Frank Reich’s throwing himself into new role as Jets’ offensive coordinator

In 1996, Frank Reich made seven starts and 10 appearances as quarterback for the New York Jets. Reich completed 175 of his 331 pass attempts for 2,205 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions.

That was 30 years ago and the 11th season of his 13-year NFL playing career. Since becoming an NFL coach in 2006, Reich has made seven stops at six different franchises as a head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and receivers’ coach.

This year, his 32nd year in the NFL, the Lebanon native will serve the Jets as their offensive coordinator.

“I’ve certainly enjoyed every step of it,” said Reich, during an exclusive interview with LebTown. “When my children were younger, my wife (Linda) and I put together a family creed, a numbered list of our beliefs. It covered how we were going to live our lives. If you called our girls today, they probably wouldn’t remember the first nine. But number 10 was ‘Reichs finish strong.’ This is an opportunity for me to give my best, to do my best and really make an impact. I’m excited about it.”

“The story continues,” he added.

Following a 4-8 record as Stanford University’s interim head coach in 2025, Reich agreed to become New York’s offensive coordinator in early February. He wasn’t looking for an NFL coaching job; he was looking for the right coaching position.

The Jets open their 2026 NFL campaign on Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Tennessee Titans.

“I got a call from Coach Glenn (Jets’ head coach, Aaron), who was just checking in,” said Reich. “We had been teammates and stayed in touch, and we both followed each other’s careers. I wouldn’t say it was out of the blue. I had told Linda, if the right opportunity came along and the right person called, I’d go. I thought it was a great opportunity. He was looking for a seasoned offensive coordinator and play caller.

“When A.G. explained to me his vision and the process he was going through, it was very compelling. I like that kind of opportunity, and I like doing it with people I respect. You could see what could be and the kind of culture he was trying to set. I like being in the NFL and working with the best players in the world.”

After an up-and-down 2023 season as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, the 64-year-old Reich had at least contemplated the concept of retirement during 2024. That was before he received a call from friend and Stanford alum Andrew Luck about Reich’s initial stint as a college head coach on an interim basis.

“It was a unique situation in that I had been a head coach (in the NFL) for six years and I had multiple years left on a contract,” he said. “I was probably going to go back, after I took a year off and regrouped, and that’s when Andrew called. Stanford is a unique place and one of the great academic institutions in the world.

“It was a very unique situation, but it was the kind of assignment I wanted and needed at the time. When I got home from Stanford, my wife made the observation of how much energy I had. She recognized how much gas I had in the tank. I was going to do something, and I had already talked to some people.”

In addition to working with Glenn and the challenge of taking on some of the teams’ recent on-field struggles, the prospect of calling offensive plays also drew Reich to the Jets. In addition, he takes pride in his ability to build and sustain personal relationships, a skill that can be traced to his personality and Lebanon upbringing.

“I love to call plays,” said Reich, a graduate of Cedar Crest High School. “In Buffalo, when I was playing and running the two-minute offense, we would call our own plays. The only two years I wasn’t calling plays as an offensive coordinator was with the Eagles. I’ve always loved calling plays. That is definitely part of the appeal.

“I think most coaches will tell you that in this profession it’s all about relationships. We work very hard and we work long hours. I’ve been blessed in that regard. At 64 and on the back end of my career, it’s always been important and now it’s even more important.”

An offensive coordinator is an assistant football coach, and an assistant coach’s duties in the NFL are different than a head coach’s. There’s still pressures to perform and to produce results, but it’s a different kind of pressure.

“Every role in coaching I’ve thoroughly enjoyed,” Reich said. “Every role you’re in, you just throw yourself into it. It’s about being a professional. The highlight of being an offensive coordinator for me is that’s it’s all ball. You don’t have to deal with all the things that come across your desk.”

Retirement is coming for Reich, some day, but he’s ready for it. Living in the present and doing your best all the time translates into no regrets.

“This is the NFL, we’re day-to-day here, practice-to-practice,” he said. “I really love this about the NFL – there’s no place to hide. You have to prove it every day, every season. I relish that challenge and it’s been an incredible career. When you play and coach for a long time, you’re not going to go through it unscathed. I wouldn’t trade any of it, bad or good. It just becomes part of who you are.”

And Reich’s always been true to him.