Reid Family Buries Oldest Son Garrett

The hour-long service celebrated Garrett's heart and humor

Eagles Coach Andy Reid hugged his surviving four children and held them close. His wife Tammy added her arms to embrace her family after an hour-long service saying goodbye to their eldest son, 29-year-old Garrett.

Remarkably, many people who came out of the private funeral service talking about the fact that it was Coach Reid and his wife Tammy who were comforting everyone with big bear hugs.

“You really feel bad. You go in there and see Andy Reid or Tammy and they’re gonna make you feel better,” said Offensive Line Coach Howard Mudd.

How is that possible on a day like today?

“I mean the three things Andy came in and talked to us about to us was his faith in God, his family and his Eagles family,” Mudd told NBC10’s Lu Ann Cahn.

"The greatest message coming out of this funeral is that families are forever," said former Eagle Chad Lewis. "Just that love. That's how Andy is as a football coach. He shares that love with us and it's very powerful."

More than 900 friends, family, eagles staff and players came to pay their respects including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick.

“There was a lot of tears, but also a lot of joys about Garrett’s life,” said Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie.

Sunday morning, Garrett Reid’s body was found in a dorm room at Eagles training camp at Lehigh University. The police say they’re still waiting for results from an autopsy and toxicology report.

The Reids released a statement on Monday saying Garrett had lost a battle that had been ongoing for eight years.

Many of the mourners watched Garrett grow up, play high school football, become and Eagle Scout and then take a turn that stunned many with a very public battle with prescription drugs and heroin.

"They didn't hide the fact that Garrett had struggles," Chad Lewis said after the service. "But the beauty of Andy Reid was, in his struggles he was right there with him and that was so awesome."

NBC10 Sports Director Vai Sikahema, who was Andy Reid's teammate at BYU, said today in a blog post from the London Olympics, that in his own way, Garrett seemed to be slowing coming back.

"Garrett was helping out with his dad's team, assisting the strength and conditioning coaches at training camp. Andy was doing everything he could to help Garrett, to keep him close and away from the bad influences that led him away in the first place."

It was Garrett’s heart and humor that were celebrated today.

“Very funny guy, very happy person. Always smiling,” his college roommate Andre Bennin said.

In the obituary his family sent out, the Reids said Garrett was, "the greatest big brother. He was definitely the funniest person to all who knew and loved him. Garrett will be long remembered for his sense of humor, his bold laughter and zest for life."

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