Less than a full season into his role as head coach of the Carolina Panthers, and Frank Reich has officially been relieved of his duties.
Sitting at 1-10 on the year, Carolina had high hopes for 2023 in the wide open NFC South. They mortgaged their future to trade up and select Alabama QB Bryce Young 1st overall in last year’s draft, and believed that Reich’s innovative offense would help usher in a new era in Charlotte.
Instead, the club currently ranks near the bottom in every offensive category in the NFL through the first two thirds of the year.
“I met with Coach Reich this morning and informed him that he will not continue as head coach of the Carolina Panthers,” owner David Tepper said in a statement. “I want to thank Frank for his dedication and service, and we wish him well.
“Effective immediately, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will serve as our interim head coach. Senior assistant Jim Caldwell will be a special advisor to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who will take over play calling duties.”
Reich isn’t the only change the club is making on the sidelines however. Assistant head coach/Running Backs coach Duce Staley, and QB coach Josh McCown were also let go on Monday as well.
In NFL history, only 6 head coaches were fired before completing their first season with a new team. However Panthers owner David Tepper has never been shy about making changes, even if it comes at a steep financial cost. Until the Waltons (heirs to Wal-Mart fortune) purchased the Denver Broncos, Tepper was the richest owner in the NFL, and hasn’t been shy about making his opinions known.
By the time the 2024 season rolls around, whomever the 66 year old billionaire taps to be the next head coach will be the SEVENTH different coach under his tenure since he purchased the team in 2018.
Since taking over the club, the team sports a 30-63 record (.323 winning %) which is second worst in the NFL during that span. Reich was ostensibly brought in to help ease Bryce Young’s transition into the professional ranks. But with their total offense and passing yards per game both ranking 30th in the league, it was evident that the coach and quarterback weren’t on the same page.
All of that can’t be put on Reich however, as Carolina was devoid of offensive weapons entering last offseason, and did little to address the matter via trade or free agency. If anything, they depleted the cupboards even further when they traded wide receiver DJ Moore to Chicago as part of the deal to acquire the 1st overall pick last spring.
That left the Panthers to lean heavily on 33 year old WR Adam Thielen, and a makeshift crew of pass catchers in Jonathan Mingo, Laviska Shenault Jr., DJ Chark Jr., and tight ends Tommy Tremble and Harden Hurst.
If Carolina were earnest in their efforts to insulate their rookie QB, they certainly didn’t provide him with much in terms of offensive weapons, or receivers who could create separation. The club now faces the unenviable reality of having a roster devoid of talent, no head coach, and no first round pick in 2024. A pick which may ultimately end up being the first overall selection in next year’s draft.
Tepper and the Panthers have scheduled a press conference for 10:30am ET on Tuesday to address the future of the franchise, and hopefully provide fans with some clarity.
Photo: Daniel. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.