Former NFL football player, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers, paid the Covenant Scots a visit during the week of September 29, 2024. Frank Reich set up interviews with Sports Management students to address any questions regarding the major, profession and leadership positions in sports.
Photo taken by Chapel Department
The former NFL coach keyed in on how to apply faith to the workplace. It is important to see leadership qualities within his players along with being blessed with the positive leadership from the core groups of players that he has coached.
In my interview with Reich, I asked him for advice on integrating faith into sports. “Be authentic and genuine,” said Reich. “As you build relationships and as you go about your day, it's just going to naturally flow out.” Recognizing that it can be hard, he added, “Try to be appropriate and respectful, but at the same time you are not ashamed of the Gospel. Walk in the spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to give you discernment and wisdom.”
I asked him about the idea of returning to coaching. “Right now, I am waiting until this current football season is over, and to weigh out all of my options, and the condition to this is to not make a decision before you have to,” said Reich. "I am most likely leaning towards not coaching and to spend more time with my family and traveling.”
I asked him about the players he coached, “There were a lot of players but more keying in on the quarterbacks that led the team such as Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck and Phillip Rivers.” He also talked about the defensive side of the ball. “On the defensive side of the ball there were a multitude of players on that side as well, and it would take forever for me to name all of them.” Reich added how lucky he was to coach these guys, “Sometimes, I have to pinch myself for the sense of professionalism that came from the locker rooms I was in.” He added that the perspective on pro-athletes can be distorted and hypocritical. “With the perception of professional athletes with them making a lot of money and so on and so forth, but in my experiences a lot of these guys are good quality human beings that want to get better and want to make their teammates better. These athletes want to be great leaders by using their talents and with their voice in the huddle or locker room.”
Thumbnail photo taken by Chapel Department.