Frank Reich
A quarterback who engineered the greatest comeback in NFL history, then became a coach known for his steady leadership and offensive mind.
Born 1961 (age 65)·American football player and coach·Birthday: December 4·Baby Boomers
Biography
Frank Reich's football story is one of patience, preparation, and improbable triumph. Drafted in the third round by the Buffalo Bills, he spent years as a backup to Jim Kelly, a role he mastered with intelligence and diligence. His moment arrived in the 1992 AFC Wild Card game, when he rallied the Bills from a 32-point deficit against the Houston Oilers—a record that still stands. That performance cemented his legacy as the ultimate clutch reserve. After his playing career, Reich transitioned to coaching, bringing a calm, analytical approach and a deep understanding of quarterback play. He served as offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles team that won Super Bowl LII, and later became head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers, respected for his offensive schemes and his strong moral compass rooted in his faith.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Frank was born in 1961, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Frank Was Born
The biggest hits of 1961
#1 Movie
101 Dalmatians
Best Picture
West Side Story
#1 TV Show
Wagon Train
Frank's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1961Born
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1966Started school
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1974Became a teenager
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Could drive
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1979Could vote
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Turned 21
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1991Turned 30
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 40
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 50
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 60
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 65 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the Buffalo Bills to the largest comeback in NFL history, overcoming a 32-point deficit to win a 1992 playoff game.
- Served as the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles when they won Super Bowl LII.
- Played in four Super Bowls as a backup quarterback for the Buffalo Bills during their early-1990s dynasty.
- Set an NCAA record for the biggest comeback in college football history while playing for the University of Maryland.
Did You Know?
The 1992 playoff comeback is often referred to simply as "The Comeback" in NFL lore.
He also orchestrated a massive 31-point comeback victory while playing college football at Maryland.
Reich earned a Master of Divinity degree and considered becoming a pastor before fully committing to coaching.
He was the starting quarterback for the expansion Carolina Panthers in their inaugural 1995 season.
“You prepare for your moment for years, and when it comes, you just execute the plan.”
