It was just on Saturday when the Los Angeles Chargers allowed a 27-point lead to be erased when the Jacksonville Jaguars came roaring back to advance to the AFC Divisional round. On Tuesday, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi became the scapegoat, getting fired after two seasons in L.A.
Now Frank Reich is emerging as a possible candidate to become the Chargers’ playcaller next season, where he’d get to work with Justin Herbert and the rest of the Los Angeles offense.
Shortly after the news about Lombardi being let go circulated, ESPN’s Chris Mortenson suggested if Reich isn’t able to land a head coaching gig during this hiring cycle, he could be a strong fit for the Chargers. Mort noted Reich’s previous experience with the Chargers when he was the team’s coordinator from 2014 to 2015 as one reason why a reunion could make sense.
Whether the Chargers are interested in bringing Reich back or not remains to be seen. From an outsider’s perspective, Reich would appear to be a good candidate.
He brings plenty of head-coaching experience, not to mention a Super Bowl ring from his days coordinating the Eagles’ offense. Reich also has a strong reputation for working with younger quarterbacks, helping them get the most out of their abilities. Herbert is already regarded as a top-10 QB, but perhaps Reich can help him become a true MVP candidate with a bit more guidance from a highly-respected football mind, who also used to be an NFL QB himself.
While the Chargers’ search for a new offensive coordinator who will also call plays is only just beginning, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Reich get involved in the interview process for one of the more desirable coordinator vacancies around the league.
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