After a multi-week search that concluded on Feb. 4, 2026, league sources say Aaron Glenn has won his top target: Frank Reich will be the New York Jets’ next offensive coordinator. The move follows the team’s parting with Tanner Engstrand last week and a series of interviews that included Greg Roman, Darrell Bevell, Lunda Wells and Ronald Curry. Reich, 64, has not been an NFL play-caller since his head-coaching stints ended in 2023, but people close to the situation say Glenn pitched Reich on being the “head coach of the offense” while Glenn refocuses on the defense. The hire reunites two veterans who were teammates on the 1996 Jets and sets new expectations for a roster still lacking a confirmed starting quarterback.
Key Takeaways
- Frank Reich, 64, agreed to become the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator after a multi-week pursuit led by general manager Aaron Glenn (Feb. 4, 2026).
- The Jets dismissed Tanner Engstrand last week; Greg Roman and Darrell Bevell interviewed in person while Lunda Wells and Ronald Curry interviewed virtually.
- Reich’s recent resume: interim Stanford head coach in 2025, fired as Carolina Panthers head coach in 2023, and head coach of the Colts from 2018–2022.
- In Reich’s first four seasons with the Colts (2018–2021) Indianapolis ranked 7th in offensive EPA, 9th in scoring and 11th in yards; those figures fell sharply in 2022 before his firing.
- During the nine games before his 2022 Colts firing the offense ranked 32nd in EPA and 31st in scoring; Reich’s 11 games with the Panthers produced similar low-end rankings.
- The Jets retain uncertainty at quarterback heading into the draft (they hold the No. 2 pick; Fernando Mendoza is projected to go No. 1), and star receiver Garrett Wilson is expected back from injury for 2026.
- Aaron Glenn also hired Brian Duker as defensive coordinator, but multiple sources expect Glenn to remain the defensive play-caller.
- Top NFL coordinators typically earn about $3–5 million per year; sources say Glenn offered Reich a substantial coordinator salary to join the staff.
Background
The Jets entered a staffing reset after parting ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand last week. General manager Aaron Glenn signaled a desire to strengthen the offensive leadership while he concentrates on restoring a defense that underperformed in 2025. That plan included seeking a veteran voice who could both mentor younger players and assume play-calling responsibility or at least command the offense’s overall direction.
Frank Reich’s résumé combines clear highs and recent lows. He earned a reputation for quarterback development in San Diego/Los Angeles with Philip Rivers and as offensive coordinator for the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl team. Reich’s first four seasons as Indianapolis Colts head coach produced solid aggregate offensive metrics, but the late-stage collapse in 2022 and a difficult stint with the Carolina Panthers marred that record.
Reich spent 2025 as Stanford’s interim head coach and was expected to move into an advisory role in 2026 before the Jets pursued him. People close to Reich had considered retirement, but the Jets’ pitch — reportedly offering Reich the title of the offense’s head and a sizable coordinator salary — persuaded him to return to the NFL.
Main Event
The Jets conducted an extended interview process that included in-person meetings with Greg Roman and Darrell Bevell and virtual interviews with Lunda Wells and Ronald Curry. Reich, however, was the consistent frontrunner. Sources say Glenn engaged in direct outreach and framed the position as an opportunity to run the offense while Glenn repairs the defense and handles defensive play-calling.
Reich accepted the offer after weighing retirement plans and a possible senior-adviser role at Stanford. The hire reunites Reich and Glenn, who were teammates on the 1996 Jets — a 1–15 season under Rich Kotite — creating a narrative of a three-decade reunion within the same franchise. Reich’s return to a coordinator post will be his first NFL offensive leadership role since 2023.
Alongside Reich’s hiring, the Jets named Brian Duker as defensive coordinator, though multiple sources indicate Glenn will continue to call defensive plays. The staff reshuffle signals a clear division of labor: Reich to lead offensive strategy and quarterback development; Glenn to focus on defensive schematic overhaul and in-game defensive adjustments.
The timing of the hire also intersects with the Jets’ draft and roster questions. With the No. 2 pick and no assured starting quarterback, Reich’s early months will likely influence whether the team selects a QB, trades for a veteran, or leans on an existing option while grooming talent.
Analysis & Implications
Short term, Reich’s principal task is stabilizing a Jets offense that has playmaking pieces but lacks certainty at quarterback. Garrett Wilson’s expected return for 2026 and a generally capable offensive line give Reich a foundation; conversely, the team risks losing running back Breece Hall to free agency and lacks depth at tight end and complementary wide receiver spots. Reich’s ability to adapt schemes to available personnel will be tested immediately.
Reich’s track record is mixed: he has demonstrated clear skill developing quarterbacks — Rivers in San Diego and Carson Wentz in Philadelphia — yet his later head-coaching results showed steep decline. The Colts’ strong aggregate offensive ranks in his early years contrast sharply with the 2022 collapse and the Panthers’ struggles, so expectations should be calibrated: Reich can create growth but is not a guaranteed fix.
Strategically, the hire may affect the Jets’ draft calculus. If Reich and the front office prefer a quarterback who fits Reich’s scheme, the Jets could either use their No. 2 pick on a QB prospect or explore trades for experienced options — Jacoby Brissett (now with the Cardinals) was mentioned as a possible, if unlikely, target. The team also must decide whether Reich will hold play-calling duties; how that question is resolved will shape in-game identity.
Financially, the salary offered to Reich — described by sources as sizable and in line with top coordinator pay — signals the franchise’s willingness to invest in experienced coaching to accelerate a playoff window. That investment raises pressure for immediate offensive improvement, especially given the Jets’ pattern of coordinator turnover (no OC has lasted more than two seasons since Brian Schottenheimer).
Comparison & Data
| Era | EPA Rank | Scoring Rank | Yards Rank | Rushing Rank | Passing Rank | 3rd-Down Rank | Red Zone Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts, Reich’s first 4 seasons (2018–2021, combined) | 7th | 9th | 11th | 5th | 15th | 7th | 11th |
| Colts, nine games in 2022 (pre-firing) | 32nd | 31st | 27th | 30th | 12th | 24th | 31st |
| Panthers, 11 games (Reich tenure) | 29th | 29th | 30th | 28th | 30th | 20th | 19th |
| Stanford (season under Reich) | 122nd in scoring, 127th in yards (national college ranks) | ||||||
The table highlights Reich’s best and worst stretches: strong aggregate NFL offensive metrics in Indianapolis early on, followed by marked declines in 2022 and during his short tenure with Carolina. The college-level Stanford ranks reflect talent gaps rather than a direct NFL comparison, but they contextualize the downturn in results since Reich’s earlier coordinator peaks.
Reactions & Quotes
“He was always considered the favorite for the position,”
League sources (reported)
That assessment accompanied multiple reports that Reich emerged early as Aaron Glenn’s preferred candidate. League sources described Reich as the front-runner throughout the Jets’ interview process.
“Head coach of the offense,”
Aaron Glenn (reported pitch)
According to people familiar with Reich’s decision, Glenn framed the role as giving Reich full control of offensive design while Glenn concentrated on the defense and defensive play-calling.
“Reich is respected for quarterback development and player relationships,”
NFL analysts (reported)
Analysts who have followed Reich’s career emphasize his history mentoring quarterbacks as a primary rationale for the hire, even while noting the mixed results later in his head-coaching tenure.
Unconfirmed
- The exact annual salary Reich will receive has not been publicly disclosed; reported figures are described only as “hefty” and comparable to top coordinator pay.
- Whether Reich will be the primary in-game play-caller remains unconfirmed; sources say Glenn intends to call defensive plays, but offensive play-calling responsibilities were not finalized publicly.
- Reports of Aaron Glenn contacting Jon Gruden as part of the search come from sources; Gruden’s level of discussion and the details are not independently verified here.
- Potential roster moves tied to Reich’s hire — including trades for veteran quarterbacks such as Jacoby Brissett or the likelihood of drafting a QB at No. 2 — are speculative and dependent on front-office decisions.
Bottom Line
Frank Reich’s hiring gives the Jets a proven quarterback developer with a résumé of both notable successes and recent setbacks. The reunion with Aaron Glenn provides organizational continuity and a clear division of labor: Reich to lead the offense, Glenn to prioritize and call the defense. That structure should accelerate the Jets’ coaching cohesion, but it also raises immediate pressure for Reich to demonstrate he can translate past coordinator success into sustainable offensive production.
What to watch next: whether Reich will call plays, how the Jets resolve the quarterback question with the No. 2 pick, and how the offensive roster is managed in free agency — particularly Breece Hall’s status. Given Reich’s mixed recent results, the 2026 season will be a decisive early test of whether the hire moves the franchise toward stability or prompts further changes.
Sources
- The Athletic via The New York Times — sports journalism report on the Jets coaching search and Reich hire.
- Pro-Football-Reference — statistical resource for historical NFL team and coach metrics (used for contextual rankings).