Frank Reich accepted the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator position at age 64 to confront what he described as one of the NFL’s toughest jobs, the report says. Reich said the difficulty of turning around a historically poor offense was an attraction rather than a deterrent.
The report notes Reich brings a history of dramatic comebacks as a player, recalling a 31-0 rally at Maryland and a later playoff comeback with the Buffalo Bills that erased a 35-3 deficit in the fourth quarter. Those episodes were cited as evidence of his willingness to take on seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Reich framed his approach as calm and analytical, saying he likes confronting complicated problems and finding solutions. The report characterizes his view of the Jets’ offense as akin to an unsolved Rubik’s Cube and says Reich welcomed the chance to work with top coaches and players to improve results.
Per the report, Reich becomes the Jets’ 12th play caller in 16 seasons and inherits a unit that finished 29th in scoring and spent its 10th consecutive year in the league’s bottom third in that category. The report adds that coach Aaron Glenn, who went 3-14 in his first season, sought Reich out to reshape the offensive staff and to provide a clearer vision for development.
The team, the report says, already has some building blocks: nine players drafted in the first or second round who will be under 27 on opening day, plus proven playmakers Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall and a solid offensive line. Glenn praised Reich’s experience, creativity and composure and indicated the staff plans to borrow some college concepts. Reich declined to detail specific plans but said the offense will emphasize the run and seek more explosive plays, per the report.
The report also says Reich could have remained in North Carolina collecting the final year of a contract signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2023, but a 2025 stint as Stanford’s interim head coach re-energized him. Reich took that college job as a one-year favor to former quarterback Andrew Luck, and after it he decided he was ready to return to the NFL when Glenn called.
