Stanford is making a bold move by bringing back Tavita Pritchard, the former quarterback who was once overshadowed by Andrew Luck, to lead their football program as the new head coach. But here's where it gets controversial: Pritchard isn't coming from a traditional college coaching background; he’s currently the quarterbacks coach for the Commanders in the NFL.
According to insider Pete Thamel from ESPN, Pritchard will step into the head coaching role for the Cardinal, leaving his position with the Commanders right after their upcoming game against the Broncos on Sunday night. This decision marks a significant shift for Stanford, which has struggled recently.
Andrew Luck, who famously took over as Stanford’s starting quarterback in 2009, now serves as the General Manager for Stanford’s football program. He played a key part in bringing back leadership familiar to him by hiring Frank Reich, his former coach with the Colts, as an interim head coach earlier this year. Reich’s tenure so far has been challenging, with a 4-7 record ahead of the final game against Notre Dame.
Pritchard’s roots with Stanford run deep. After his playing days, he started as a graduate assistant for the Cardinal in 2010 and remained on the staff through 2022, gaining valuable experience working with the team. His last three years have been spent coaching quarterbacks with the Commanders, bringing NFL-level knowledge and perspective.
And this is the part most people miss—while Pritchard hasn’t been a head coach before, his combination of collegiate familiarity and professional coaching experience could provide a fresh approach to revitalize Stanford’s struggling program. But is this a step in the right direction for the Cardinal? Could his lack of head coaching experience hold back the team, or will his NFL insights and deep connection to Stanford give the program a needed boost?
What do you think? Is this a brilliant hire or a risky gamble? Sound off in the comments below and join the conversation!
