Former head coach Frank Reich saw his tenure with the Indianapolis Colts come to an end this season, but chances are he has a second opportunity ready around the corner. With past head coaching experience to his name and credible success at the highest stage, he should be a hot commodity around the coaching carousel this offseason.
Update — Reich is going to, in fact, be a head coach in 2023. After interviewing with multiple teams, Reich has been hired by the Carolina Panthers as their next head coach. The news dropped on Thursday and Reich will rejoin the franchise he played QB for during his playing career.
Who is former Colts head coach Frank Reich?
Reich is an experienced coach and former NFL quarterback who competed in the league for 14 seasons, most notably with the Buffalo Bills. Since his playing days, Reich has coached in the NFL since 2006, with his first stint coming with the Indianapolis Colts. He worked with the Colts as an assistant from 2006 through 2011, before working as an offensive assistant coach with the Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers from 2012 to 2015.
Reich joined the Philadelphia Eagles as their offensive coordinator in 2016 and was part of the team’s championship win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Since then, he was head coach of the Colts from 2018 to 2022.
Why would he make a good head coach?
Reich will draw consideration once more given his coaching experience at various levels in the NFL, and most notably given his success in reaching, and winning, the Super Bowl. Not only was he able to overcome a Tom Brady-led Patriots offense, but he achieved success at the highest level with backup quarterback Nick Foles under center, who came in to replace the injured Carson Wentz at the tail end of their Super Bowl run.
Though the Colts have struggled to achieve the same type of success in recent years, much of their faults have come as a result of lacking a franchise quarterback. For teams with a stable option under center, Reich could be the ideal candidate to lift a team ready to compete for the long haul.
Which teams are interviewing him?
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers will be looking to improve their quarterback position this offseason and have a high draft pick with which to do so. Reich struggled this past season with the Colts, but has the offensive pedigree that a team with a young QB would want.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals just installed their new GM, Monti Ossenfort, meaning they are now getting into their interviewing process for a new head coach. Reich is one of those interviews and he would likely make a good fit in Arizona. His ability to work with young quarterbacks is especially useful with the inconsistent Kyler Murray. Reich was able to put together winning teams in Indianapolis even when it looked like he would have trouble doing so. He would make a stabilizing force for an unstable team.