Stanford has hired former NFL quarterback and coach Frank Reich as its interim head coach for the 2025 season, school officials announced Monday.

The 63-year-old Reich has never coached in college, but was head coach of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts for six seasons and Carolina Panthers for one. While with the Colts, he coached Andrew Luck, the former Stanford and NFL quarterback who was named the Cardinal’s football general manager in November.

“I could not be more excited for our coaches, staff and players to have Frank as our head football coach for the 2025 season,” Luck said. “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. Frank is a teacher, a winner and a coach of the highest caliber.

“Frank’s values align seamlessly with our vision for this program and I firmly believe in his ability to maximize the on-field potential of our student-athletes while serving as a role model in all aspects of their personal growth.”

Reich steps in after Troy Taylor was fired last week following an internal investigation into the treatment of staff members. Taylor was highly successful on the FCS level at Sacramento State, but went just 6-18 in two seasons at Stanford.

Reich played 14 years in the NFL mostly as a backup quarterback, including stints with the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets and Detroit Lions. He then spent 12 seasons as an NFL assistant before getting his first head-coaching job in Indianapolis in 2018, which happened to be Luck’s final season before he abruptly retired at age 29.

“I am thrilled to be working with Andrew again to help take an important step in establishing his vision for the Stanford Football program,” said Reich. “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.”

Stanford, now a member of the ACC, opens the 2025 season on Aug. 23 at Hawaii.