The New York Jets got their man. Gang Green officially hired former Colts and Panthers Head Coach Frank Reich as their new offensive coordinator on Wednesday.
Reich, a former back-up quarterback with the Jets and Buffalo Bills in the early to mid-90s was teammates with Jets Head Coach Aaron Glenn back in 1996, the year the Jets infamously went 1-15. Reich returns to the Jets 30-years later with Glenn firmly on the same hot seat Rich Kotite was on.
Despite that infamous dose of irony, Reich brings plenty of experience with him. He was the offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2016-2017, including the year Philadelphia beat New England in the Super Bowl. Still Reich didn't call plays on those teams, that was in the hands of head coach Doug Pederson.
Reich parlayed his short stay in Philly into a head coaching job with the Indianapolis Colts. For the most part, Reich was doing ok. His offenses were consistently in the top 10 in his early years with the Colts as the franchise transitioned away from Andrew Luck after the quarterback's sudden retirement in 2019.
In fact during that 2019 season, Reich pivoted to quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who wound up having a very solid year for Reich, passing for 2,900 yards 18 touchdowns to just six picks. Watch out for Brissett to be a player the Jets could target this off-season. If they do they would have to orchestrate a trade perhaps with the Arizona Cardinals who hold Brissett's rights.
In 2020, Reich pivoted again at quarterback going with veteran Phillip Rivers who led the Colts to the playoffs at 11-5.
In 2021, Reich turned over play calling duties to Marcus Brady and things didn't go well as Indy went 9-8 with Carson Wentz at quarterback.
Reich's consistent flip-flopping at quarterback eventually cost him in Indianapolis as he was fired midway through the 2022 season.
Reich would reappear in 2023 with the Carolina Panthers but was fired after a 1-10 start as rookie quarterback Bryce Young struggled.
This past season Reich came out of retirement to coach Stanford as a favor to Luck who is the football program's General Manager.
While he is a mixed back as a coach and play-caller, Reich brings professionalism that is badly needed on the offensive side of the ball for the Jets. Look for the Jets to target a big, pocket passing style quarterback in free agency, and potentially in the later stages of Day two or Day three of the NFL Draft.

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