Frank Reich

Player

Birthday December 4, 1961

Birth Sign Sagittarius

Birthplace Freeport, New York, U.S.

Age 62 years old

Nationality United States

Height 1.93 m

#36525 Most Popular

1921

However, in the 4th quarter, the Cowboys scored 21 unanswered points to win 52–17, and Reich finished the game with two interceptions.

1935

The wild card game was a rematch with the Oilers, hosted in Buffalo, where they led the Bills 35–3 early in the 3rd quarter, but Reich then led the Bills on a 38–3 run en route to a 41–38 overtime victory.

The rally from a 32-point deficit remained the largest comeback in NFL history until the Minnesota Vikings made a 33-point comeback against the Indianapolis Colts on December 17, 2022.

Reich started his second consecutive playoff game, as the Bills defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24–3 in the divisional round.

This made Reich one of a handful of quarterbacks who is undefeated as a starter in post-season play, as well as the only one with more than one start to his credit.

Kelly recovered and started the AFC Championship where the Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins 29–10.

During Super Bowl XXVII, the Bills faced the Dallas Cowboys and Reich again replaced an injured Kelly in the first half of the Super Bowl.

1961

Frank Michael Reich (born December 4, 1961) is an American former football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL).

He played 14 seasons as a quarterback in the NFL.

He became a coach afterwards, including head coaching stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers.

1980

He played quarterback in the Big 33 Football Classic in 1980 following his senior year of high school.

Reich was accepted to the University of Maryland on an athletic scholarship and played for the Maryland Terrapins football team.

He was both backup to and roommate of starter Boomer Esiason for three years.

1983

The Bills had already drafted future Hall of Famer Jim Kelly in 1983 and when Kelly signed with the Bills in 1986, Reich was relegated to a role as backup.

1984

The biggest highlight of Reich's college career was the comeback he led against the Miami Hurricanes on November 10, 1984, at the Miami Orange Bowl.

Reich came off the bench to play for Stan Gelbaugh, who had previously replaced him as the starter after Reich separated his shoulder in the fourth week of the season against Wake Forest.

Quarterback Bernie Kosar had led Miami to a 31–0 halftime lead.

At the start of the third quarter, Reich led the Terrapins on multiple scoring drives.

Three touchdowns in the third quarter and a fourth at the start of the final quarter turned what was a blowout into a close game.

With Miami leading 34–28, Reich hit Greg Hill with a 68-yard touchdown pass, which deflected off the hands of Miami safety Darrell Fullington to take the lead.

Maryland scored once more to cap a 42–9 second half, and won 42–40, completing what was then the biggest comeback in NCAA history.

1985

Reich played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 1985 NFL Draft.

Reich was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round (57th overall) in the 1985 NFL Draft.

1989

Reich got his first start when Kelly went down with a shoulder injury in 1989.

Reich led the Bills to two straight victories.

He rallied the Bills in the fourth quarter by throwing two drives down the field for a 23–20 victory over the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Rams.

This first game for Reich occurred in front of a Rich Stadium crowd of 76,231 and a Monday Night Football audience.

In Super Bowl XXV, kicker Scott Norwood famously missed the potential game winning field goal wide-right, with Reich as the holder on the attempt.

1990

Reich returned the following year, however when Kelly was injured again late in the 1990 season.

Reich provided the Bills with two key wins, clinching them the AFC East title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

1992

He spent most of his career backing up Jim Kelly, although he achieved recognition when he led the Bills to the NFL's largest postseason comeback during the 1992–93 NFL playoffs.

After retiring as a player, Reich began an NFL coaching career.

During the final game of the 1992 regular season, the Houston Oilers defeated Buffalo 27–3 in Houston, where Kelly suffered strained ligaments in his knee and yielded to Reich to finish the game in his place.

1993

With Kelly out, Reich took the reins as the starter for the wild card game the following week, on January 3, 1993.

2008

Holding assistant positions from 2008 to 2017, he was the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles when they won their first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl LII.

2010

Reich led the Bills to 10 points to make the score 31–17, with a possible comeback well within the Bills' capability as the 3rd quarter concluded.

2018

He later served as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2022 and guided the team to two playoff appearances.

He was the Panthers head coach in 2023 before being fired before the end of the season after a 1–10 record.

Reich, who is of German descent, attended Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where he played baseball, football, and basketball.

Reich started on the football team for his last two years in high school.