Being a head coach in the National Football League may be one of the most glamorous – and toughest – jobs around. For one day, 12-year-old Charlie wished to find out by stepping into the shoes of the coach for his favorite NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Andy Reid.

Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Metro New York, Coach Reid and the Eagles, and ESPN, Charlie lived the life of a coach on a glorious spring day at the Eagles minicamp, held at the NovaCare Complex in south Philadelphia.

For Charlie, who was born with sickle cell anemia, it was a chance to work with Coach Reid, his staff and the Eagles players, people he had only seen on TV while faithfully watching their games in his New York home.

“The Eagles have always been my favorite team because I liked their colors when I first saw them,” he said.

Charlie’s wish actually started with a special surprise delivered by an ESPN camera crew – a taped “breaking news” report in which Coach Reid announced Charlie as the Eagles newest coach. Charlie leaped excitedly from the couch as he watched the video with his family, realizing that his wish was coming true.

Just days later, Charlie, his parents and brothers were off to his coaching debut. They were driven from the Park Hyatt hotel to the practice facility like true Eagles fans – in a huge Eagles Tailgating RV, decorated inside and out with team graphics and paraphernalia.

Charlie was treated like a big-time coach as soon as he arrived at the NovaCare Complex. He was led to the coaches’ locker room (where he received his own locker with his nameplate) and outfitted with a complete set of coaching gear, including t-shirt, fleece pants, vest, sweatshirt and an Eagles cap.

Then it was off to a meeting with Coach Reid in his spacious office, where the pair discussed offensive strategies and a pass play that Charlie would call later during practice, 22 ‘Z’ In.

Charlie spent much of practice with quarterbacks Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia, Koy Detmer and Timmy Chang as they and the Eagles receivers worked on the passing game. Charlie even played some catch with McNabb, zipping spirals back and forth with his favorite player.

Near the end of passing drills against the defense, Coach Reid beckoned Charlie to call his play. McNabb completed the pass with a crisp throw to receiver Reggie Brown and immediately ran over to Charlie to give him an enthusiastic high-five.

As practice wound down, Charlie and Coach Reid stood back, watching plays unfold and talking intently. The Eagles mentor tutored his new protégé on what to expect during each play, and Charlie pointed out a few of his own observations.

Coach Reid addressed the players at the end of practice, and again introduced Charlie as the players showered their new coach with cheers. Charlie brought them all together in a big huddle, and they shouted, “One, Two, Three, Win!” to wrap up the day.

It was a moment that left his parents teary-eyed with joy and pride.

“The cheer at the end of practice when they huddled all around him was unbelievable,” said his mother, Yvonne. “I was thinking, ‘That’s my little boy out there!’

“It was an incredible day because these pro athletes took the time to see a 12-year-old boy and show him that they’re human beings just like he is. They took the time to care about him.”

As he walked off the field, Charlie looked positively pint-sized next to a pair of All-Pros, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and defensive end Jovan Kearse, who both offered him words of encouragement. McNabb then took Charlie into the locker room, where the All-Pro quarterback gave him one of his game-worn jerseys and autographed it.

Charlie also experienced what it’s like for a coach to face the inquiring media. After lunch, he held an impromptu press conference with several Eagles beat writers and TV reporters, who have a reputation for being tough on the city’s pro coaches. But the young coach handled himself well, even prompting some good-natured laughs from the assembled group.

After a trip to help at the Eagles’ 10th annual Playground Build project, held at a West Philadelphia elementary school, Charlie wrapped up his day as coach of his favorite NFL team.

“He’s had his challenges as a young man. For him to have one day here where he can let his mind get away from it – going to the hospital and things he has to do just to survive – I think it’s a good thing, a positive thing,” Reid said.

Charlie’s wish story was featured as part of the highly popular “My Wish” series on ESPN’s SportsCenter in July 2006. The series, sponsored by Disney, chronicled the stories of 10 wish kids as they were granted their sports-related wishes by some of the sports world’s biggest names.