Frank Reich

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Reich's connection to Buffalo runs deep, beginning with his selection as the 57th overall pick in 1985. While Jim Kelly was the starter, Reich proved his mettle whenever called upon. In 1989, he started after a Kelly injury, rallying the Bills from behind to beat the Los Angeles Rams 23–20 in front of 76,231 fans at Rich Stadium; notably, the Rams had lost games earlier that season and finished with an 11-5 record. His most defining moment came during the 1992–93 playoffs. After the Bills collapsed against Houston earlier that season, they faced the Oilers again with Kelly out due to a knee injury. Trailing 35–3 early in the third quarter on January 3, 1993, Reich orchestrated four scoring drives in the second half and overtime. This 41–38 victory made him one of the few quarterbacks undefeated as a starter in postseason play with exactly one start.

In Their Own Story

The 1992 regular season ended in disaster for Buffalo, losing 27–3 to Houston while Kelly suffered strained ligaments. Reich finished that game but knew the stakes were higher when the wild card rematch arrived on January 3, 1993. The Oilers led 35–3 early in the third quarter at Rich Stadium. Reich took over and led multiple scoring drives, turning a blowout into a contest with three touchdowns in the third quarter alone. A fourth score came right at the start of the final quarter. With Miami leading 34–28 in his college days, he had pulled off a miracle; now, facing Houston, he did it again. The 68-yard pass to Greg Hill was the turning point, deflecting off Darrell Fullington's hands for the go-ahead touchdown. Reich steered the team through overtime to a 41–38 victory. He started his second consecutive playoff game immediately after, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 24–3 in the divisional round before Kelly returned for the AFC Championship.

Reader's Guide

For fans of the Bills, Frank Reich represents resilience and clutch performance under pressure. His story is not one of a long-term starter, but of a reliable leader who delivered when it mattered most. Key to understanding his tenure is the specific date of January 3, 1993, when he led the largest comeback in NFL history at that time (32 points). He holds the unique distinction of being undefeated as a starter in postseason play with multiple starts. While he later served as an assistant and eventually head coach elsewhere, his legacy is cemented by those two playoff victories in Buffalo. Fans should note that while he started two games, Jim Kelly returned for the AFC Championship and Super Bowl XXVII, where Reich replaced an injured Kelly late in the game but could not complete a comeback against Dallas.

Did You Know?

• Reich was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round (57th overall) of the 1985 NFL draft.
• As the holder for Scott Norwood's missed field goal in Super Bowl XXV, Reich did not cause the kick to go wide-right; the theory that he mistakenly aligned the laces is widely regarded as an unproven myth rather than fac
• Reich is one of a handful of quarterbacks who are undefeated as a starter in postseason play with exactly one start.
• In 2014, Hall of Fame Executive Bill Polian called Reich 'the greatest backup quarterback in NFL history'.
• The comeback against the Houston Oilers on January 3, 1993, remains the largest comeback in NFL history at 32 points and has never been surpassed.