Stanford is hiring former NFL coach Frank Reich to lead the program on an interim basis following Troy Taylor’s firing, the university announced Monday. Reich is joining the Cardinal on a one-year deal with Stanford expected to launch a national search following the 2025 season.
Stanford is also promoting tight ends coach Nate Byham to offensive coordinator in a corresponding move, according to ESPN. The 36-year-old Byham, a former tight end at Pittsburgh, is entering his third season on Stanford’s staff.
This also serves as a reunion for Reich and Stanford general manager Andrew Luck; Reich coached Luck with the Indianapolis Colts for one season in 2018.
“I could not be more excited for our coaches, staff and players to have Frank as our head football coach for the 2025 season,” Luck said in a statement. “I have experienced first-hand the incredible impact Frank has demonstrated as a leader and have full confidence he is the perfect steward for this season of Stanford Football. Frank is a teacher, a winner and a coach of the highest caliber. Frank’s values align seamlessly with our vision for this program and I firmly believe in his ability to maximize the on-field potential of our student-athletes while serving as a role model in all aspects of their personal growth.”
Stanford is giving Reich his first opportunity as a collegiate coach, though he brings over 17 years of experience as a professional assistant and head coach. Reich, a former quarterback at Maryland and in the NFL, earned his first head coaching opportunity with the Colts in 2018.
From 2018-22, Reich guided the Colts to a 40-33-1 record with three winning seasons and two appearances in the NFL Playoffs. Reich spent the 2023 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, where he was fired after a 1-10 start to the campaign. Reich has not actively coached since.
Prior to making the move to Indianapolis, Reich was the offensive coordinator for the then-San Diego Chargers (2014-15) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2016-17). In 2017, he helped the Eagles win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Stanford fired Taylor on March 25, less than a week after it was revealed that university investigations found he mistreated female staffers, according to documents obtained by ESPN. The decision was announced by Luck.
Fallout at Stanford: Troy Taylor out, staff stunned, Andrew Luck goes into decision mode with options to weigh
Brandon Huffman
“After continued consideration it is evident to me that our program needs a reset,” Luck said in a statement. “In consultation with university leadership, I no longer believe that Coach Taylor is the right coach to lead our football program. Coach Taylor has been informed today and the change is effective immediately.”
Luck turns to a familiar face
Given his prominent role in Taylor’s firing, there’s no doubt that Luck had his say in naming Reich as the immediate successor. Luck and Reich are familiar with one another, though their time together in the NFL was relatively limited.
Luck was in his seventh and, ultimately, final season with the Colts when Reich was hired in 2018. Luck, who was selected by Indianapolis out of Stanford with the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, missed the entire 2017 season while rehabbing from a shoulder injury.
In his lone year under Reich, he was able to return to action and started all 16 regular-season games while throwing for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns and posting a career-high passer rating of 98.7. He was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year and earned the fourth Pro Bowl selection of his career.
Luck initially decided to return in 2019, but in August, less than a month before the season was set to start, he announced his retirement from football due to mounting injuries and a strenuous cycle of rehabilitation. Reich only won at least 10 games in a single season once following Luck’s decision to step away from playing football.
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