Andy Reid is back on top of the NFL coaching heap for the first time in 14 seasons. Reid, in a close race over several strong contenders, was voted Sporting News Coach of the Year for his work with the Chiefs in 2016.

Reid is the sixth three-time winner of SN's award, which has been handed out since 1947. He joins Mike Smith, Joe Gibbs, Chuck Knox, Don Shula and Paul Brown. Reid also follows Knox (Rams, Seahawks) and Shula (Colts, Dolphins) in winning with multiple teams.

Although Kansas City had gone 31-17 in Reid's first three seasons, making the playoffs twice as a wild card, he got his team to take it up a notch in 2016 with a 12-4 record and its first AFC West division title since 2010. Reid won Coach of the Year in Philadelphia twice, but the last came in '02.

Jason Garrett (Cowboys), Jack Del Rio (Raiders) and Dan Quinn (Falcons) got several votes for leading turnaround playoff seasons. Bill Belichick came close to breaking his nine-year drought and becoming a three-time winner with the Patriots, but ultimately, Reid got the most respect from a panel of his peers.

MORE: Four Chiefs on SN's 2016 All-Pro Team

There are few nicer guys in the NFL than Reid. Those who focus too much on him being "too conservative" discount how his steady style is the reason the Chiefs have quickly developed into a consistent winner under him.

Consider that Kansas City had strong competition from both Oakland and Denver in the West, and it swept both teams to take the division. Although the season ended in a home playoff loss to Pittsburgh in the divisional round, over the past two years, Reid's Chiefs have won 23 of their past 28 games.

The Chiefs had to deal with some key injuries on both sides of the ball, including Jamaal Charles, Jeremy Maclin, Justin Houston and Derrick Johnson. They had to lean on more younger players such as rookies Tyreek Hill and Chris Jones to improve on their 2015 record. Reid also had to do all that after seeing his offensive coordinator, Doug Pederson, leave to take the Eagles job he once had.

Kansas City was a Reid team through and through in '16, with stability and strong production from offense, defense and special teams. It's a compliment to put him in the same breath as Chiefs coaching great Marty Schottenheimer, not a detriment.

Although Garrett, Del Rio, Quinn and Belichick could boast great seasons, Reid had long deserved another one for his career resurgence in Kansas City. As he turns only 59 in March, Reid has plenty of time to deliver a few bigger wins for the Chiefs.

MORE AWARDS:

— Coordinator of the Year

— Offensive Player of the Year

— Defensive Player of the Year

— Comeback Player of the Year

— Rookie of the Year

Coach of the Year: NFL head coach voting results

1. Andy Reid, Chiefs

T - 2. Jason Garrett, Cowboys; Jack Del Rio, Raiders; Bill Belichick, Patriots

T - 5. Dan Quinn, Falcons; Jim Caldwell, Lions; Adam Gase, Dolphins

SN Coach of the Year winners since 2000

2000: Andy Reid, Eagles

2001: Dick Jauron, Bears

2002: Reid, Eagles

2003: Belichick, Patriots

2004: Bill Cowher, Steelers

2005: Tony Dungy, Colts

2006: Sean Payton, Saints

2007: Belichick, Patriots

2008: Mike Smith, Falcons

2009: Payton, Saints

2010: Smith, Falcons

2011: Jim Harbaugh, 49ers

2012: Smith, Falcons

2013: Ron Rivera, Panthers

2014: Bruce Arians, Cardinals

2015: Rivera, Panthers

2016: Reid, Chiefs