Jets betting on comeback king Frank Reich to help revive the franchise
The Jets hand comeback specialist Frank Reich another rescue mission as he's being asked to assist in the franchise's turnaround.
The New York Jets don’t just need improvement. They need a comeback, and not the casual kind either. Not the “win two more games and call it progress” variety.
This franchise is trying to climb out of the NFL’s longest active playoff drought after a three-win season that often felt hopeless before halftime. That’s what makes offensive coordinator Frank Reich's hiring feel strangely appropriate. If football history has taught us anything, it’s this: Reich has made a career out of surviving situations that looked completely dead.
The continuing story of a comeback artist Long before heading to New York, Reich authored one of college football’s most ridiculous turnarounds. While playing for the Maryland Terrapins football program in 1984, he entered a game against the Miami Hurricanes after halftime with his team trailing 31-0. He rallied the troops, and Maryland eventually won 42-40 after outscoring Miami 42-9 in the second half.
That alone can help cement a legacy, but he wasn't done. Then came the NFL. In January of 1993, Reich stepped in for an injured Jim Kelly during a playoff game for the Buffalo Bills .