After a season in college football, Frank Reich is returning to the NFL as the New York Jets’ new offensive coordinator, sources told NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, and Tom Pelissero. The Jets later confirmed the hire.
“Frank has a rare combination of experience, creativity, and calm under pressure,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said in a statement. “He’s lived this game from every angle — as a quarterback in this league and as a coach who’s led offenses at the highest level. He is unique in his ability to see the game for what it is right now and adapt when appropriate. Frank understands offense and how to utilize the strengths of players. I am looking forward to how he will help this team have success.”
The move comes shortly after the Jets parted ways with Tanner Engstrand in late January, a decision that surprised many given the timing. New York moved quickly to fill the role, interviewing a familiar pool of candidates that included Greg Roman and Darrell Bevell, both of whom received second interviews.
Reich, 64, spent 13 seasons in the NFL primarily as a backup quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, though he played the 1996 season with the Jets, starting seven games and overlapping with Glenn, then a defensive back. Most recently, he served as senior adviser for Stanford football and was the team’s interim head coach in 2025. The role marked his return to coaching after a brief, difficult stint as Carolina Panthers head coach in 2023.
Over five years as Indianapolis Colts head coach (2018-2022) and less than a season with the Panthers, Reich compiled a 41-43-1 career record. His greatest success came as an offensive coordinator, first with the San Diego Chargers (2014-2015) and then with the Philadelphia Eagles (2016-2017), playing a key role in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII victory over New England.
The upcoming season will mark Reich’s first back in an OC role since winning the Super Bowl, and he faces the challenge of improving a Jets offense that ranked 29th in both points and yards last season. The team rotated between Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and Brady Cook at quarterback, finding little consistency, leaving the 2026 starting QB spot uncertain. For now, Glenn has made his choice at offensive coordinator, bringing in a seasoned NFL veteran with a Super Bowl pedigree.
