Exclusive: Former Colts Head Coach Emerges as Surprise Contender for Jets Offensive Coordinator Role—What It Means for the Team’s Future

Frank Reich, the seasoned NFL coach with a rollercoaster résumé, might be gearing up to light a fire under the New York Jets’ offense. Word on the street from SNYTV’s Connor Hughes is that talks are heating up between Reich and the Jets, aiming to slot the former Indianapolis Colts head coach into the offensive coordinator spot on Aaron Glenn’s evolving staff. Now, Reich’s journey has been anything but linear—from leading the Colts to postseason appearances, to a tough stint with the Panthers, and most recently serving as a senior advisor at Stanford. The question lingering: Can Reich recapture the magic that once propelled his teams, this time in the heart of the Big Apple—and with new quarterback talent in tow? It’s a narrative rich with hope, challenge, and the tantalizing possibility of redemption. LEARN MORE.

According to SNYTV’s Connor Hughes, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich is in ‘progressing’ talks to become the New York Jets next offensive coordinator on 2nd-year head coach Aaron Glenn’s revamped coaching staff:

Things are progressing between the #Jets & Frank Reich, per sources. We’ll see if New York can get it done. They’re trying.

Would be a big get for Aaron Glenn’s offensive staff. Reich won a Super Bowl as OC of the Eagles (2016-2017), although Doug Pederson called plays. Served… pic.twitter.com/jRac1h9VBX

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) January 27, 2026

The 64-year-old Reich just served as Stanford’s interim head coach last year, and is now currently a senior advisor for the Cardinal football program under general manager Andrew Luck—who initially recruited him to Palo Alto as a short-term coaching bridge.

Prior to that, Reich was fired in-season as the Carolina Panthers head coach back in 2023 after going 1-10 with #1 overall pick Bryce Young, who was struggling as a rookie.

Before that, Reich coached the Colts for five seasons, accumulating a 40-33-1 record, making the playoffs both in 2018 and 2020—where in 2018, Indianapolis advanced to the divisional round of the postseason.

Unfortunately, Reich and the Colts got off to another slow start in 2022 at a 3-5-1 record, and with late team owner Jim Irsay already unhappy about the failed Carson Wentz acquisition of an offseason prior, Reich was dismissed near midseason to replace him with then retired Colts center great and ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday.

Regarding Reich, the ending of his pro football coaching tenure with both the Colts and Panthers wasn’t ideal.

That being said, when Reich initially had his talented stable of coordinators, offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, and even defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon—all of whom departed to take NFL head coaching opportunities elsewhere, his Colts teams played a lot better from a leadership, fundamentals, and accountability standpoint. It’s not all that different from what we saw with Glenn’s former coaching boss, head coach Dan Campbell, this past season with the Detroit Lions, who missed the playoffs.

It’ll be interesting to see if Reich can regain his offensive MOJO in the Big Apple, where a new quarterback will presumably be starting for the Jets come the 2026 campaign.

He would get to coach former Colts wideout AD Mitchell, who was traded in the Sauce Gardner deadline deal.