Stanford hired veteran NFL coach Frank Reich as the school’s interim football coach for the 2025 season, it was announced Monday.
Both sides agreed that it was just a one-season deal, sources told ESPN. Stanford will begin a national search at the end of the 2025 season to find a permanent replacement for fired coach Troy Taylor.
“The unique responsibility to coach the world’s best student-athletes is an opportunity for me to fully embrace that they are absolutely the best in what they are aiming for,” Reich said in a statement.
Last week, Taylor was fired amid discoveries by two outside companies who bullied and disrespected female athletic staff, attempting to remove an NCAA compliance officer after warning about violations of the rules and repeatedly made “inappropriate” comments to other women about her appearance.
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Stanford has also promoted tight end coach Nate Byham to offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN. Byham calls for the Cardinal’s play, which went 3-9 over four seasons.
Reich’s hiring is another important move for Andrew Luck, the general manager of Stanford Football, who is considered to be the only university general manager with full control of the team’s coaching staff. Former Stanford and NFL quarterback Luck were hired in November to turn the program around at his alma mater, who hasn’t won since 2020.
Reich, 63, coached Luck during Luck’s final NFL season in 2018 and has a strong relationship with him.
“We couldn’t be more excited for the coaches, staff and players,” Luck said in a statement. “I have experienced first-hand the incredible influences that Frank demonstrated as a leader, and I feel confident that he is the perfect steward for Stanford football this season.
“Frank is a teacher, winner and the highest caliber coach. Frank’s values are seamlessly aligned with our vision for this program, and I am a firm believer in the ability to maximize the field potential of student-athletes while serving as a role model in all aspects of personal development.”
Reich made a 1-10 start in his only season with the team in November 2023, then fired by the Carolina Panthers in November 2023, becoming the first NFL head coach since the 1970 merger was fired from the Indianapolis Colts.
Having scored a 41-43-1 NFL coaching record over six seasons, Reich went to four Super Bowls as a player for the Buffalo Bills, where he was primarily a backup. As an assistant coach, he won the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2017 season after he was an offensive coordinator.
In 2017, Reich helped Carson Wentz get 11-2 with MVP caliber numbers before a season-ending injury, and Nick Forres became Super Bowl MVP with a 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots.
Reich also worked with Future Hall of Fame quarterback Philip Rivers, along with the then San Diego Chargers and Colts.
Stanford has not played in a bowl game since 2018. The interim recruitment was announced after David Bailey, one of the program’s best players, joined the NCAA transfer portal.
The university is currently looking for an athletic director with Alden Mitchell, who was hired last week as interim following Bernard Muir’s decision to step down.
David Newton, Kyle Bonagura, Xuan Thai and the Associated Press of ESPN contributed to this report.
