A day after his second interview, Gang Green officially has a new offensive coordinator.
On Wednesday, the Jets named Frank Reich their new offensive coordinator.
Reich, 64, had an in-person interview with the Jets on Tuesday. This came a week after he met with the Jets virtually after parting ways with Tanner Engstrand.
Reich and Jets coach Aaron Glenn were teammates on the Jets’ 1996 team, which finished with the worst record in team history (1-15).
“Frank has a rare combination of experience, creativity, and calm under pressure,” 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.”
Following a 3-14 season in which they had one of the worst offenses in the NFL under Engstrand, the Jets wanted to add an experienced presence to their coaching staff. Reich certainly fits that bill, with his nearly two decades of coaching experience.
As the offensive coordinator for the Eagles from 2016-17, Reich helped them to a Super Bowl LII victory over the Patriots. However, Reich wasn’t the Eagles’ playcaller because coach Doug Pederson ran the offense.
Reich parlayed that into a five-year coaching stint with the Colts, in which they finished with a 40-33-1 record during that span. However, Reich was fired midway through the 2022 season after Indianapolis began that year 3-5-1.
Reich then became the Panthers’ coach in 2023, but he lasted less than one season. He was dismissed after registering a 1-10 record in his 11 games. The Panthers drafted Bryce Young No. 1 overall the year Reich came in as coach and the quarterback largely struggled. Young passed for 2,877 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and Reich was fired because of the Panthers’ struggling offense and Young’s lack of development.
Last year, Reich moved into the college ranks and served as the interim coach at Stanford. The Cardinal finished with a 4-8 record, including wins against Cal in the Big Game and Florida State.
Reich was one of the three known finalists for the offensive role. Greg Roman (former Chargers offensive coordinator) and Darrell Bevell (Dolphins quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator) also interviewed in person for the position. The Jets additionally virtually interviewed Ronald Curry (Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach) and Lunda Wells [Dallas Cowboys tight ends coach).
Glenn and the Jets are seeking to improve an anemic offense. They finished 29th in scoring offense (17.6), yards per game (263.6), and last in passing yards per game (140.3) in 2025.
It didn’t help that the Jets quarterback situation remains in flux. Last offseason, they signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract, hoping he could be their quarterback of the future. Instead, Fields was benched after nine starts, after the Jets had the worst passing attack in the league.
Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook weren’t much better after replacing Fields. The Jets won just one game after Fields was benched and they were outscored 188-54 in their final five games of the season. The Jets are expected to release Fields before the start of the new league year on March 11.
Assuming the Jets release Fields, Reich will be tasked with finding a quarterback who can jumpstart their offense. They will likely add a veteran signal caller in addition to selecting one in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Jets have four picks in the top 44 picks, including two first and second round picks.
The 2026 season could be critical for Glenn. After finishing 11 games under .500 and the Jets missing the playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons, Glenn could be on the hot seat in just his second year.
After firing Steve Wilks in December and making Brian Duker the Jets’ defensive coordinator last week, Glenn will call the defensive plays while Reich will run the offense.
Reich hasn’t been in demand recently after his failed stint in Carolina. However, he does have a ton of experience, an area that was lacking with Engstrand. During his first four seasons with the Colts, they ranked ninth in scoring and 11th in total yards. Indianapolis’ offense in 2018 finished fifth in scoring and yards. However, Reich’s unit collapsed in 2022, ranking 30th in scoring before his mid-season firing.
