There aren’t many offensive coaches in the NFL as well-regarded as New York Jets play-caller Frank Reich. Once the quarterback for the greatest playoff comeback in NFL history, Reich became something of a quarterback whisperer as a coach.

But after down years leading the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers, Reich’s time with the league had seemingly come to an end, until Aaron Glenn came calling to run his offense in 2026.

“Frank has a rare combination of experience, creativity, and calm under pressure,” Glenn said. “He’s lived this game from every angle — as a quarterback in this league and as a coach who’s led offenses at the highest level.

“I am looking forward to how he will help this team have success.”

Reich takes over a Jets offense in desperate need of veteran leadership both as a play-caller and developer of talent. Over the last decade, New York has failed to produce even a competent offense. They haven’t finished with an offensive ranking among the top 23 teams in the league since their last .500 season in 2015.

It’s why Reich has been called in to help. But will the 64-year-old have a strong influence on the team’s draft picks in 2026?

New York’s general manager provided an answer to that question.

Frank Reich’s Jets draft involvement

There is reason for optimism following the Jets’ hire of Frank Reich. As a play-caller, he has led various quarterbacks to the playoffs despite a lack of quality weapons.

His experience can also be a key stabilizing force for a young team like the Jets. The work he’s done with Glenn and Jets general manager Darren Mougey has given both of New York’s top leaders a better understanding of the game on that side of the ball.

The fact he spent some time in college as the head coach at Stanford for a single season helped as well.

“He’s been great,” Mougey said Tuesday. “We have had conversations about several of these players in the draft that he faced or either was around personally and that’s been unique and that’s been cool.”

Veteran coaching hires are often frowned upon in the modern NFL, especially when certain coaches fail to adapt their scheme to the ever-changing landscape of defenses. It’s something Reich has struggled with in his recent head-coaching stops.

For that reason, there is considerable skepticism surrounding Reich’s arrival in New York. He won a combined four games in his two most recent seasons, leading the Colts and Panthers. His offenses finished in the bottom six of the league as well.

QB questions

As solid as Phillip Rivers, Andrew Luck, Carson Wentz, and even Jacoby Brissett played under Reich, it’s hard to look past the struggles that Bryce Young and Matt Ryan had under his watch.

New York has left no stone unturned when it comes to the quarterback position. They have scouted the very best of the group, including Alabama’s Ty Simpson, as well as LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Penn State’s Drew Allar.

Reich, along with quarterback coach Bill Musgrave, has seen all kinds of quarterbacks. They’ve both won with many others as well.

That kind of experience can’t be overlooked by the Jets either.

“Both Frank and Coach Musgrave were on the tour with us and got to go see some of these quarterbacks and it was awesome,” Mougey said. “Obviously, Frank and Billy have been around a long time, have evaluated a lot of quarterbacks, so there’s been a lot of good discussion. I really enjoyed it.”

New York already has a starting quarterback to roll with going into 2026. Geno Smith is back with the Jets after almost a decade apart from the team that took him in the second round in 2013.

But if Gang Green is open to drafting a potential quarterback, having an experienced coach who knows how to find quality signal-callers can be extremely valuable.

And if Reich’s stabilizing force can help save the Jets’ offense, the team may finally see light at the end of the tunnel.