Garrett Wilson believes Frank Reich’s arrival as the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator could be the biggest shift the team makes toward a more explosive 2026. Speaking after the team hired Reich in February, Wilson said Reich’s quarterback experience and hi
Garrett Wilson sounded like a receiver already picturing the tape from 2026.
In his view, the Jets’ next offense won’t just be another year of trying things and hoping they click. It will be different because of Frank Reich—specifically because Reich, hired in February to fix a “pathetic” New York offense from last season, is now calling plays for the unit.
Wilson. one of the Jets’ most important offensive pieces. said he’s excited enough that he can see himself looking back at this offense in a few years and loving it. “Honestly. this is probably one of the offenses that I’m going to look back on in a few years and love the most. ” Wilson said. per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
New York’s coaching move matters to Wilson for a simple reason: it’s the kind of change that can remake how an offense behaves on Sundays. Reich is also Wilson’s fourth offensive coordinator during his five seasons in the NFL. which only adds weight to the idea that the Jets are finally settling into something new. Reich’s task is clear—clean up an attack that underperformed badly last season—and Wilson believes his impact could be immediate on the field.
For Wilson, the timing of Reich’s arrival and the Jets’ quarterback direction are tightly linked. He believes he could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Reich calling plays, especially when paired with their Geno Smith upgrade at quarterback.
Reich’s history as a quarterback inside the NFL is part of why Wilson thinks the coaching style will translate. “It’s really player-empowering, I’ll say,” Wilson said. “I don’t really know how else to put it. It’s receiver-empowering, skill position-empowering. You got a guy that’s played quarterback and kind of gets it as far as the instinct side of football. the side of it that’s not going to be perfect the way we drew it up on paper. but you have to embrace that. There’s a way to train people to make the right decision when it isn’t going perfect. and he focuses on that. which I love.”.
There’s a personal reason this message hits harder than it might for another player. Wilson entered 2025 with three straight seasons of 1,000 receiving yards. When his season was derailed, it wasn’t a slump or a slow start—it was a season-ending knee injury. After that, Wilson managed 36 receptions for 395 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
The Jets are hoping 2026 becomes the answer to that injury-shortened chapter. Wilson’s confidence suggests he expects Reich’s approach to give the offense a clearer path—less rigid on the script, more prepared for what happens when routes break down, defenses shift, and instinct takes over.
New York has already added multiple starters on both offense and defense this offseason. but for Wilson. the biggest source of improvement this fall may be the one change that drives everything that happens after the ball is snapped. Reich’s quarterback instincts. Wilson says. match the reality of NFL play: the moments won’t always go to plan. and the best coaches train players to make the right decision anyway.
Garrett Wilson Frank Reich New York Jets 2026 season Geno Smith offensive coordinator NFL news player comments