Indianapolis Colts to request interview with Frank Reich
The Indianapolis Colts are moving forward with their coaching search, and Frank Reich may be first in line for an interview.
On Tuesday morning, the Indianapolis Colts announced they had agreed to terms with Josh McDaniels to become their head coach. But McDaniels turned away on Tuesday night, choosing to stay as offensive coordinator in New England.
The Colts reportedly had a few candidates lined up to interview in case McDaniels left them holding the bag. On that note, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network has reported Indianapolis is expected to put in an interview request for Eagles’ offensive coordinator Frank Reich.
Reich just finished his second season as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator, and a Super Bowl win will surely elevate his already rising profile as a head coaching candidate. Before that he was quarterbacks coach (2013) and then offensive coordinator (2014 and 2015) for the San Diego Chargers.
Reich started his coaching career with the Colts in 2008, as an offensive assistant. He then served as Indianapolis’ quarterbacks coach for two seasons (2009 and 2010) and wide receivers coach for one season (2011), before leaving to become wide receivers coach for the Arizona Cardinals for a lone season in 2012.
Reich has never been a head coach. But his range of experience as a wide receivers coach, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator gives him the resume to back up getting some head coaching interviews. He’ll be a prime candidate to become a head coach around this time next year, so now is the time for the Colts to get him when they have the only opening.
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McDaniels probably did the Colts a favor by shunning them. Outside the blanket of New England and Bill Belichick, he’s no more proven as an offensive mind or a head coach candidate than someone like Reich. Sometimes things work out the way their supposed to, and the Colts can still get a good head coach that will be fully committed to succeeding in Indianapolis.