The first name has emerged amid the New York Jets’ search for new members of the offensive coaching staff.
NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY shared early on Sunday, January 25, “Among the names I’ve heard linked to the Jets as they search for a veteran play caller to add to their coaching staff: Frank Reich.”
“Tanner Engstrand is not expected to call plays in 2026, per sources. While the Jets are still determining his role, a new play caller is expected to be added to the staff,” Hughes added on social media.
Reich Has a Sterling Resume
The former Maryland quarterback played for 13 years in the NFL. He was mostly known as a backup quarterback, but he certainly had his moments on the field.
Reich appeared in 118 games and made 20 starts. During his career, he completed 54.5% of his passes, threw for 6,075 passing yards, and had a 40 touchdown to 36 interception ratio.
After his playing career, Reich transitioned into the coaching ranks.
He has four years of experience at the NFL level as an offensive coordinator. That was highlighted by his 2017 season with the Philadelphia Eagles when they won the Super Bowl.
That season, Carson Wentz started 13 games and had the best year of his career under Reich’s direction. Wentz completed 60.2% of his passes, threw for 3,296 passing yards, and had a 33 touchdown to seven interception ratio.
Wentz was firmly in the NFL league MVP discussion, but he tore his ACL in Week 14 and was lost for the season. The Eagles turned to backup quarterback Nick Foles and didn’t miss a beat.
Foles started in six games that season, three in the regular season and three in the playoffs. During the postseason, Foles threw six touchdowns to only one interception, he completed 72.6% of his passes, and threw for 971 passing yards, according to StatMuse.
Philadelphia adapted to its new circumstances and ended up winning its first Super Bowl championship.
Experience That Would Benefit AG
Head coach Aaron Glenn hired Steve Wilks in part last offseason because he had prior HC experience. AG thought that it would be useful to have on the staff to bounce ideas off of and to help with issues that arose.
That experiment was a disaster. However, it made sense on paper.
Reich is another coach who just so happens to possess HC experience. The 64-year-old was an NFL head coach for five and a half seasons. The first five were spent with the Indianapolis Colts, and his final gig was with the Carolina Panthers.
He finished with a 41-43-1 record across his stops.
This Wouldn’t Be the First Time the Jets Pursued Reich
In January of 2023, ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler linked Reich to the Jets.
Back in his playing days, Reich suited up for the green and white for one season in 1996. On paper, that was the worst season in Jets franchise history as they finished 1-15.
Reich was a backup quarterback who was forced into action. He started seven games that season and was responsible for the only win of that entire campaign. Reich went 1-6 as a starter.
He completed 52.9% of his passes, threw more interceptions (16) than passing touchdowns (15), and threw for 2,205 passing yards in those starts.
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