Colts Hire Eagles OC Frank Reich As New Head Coach

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Some say everything happens for a reason, and for the the Indianapolis Colts, it seems scoring Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich as head coach instead of Josh McDaniels could be even better for the team. Just days after after New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels backed out of the head coach deal, the team's general manager Chris Ballard hired Reich, who's fresh off a Super Bowl win over the Patriots.

“Frank is a leader of men who will demand excellence from our players on and off the field,” Ballard said in a statement released Sunday, AP News says. “I look forward to working with Frank to deliver a championship-caliber team to the city of Indianapolis.”

Colts officials posted a photo of Reich signing the reported five-deal on the team’s website.

AP News says Ballard interviewed the 56-year-old Reich on Friday, the day after Philadelphia held its victory celebration and parade following their Super Bowl victory. Reich replaces Chuck Pagano, who was fired on New Year's Eve just hours after finishing the season with a 4-12 record and missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year, AP News reports.

The search for a new head coach lasted 41 days and included two coaching announcements, with one being taken back Tuesday night, just eight hours after McDaniel's told the coach he was in, AP News reports.

AP News reports exactly one week after backup quarterback Nick Foles executed a phenomenal game plan to beat Tom Brady and the favored Patriots, the Colts brought back a longtime assistant who spent two seasons working with Peyton Manning.

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AP News reports the Colts already have three assistants on Reich’s staff, including probable defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Mike Phair and Dave DeGuglielmo. All three agreed to join McDaniels’ staff in Indianapolis and have been promised by Ballard that they will remain on the staff.

Here's a look at Reich's career:

• Returning to the Colts years after he began his coaching career as an intern here in 2006, before being named an offensive assistant in 2008, quarterbacks coach in 2009 and receivers coach in 2011.
• Receivers coach in Arizona back in 2012
• San Diego's quarterbacks coach in 2013, then promoted to offensive coordinator in 2014.
• Offensive coordinator for the Eagles in 2016 and 2017

AP News says Reich may be best known for rallying the Buffalo Bills from a 35-3 downward spiral to a 41-38 overtime victory over the Houston Oilers in January 1993 — the biggest comeback in playoff history.

It's official Colts fans!

Frank Reich is your new head coach: https://t.co/ESDN4HNB5f pic.twitter.com/RzUlut63rp
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) February 11, 2018

Frank Reich was with me at the end of my tenure with the Colts. He has a creative offensive mind. He’s a great communicator and a high quality person. The Colts are in great hands. #Integrity pic.twitter.com/YT3s4fpwkc
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) February 12, 2018

Dearest mother —
Glorious day! It appears the unit will have a new general soon. Frank Reich shall take command. His Eagles were the ultimate victor last campaign. Now, the time has come to shed his feathers and attach some horse shoes. Invigorating.
— Andrew
— Capt. Andrew Luck (@CaptAndrewLuck) February 11, 2018

Frank Reich was my quarterback coach when I was a rookie... I was 3rd string.. would take snaps once a week with a center.. handoffs.. 3 step, 5 step drops.. Incredibly patient and upbeat man.. Would love to see him at the helm of the HorseShoe.. Let’s #MTCGA pic.twitter.com/ZTLh4UXVay
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 11, 2018

Welcome to Indy, Coach Frank Reich! https://t.co/gprAHlSVEt
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 11, 2018

As you can see, the news of the team's new head coach appears to be quite positive on the social media front. Many former colleagues including Hall of Fame head coach (former Colts head coach) Tony Dungy.

Reich graduated from the University of Maryland where he was a backup to Boomer Esiason. He landed the starting quarterback job as a senior and spent 14 seasons in the NFL playing for Buffalo, Carolina, the New York Jets and Detroit.

More details: apnews.com, colts.com

Photo credit: Matt Rourke/Associated Press