Athletes - Frank Reich

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	Athletes - Frank Reich

Frank Michael Reich (aka Frank "Third" Reich) (born December 4, 1961 in Freeport, New York) is a former NFL quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, the Carolina Panthers, the New York Jets, and the Detroit Lions.

High School Years

Reich attended Cedarcrest High School in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, where he started for three years at quarterback.

College career

Reich played quarterback for the Maryland Terrapins. The biggest highlight of his college career was the comeback he led against the University of Miami Hurricanes in 1984. Reich came off the bench to play for injured quarterback Boomer Esiason. Miami quarterback Bernie Kosar had led the 'Canes to a 31-0 lead at halftime, passing for 240 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone. At the start of the third quarter, Reich led the Terrapins on scoring drive after scoring drive. Three touchdowns in the third quarter and a fourth at the start of the final quarter turned what was a blowout into a close game. With the score 34-28 Miami, Reich hit Greg Hill with a 69-yard touchdown pass to take the lead. Maryland scored once more to cap an incredible 42-9 second half, and won the game 42-40. Reich finished his college career with 2,097 yards.

NFL career

Reich was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round (57th overall) in the 1985 NFL Draft. Unfortunately for Reich, the Bills already had a leader in future Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, and Reich was relegated to the backup role for several years. Reich got his first start when Kelly went down with a shoulder injury in 1989. Reich capably led the Bills to two straight victories, including one over the then-undefeated Los Angeles Rams, before giving the reins back to Kelly. Late in the fourth quarter versus the Rams, Reich made a sensational quaterback sneak, breaking through the Rams defensive line to score the touchdown that won the Bills the game. Reich returned the following season, however, when Kelly was injured again late in the season. Reich once again stepped up and provided the Bills with two key wins, clinching them the AFC East title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Reich's defining moment in his pro career, coincidentally, is another comeback, this one often called the greatest comeback in NFL history in the 1993 playoffs over the Houston Oilers. Reich led the Bills on a 35-3 run in the second half and overtime against the Oiler defense en route to a 41-38 victory. Reich would help the Bills defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round before once again giving the team back to Kelly, who led them into Super Bowl XXVII, where they fell to the Dallas Cowboys.

After giving the Bills one more comeback victory late in the 1993 NFL season, Reich was picked from the Bills in the 1995 expansion draft to join the Carolina Panthers. Although he started several games for them, he was replaced mid-season by Kerry Collins. He was signed by the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions, and retired following the 1998 NFL season.

He is a devout Christian and is now a motivational speaker utilizing the great comebacks as a main keynote of his speeches. He is currently the president of the Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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