Stanford is reportedly hiring former NFL head coach Frank Reich as its interim head football coach for the 2025 season, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's Pete Thamel on Monday (March 31).
Reich's reported hiring is part of a one-season agreement coming days after former NFL quarterback turned Stanford football general manager Andrew Luck announced the firing of former head coach Troy Taylor following accusations of allegedly mistreating female staffers.
"Sources: Stanford is hiring veteran NFL coach Frank Reich as the school’s interim football coach for 2025 season. Both sides have agreed this will be only a one-season agreement. At that point, Stanford will launch a national search," Thamel wrote on his X account.
Reich, also a former NFL quarterback, was hired by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018, Luck's final season before announcing his surprising retirement decision days prior of the 2019 season. The 63-year-old went 40-33-1 during five seasons with the Colts and 1-10 during his lone season as the Carolina Panthers' head coach in 2023.
Taylor, 56, was reportedly investigated by two outside firms, which found he bullied and belittled female athletic staffers, sought to have an NCAA compliance officer removed after being warned about rules violations and repeatedly made "inappropriate" comments to another woman regarding her appearance, ESPN reported. Luck, 35, who had a College Football Hall of Fame career at Stanford, confirmed his decision last Tuesday (March 25), which was his first major move since taking over the general manager role at his alma matter.
"Since beginning my role as General Manager, I have been thoroughly assessing the entire Stanford football program. It has been clear that certain aspects of the program need change. Additionally, in recent days, there has been significant attention to Stanford investigations in previous years related to Coach Taylor," Luck said in a statement shared on Stanford Athletics' official website. "After continued consideration it is evident to me that our program needs a reset. In consultation with university leadership I no longer believe that Coach Taylor is the right coach to lead our football program. 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."
Taylor went 6-18 during two seasons at Stanford, posting 3-9 records in 2023 and 2024. Luck finished his NFL career with a 53-33 record as a starter and 23,671 yards, 171 touchdowns and 83 interceptions on 2,000 of 3,290 passing (60.8% completions), as well as 1,590 yards and 14 touchdowns on 332 rushing attempts.