Consistently adapting to what works is a key trait of NFL coordinators, particularly on the offensive side.
That’s one of the biggest concerns about the New York Jets’ OC, Frank Reich, as he gears up for his first season in the NFL since 2023.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Reich emphasized that it doesn’t feel like much time has passed since then.
“It feels like I never left,” Reich said of being back in the NFL.
Reich, 64, spent the 2024 season away from football and 2025 at Stanford University. That followed two prior NFL jobs that ended in in-season firings: the Indianapolis Colts after a 3-5-1 start and the Carolina Panthers after a 1-10 run.
As we recently discussed, the Jets’ offensive roster decisions suggest the team is expected to run more 12 personnel. Why else would a team carry four tight ends and a fullback who converted from tight end?
The usage rate of 12 personnel has risen over the past few years, led by some of the best teams in the NFL. It’s a package that Reich has not utilized very frequently throughout his coaching career; he typically prefers to lean on 11 personnel.
The early portion of the season will tell us a lot, but at the very least, the Jets’ moves hint at an uptick in 12 personnel, which is encouraging given the league’s direction.
Unlike at his prior stops, Reich also said Thursday that he’ll call plays from the booth this season—something he experimented with throughout the Jets’ three preseason games.
