Colts pick a winner, Eagles’ Reich as coach

The Indianapolis Colts’ second choice for head coach could turn out to be even better than the first.

Five days after New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels reneged on a deal to take the job, the Colts hired Frank Reich, the Philadelphia assistant whose offense outperformed McDaniels’ last week in the Eagles’ 41-33 Super Bowl victory over the Patriots.

“Frank has all the ingredients of a successful head coach: intelligence, innovation, character, organizational and leadership skills, and a commanding presence,” team owner Jim Irsay said.

Reich, 56, replaces Chuck Pagano, fired after finishing 4-12 and missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Quarterback Andrew Luck missed the entire season after shoulder surgery. Last week general manager Chris Ballard said Luck still hasn’t thrown a football since October.

A backup QB for 14 seasons, Reich is most famous for rallying the Buffalo Bills from a 35-3 deficit to a 41-38 overtime win over the Houston Oilers in January 1993, the biggest comeback in playoff history. He returns to the team where he started his coaching career.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster, the team’s secondleading tackler, has been arrested for the second time this offseason, on suspicion of domestic violence and possessing an assault rifle.