Controversy

Kietzman (Photo: WHB)

UNION BROADCASTING Sports WHB-A/KANSAS CITY host KEVIN KIETZMAN is responding to widespread criticism of his on-air comments about KANSAS CITY CHIEFS coach ANDY REID that referenced REID's family issues.

REID's son GARRETT died of a heroin overdose in 2012 and another son, BRITT, has served prison time; KIETZMAN, discussing REID's treatment of TYREEK HILL after HILL's child abuse charges, said that REID "does not have a great record of fixing players... Discipline is not his thing. It did not work out particularly well in his family life, and that needs to be added to this, as we’re talking about the CHIEFS ... He’s had a lot of things go bad on him, family and players.” The comments landed on ENTERCOM Sports WEEI/BOSTON's "OFF DAY" podcast and subsequently made national news via the AWFUL ANNOUNCING website and DEADSPIN.

KIETZMAN responded to AWFUL ANNOUNCING's ANDREW BUCHOLTZ with an e-mail that contended, "I never once mentioned anything about ANDY REID’s son’s death and never once had it on my mind. A caller called in later and said something about the death and I quickly corrected him and pointed out that I was referencing two sons that were convicted drug dealers and drug addicts that he chose to try to fix by hiring them to work for his football teams."

"When REID decided to hire his sons to try to help them, it ceased being a personal, private matter in my opinion," KIETZMAN continued. "When a taxpayer-supported football team hires convicted felons, it is absolutely worthy of scrutiny." A second e-mail added, "I never once mentioned the death of his son and as a father of three young adults, know how hard it is being a parent. Trust me, I’m the last guy that would ever do anything like that. My main charity work here in KC centers around teen suicide as it has affected many people that we loosely know. Our group works very, very hard to help counsel parents that it is NOT their fault because they tend to blame themselves. ANDY is a good man but just like the rest of us, has flaws. He’s in a position where a lot of his mistakes are public and that just comes with the territory. Funny thing is this is totally a social media/Internet fiasco, I never had one person call and complain about anything I said and neither did the radio station."

Early TODAY (6/25), KIETZMAN took to TWITTER to respond to the controversy, once again denying that his comments referenced GARRETT REID's death:

Holy hat what’s going on here? I never mentioned one word about the tragic death of Andy Reid’s son and quickly corrected a caller who did. I was talking about the owner’s record of “fixing” players, the team’s record and Andy’s record. I was referencing the drug (1/3)

— kevin kietzman (@kkwhb) June 25, 2019

addiction and convictions for dealing drugs. When they served time and Reid hired them to work for his football teams, it was no longer a private matter. But blaming a parent for the death of their child in these circumstances is unthinkable and reprehensible. Period. It (2/3)

— kevin kietzman (@kkwhb) June 25, 2019

was NEVER mentioned or discussed and NEVER entered my mind. It makes me sad that somehow that’s what some of you thought I was saying. That would be despicable. (3/3)

— kevin kietzman (@kkwhb) June 25, 2019

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