As he prepares for his first season as the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator, it is fair to question how equipped 64-year-old Frank Reich is to lead an NFL offense in 2026.

The hire raised questions for some, especially after moving on from a young coach like Tanner Engstrand. After Reich’s past two NFL stops ended with in-season firings, he stepped away from the game for a year before taking a role at Stanford University last season.

However, the Jets don’t seem to have that same level of concern and are instead confident in the former quarterback’s adaptability.

“I think he’s a guy that’s always adapting,” Joe Tippmann told the media on Thursday. “He’s not just watching film from the 2000s. He is up to date, doing studies on recent years, studies on trends in the league, where he thinks the league’s going to go. You sit in a meeting, and I just get excited about where he’s going to take us as an offense.”

That message was also echoed by head coach Aaron Glenn, who was teammates with Reich in the Big Apple for the 1996 season.

“We’ve always just talked football and just hearing what his philosophy is, I would think, ‘I feel the same way,’” Glenn said. “It’s been good. I’m glad he’s here.”

While Reich’s offense has yet to take the field, early signals point to modernization, particularly the selection of tight end Kenyon Sadiq with the No. 16 overall pick, whom he appeared to be a heavy advocate for.

Historically, Reich has leaned heavily on 11 personnel (1 running back, 1 tight end, and 3 wide receivers). However, selecting Sadiq suggests that his 12-personnel usage could see an uptick this year, which has been a recent trend in the league.

Much of the Jets’ offensive performance this season will hinge on Reich’s scheme and how it adjusts to fit the modern game. It is also a massive help to have Seth Ryan on board, who worked under offensive mastermind Ben Johnson with the Detroit Lions.

It’s unlikely that Ryan will become Ben Johnson 2.0, but he is a young, up-and-coming mind at age 32 who could help Reich and the Jets modernize their offensive strategy.