Almost a year ago, Andrew Luck hired Frank Reich as the interim caretaker for Stanford football. Reich guided Stanford to its most wins since 2020 and a 4-2 mark at home. He also led the Cardinal to a victory in the 128th Big Game as Stanford reclaimed The Axe with a 31-10 thumping of California.
"Stanford kind of re-energized me for coaching," Reich said Wednesday at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. "It just reminded me of my love for the game, for the sport, for the purity of just coaching, being out on the field with the guys."
When Jets HC Aaron Glenn called Reich about the Jets' offensive coordinator vacancy this offseason, Reich got energized about the opportunity to do something special.
"You know, got a couple phone calls on a couple fronts, nothing moved the needle for me," he told reporters. "But as soon as AG called, I knew right away this was something I wanted to do. Mainly because of him, but also because of the challenge and the opportunity to be a part of a staff and be a part of a team and organization that has an opportunity to do something special and turn something around. At this point, I love that idea and I'm excited about that and I feel like I got something to offer and contribute to helping that happen."
On Feb. 4, Glenn hired the experienced Reich to lead his offense. Then on March 11, the Jets acquired veteran QB [Geno Smith](/team/players-roster/geno-smith/) and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. A second-round pick (No. 39) of the Jets in the 2013 NFL Draft, Smith has completed 65.2% of his passes for 22,168 yards with 124 TDs and 89 INTs over 12 seasons with five teams.