Reich Poised to Become Colts Next Head Coach

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Two-thirds of the Eagles' well-regarded quarterback incubator are out the door after the team's Super Bowl LII win over the New England Patriots.

After John DeFilippo left Philadelphia to become the offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings, news broke Sunday that Frank Reich will become the next coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

Reich, Doug Pederson's OC, interviewed for the position on Friday and is working out a five-year contract with the team, telling people close to him that he plans to take the job.

Because Josh McDaniels agreed to take the job previously and backed out in the 11th hour, the Colts will not be announcing the deal until pen is actually put to paper, something Indy did Sunday afternoon.

"We are extremely excited to announce Frank Reich as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts,” said Colts owner & CEO Jim Irsay. “Frank has all the ingredients of a successful head coach: intelligence, innovation, character, organizational and leadership skills, and a commanding presence. He also has a stellar reputation, and his myriad of life experiences and the people he has worked with make him the perfect fit for us and our fans. I feel extremely fortunate and could not be more excited for Colts Nation and the future of our franchise."

Although Pederson calls the plays in Philadelphia and has proven to be one of the more natural and inventive play-callers in recent NFL history both Reich and DeFilippo played very important roles when it came to the Eagles' offense.

Flip was the guy who worked with MVP candidate Carson Wentz and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles on a daily basis while Reich was heaving involved in putting together the game plan each week as Pederson's right-hand man.

Reich started his NFL coaching career in Indianapolis from 2008-11 in various capacities, starting as an offensive assistant before stints as the Colts' QB coach and then WR coach.

The wide-ranging experience Reich gathered in Indy, which started under Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, put him on the fast track to being an OC and after a year as a WR coach in Arizona he was back to coaching QBs in San Diego before being elevated to OC by the Chargers in 2014.

Reich then arrived in Philadelphia as Pederson's consigliere.

"Frank is a tremendous coach and very deserving of this opportunity," Pederson said. "He was a valuable member of our staff and we have all benefited from working with him over the last two years. As good as he is as a leader and teacher, he's an even better person. We could not be more excited for him as he takes this next step in his career and we wish him and his family all the best."

The Eagles, of course, beat New England in Super Bowl LII last Sunday and McDaniels, the Pats' OC, walked back on an agreement to become the Colts next head coach.

Indianapolis even announced the move on Tuesday before McDaniels changed his mind after talking to Robert Kraft while ostensibly set to clean out his office in Foxborough.

Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and Saints assistant head/tight ends coach Dan Campbell, a former interim coach in Miami, were the other finalists for the Colts job that Reich beat out.

“We are excited to have Frank Reich as our new head coach,” said Colts general manager Chris Ballard. “Frank is a leader of men who will demand excellence from our players on and off the field. I look forward to working with Frank to deliver a championship-caliber team to the city of Indianapolis.”

With Reich gone, running backs coach Duce Staley could be elevated to offensive coordinator while receivers coach Mike Groh is likely to now coach the QBs.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen