New York Jets hire former Stanford interim coach Frank Reich as offensive coordinator – The Mercury News
Written by DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
Frank Reich and Aaron Glenn are teammates again with the New York Jets, looking to turn around the fortunes of a struggling franchise.
Reich was hired Wednesday by Glenn as the Jets’ coordinator — 30 years after playing together on the New York team that went 1-15. The former NFL and Stanford head coach replaces Tanner Engstrand, who agreed to part ways with the team last week after a year leading the Jets offense to a 3-14 season.
Amid major coaching staff moves this offseason, the 64-year-old Reich gives Glenn a player with experience and a veteran presence on the offensive side of the ball.
The team hired first-year defensive coordinator Brian Duker last week to replace Steve Wilks, who was fired three weeks into the season.
“Frank has extraordinary experience, intelligence, and composure under pressure,” Glenn said in a statement released by the Jets.
Reich met in person with Glenn and the Jets on Tuesday after the team sat down with Darrell Bevell and Greg Roman, the other finalists for the job. The team held video meetings last week with all three candidates, as well as Ronald Curry and Lunda Wells.
Reich went 4-8 as Stanford’s interim coach last season and was serving as a senior adviser to the Cardinals, who hired Tavita Pritchard as their coach in November. Reich was previously a head coach in the NFL at Indianapolis and Carolina.
He played 14 years in the NFL as a quarterback, including the 1996 season with Glenn when the Jets under Rich Kotite had the fewest wins in franchise history.
“He’s been in this game in every aspect — as a quarterback in this league and as a coach leading offenses at the highest level,” Glenn said. “He is unique in his ability to see the game as it is and adapt when necessary. Frank understands the offense and how to use the players’ strengths.
“I am looking forward to how he will help this team be successful.”
Reich went 40-33-1 with two playoff appearances in 4 1/2 seasons as the Colts’ head coach before being fired in 2022. Reich, who was fired midseason in back-to-back years, went 1-10 during his stint as Carolina’s coach in 2023. He previously had stops for the Charensivers (2014-15) and Eagles (2016-17), helping Philadelphia win the Super Bowl in the 2017 season.
Reich spent last year as Stanford’s interim head coach, replacing Troy Taylor, and led the Cardinals to their most wins since 2020.
With the Jets, Reich leads an offense that finished last in the NFL in passing yards and 29th in both total yards per game and points per game this season. With Justin Fields sitting on the bench after starting just nine games, the Jets are likely to add a veteran quarterback in free agency and possibly target a potential future starter in the NFL draft.
Fields and undrafted rookie Brady Cook, who started the last four games, are the only Jets players under contract for next season. The team will have to make a big decision with running back Breece Hall, who is coming off his first 1,000-yard season but is set to become a free agent. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who was limited to seven games by a knee injury after gaining 1,000 yards in his first three years, is expected to be healthy and ready to play by the start of next season.
Reich was the backup to former Jets and Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason for three years at Maryland before becoming the starter in a season in which he led the Terrapins to a 42-40 victory over Miami after trailing 31-0 at halftime. He was a third-round pick by Buffalo in 1985 and spent most of his 10 years with the Laws as Jim Kelly’s backup.
In the 1992 season, Reich filled in for an injured Kelly during the playoffs and rallied the trailing Bills with 32 points to beat the Houston Oilers in the wild card round in what was then the largest comeback in NFL history.
Reich was the first quarterback in Carolina Panthers history in 1995 before joining the Jets the following season. He spent his last two years with Detroit. Reich began his coaching career as an intern with the Colts in 2006.
