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Frank Reich Agrees To Five-Year Deal As Colts Head Coach
Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich agreed to a five-year deal Sunday to become the Colts' head coach, a source informed of the talks between the sides told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter, who first reported Reich had emerged as the favorite earlier Sunday, are now confirming Garafolo's report.
The Colts officially announced the hiring on Sunday afternoon.
Of course, we all saw how these things can go after New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels withdrew from an announced agreement to become the team's head coach on Tuesday.
Reich, 56, emerged as the favorite for the job after meeting with Colts general manager Chris Ballard on Friday. The Colts also interviewed New Orleans Saints assistant head coach/tight ends Dan Campbell and Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.
The Eagles have braced themselves to lose Reich to the Colts. Reich, 56, received strong, detailed endorsements, but ESPN reports that Ballard nevertheless engaged in an interview that lasted approximately 10 hours. Frazier and Campbell had thorough interviews as well, but Reich's experience on the offensive side of the football was considered an advantage.
Reich was considered among the possible candidates for a head coaching job this offseason -- a distinction that was enhanced by quarterback Nick Foles leading the Eagles to victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
As NFL.com noted, Reich, who has more than a quarter-century of NFL experience as a player and coach, was hired by Eagles coach Doug Pederson in 2016 to run his offense. He helped Carson Wentz establish himself as one of the league's premier rookies last season and helped the quarterback develop into a legitimate MVP candidate before he suffered a torn ACL and LCL in December.
Before his coaching stint in Philly, Reich served as the San Diego Chargers' offensive coordinator for two seasons after initially being hired as the team's quarterbacks coach in 2013. He worked as the Arizona Cardinals' wide receivers coach in 2012.
Reich's coaching career actually began with the Colts in 2006 when he was hired as an intern before being promoted to offensive assistant and later quarterbacks coach. Working with Peyton Manning, he helped the soon-to-be Hall of Famer pass for more than 9,200 combined yards over the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He worked as Indy's wide receivers coach in 2011 after Manning missed the season because of injury.
The Colts are hoping Reich's success with Manning, Rivers, Wentz and Foles will carry over to Andrew Luck, who missed the entire 2017 season due to a nagging shoulder injury -- a development that contributed to the team's 4-12 season and coach Chuck Pagano's firing. The Colts' brain trust will be leaning hard on Reich to ensure the former No. 1 overall draft pick will rediscover his form in 2018. Getting the most out of Luck will be critical for a team eager to erase its three-year playoff drought.
The other challenge for Reich will involve his coaching staff. Multiple assistant coaches signed Colts contracts thinking they'd be working under McDaniels. Former Cowboys linebackers coach Matt Eberflus, who will be Indy's defensive coordinator, is among those under contract. Although Ballard expressed confidence Wednesday in these coaches working well with whoever they hired to lead the team, most head coaches typically have the freedom to hire their assistants.
Not surprisingly, an official announcement will wait until after a contract is fully executed.
Furthermore, the Colts are paying respects Monday in Atlanta to Edwin Jackson, the 26-year-old linebacker who was killed in a car accident Feb. 4 along with his Uber driver when they were struck by car operated by an intoxicated driver.