Veteran NFL head coach Frank Reich has been tasked with leading the Stanford Cardinal into the 2025 college football season following the firing of incumbent Troy Taylor last week.

Reich becomes the 36^th head coach in Stanford history, and owes his installation as interim head coach in no small part to a player he coached in the pro game, following former Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck’s appointment as general manager of the Cardinal programme.

“I could not be more excited for our coaches, staff and players to have Frank as our head football coach for the 2025 season,” said Luck, who was named to his post back in November. “I have experienced, first-hand, the incredible impact Frank has demonstrated as a leader and have full confidence he is the perfect steward for this season of Stanford Football.”

Reich is recognised as a leading offensive mind with 30+ years of service in professional football, combining a 14-year playing career as quarterback with 18 seasons in various coaching roles. He was a member of six Super Bowl teams, including four as a player with the Buffalo Bills, before making the big game on two occasions as a coach, finally winning as OC of the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles. His final stop on the NFL coaching carousel was in Carolina two years ago, but he had previously crossed paths with Luck during the QB’s last season as quarterback of the Colts. The pair guided Indianapolis to the NFL postseason that year, despite making a 1-5 start to the campaign.

“I am thrilled to be working with Andrew again to help take an important step in establishing his vision for the Stanford Football programme,” Reich commented. “Andrew is an elite leader and competitor, and those traits, along with his genuine passion for this university, resonated in every way and inspired me to accept this role. The unique responsibility to mentor the best student-athletes in the world, to be the absolute best in what they aspire to do, is an opportunity I will fully embrace.”

Taylor was dismissed from the post of head coach following separate accusations of mistreating staffers on the football programme.

“Since beginning my role as general manager, I have been thoroughly assessing the entire Stanford football programme,” Luck explained in a statement at the time. “It has been clear that certain aspects of the programme need change. Additionally, in recent days, there has been significant attention to Stanford investigations in previous years related to Coach Taylor.

“After continued consideration, it is evident to me that our programme needs a reset. In consultation with university leadership, I no longer believe that Coach Taylor is the right coach to lead our football programme. Coach Taylor has been informed today and the change is effective immediately. A search for new coaching leadership in football has begun, and an acting coach may be named for the 2025 season. Our focus remains on supporting our student-athletes and ensuring they have the best possible experience on the field, in the classroom, and on campus with their peers.”