The Carolina Panthers have fired Frank Reich after 11 video games, proprietor David Tepper introduced Monday morning. Particular groups coordinator Chris Tabor will function interim coach.
Later within the day, the Panthers additionally fired quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and working backs coach Duce Staley, a league supply mentioned.
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 27, 2023
Reich’s firing comes two weeks after he took over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown — three video games after delegating the accountability to Brown in Week 8. Carolina fell to 1-10 on Sunday in a 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Brown will resume calling offensive performs with senior assistant Jim Caldwell serving as a particular adviser, Tepper mentioned.
GO DEEPER
A stadium takeover, a 3-TD loss for Panthers. Is historical past about to repeat itself?
At 11 video games, Reich’s tenure is the second-shortest in NFL historical past for a head coach who coached a regular-season recreation. The San Francisco 49ers fired Pete McCulley after a 1-8 begin to the 1978 season.
(Two head coaches didn’t make it to the common season; Invoice Belichick resigned as New York Jets coach after sooner or later in 2000, whereas George Allen was fired by the Los Angeles Rams after two preseason video games in 1977.)
The Panthers employed Reich in January and traded for the No. 1 choose within the 2023 NFL Draft in March, choosing Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Younger. Nevertheless, below Reich, Younger has posted a 74.9 passer ranking, the worst of the three QBs chosen within the first spherical. The Panthers additionally rank thirtieth within the NFL with 265.9 yards per recreation on offense.
Reich took over for interim coach Steve Wilks, who was promoted after Carolina fired Matt Rhule following a 1-4 begin to the 2022 season. The Panthers have the worst document within the NFL after going 7-10 in 2022.
Carolina traded its 2024 first-round choose to the Chicago Bears within the commerce that landed it Younger.
Reich beforehand went 40-33-1 in four-plus seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, reaching the playoffs twice and successful one postseason recreation. He was fired after a 3-5-1 begin to the 2022 season.
The Panthers are the second group to make a training change this season, becoming a member of the Raiders, who fired Josh McDaniels after eight video games.
What was Reich’s downfall?
Tepper was offered on Reich’s offensive credentials and his potential to herald a big-name employees that included former coaches (Caldwell, Dom Capers) and a number of other up-and-comers. The thought was Younger would have a constructing stuffed with QB whisperers. Besides it didn’t take.
The Panthers have been close to the underside within the league offensively, Younger has struggled and the offense didn’t enhance after Reich reclaimed play calling from Brown. Reich seemed defeated after Sunday’s loss at Tennessee, the place Tepper dropped an F-bomb and shook his head after exiting the locker room. — Joe Individual, Panthers employees author
GO DEEPER
Panthers’ anemic offense and 1-10 document led to solely alternative — firing Frank Reich
Who will Tepper goal?
Monday’s announcement didn’t tackle the way forward for normal supervisor Scott Fitterer, who’s regarded as on shaky floor after failing to offer Younger with sufficient playmakers. Tepper is predicted to go after an offensive-minded coach once more.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was his best choice final winter earlier than Johnson eliminated himself from consideration. Tepper nearly actually will make one other run at Johnson and don’t be shocked if he tries to make a splash with somebody like Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh or Belichick.
However Tepper’s historical past of firing coaches and being hands-on may give confirmed coaches pause. — Individual
Why had been McCown and Staley additionally let go?
Earlier than diving into that query, it’s vital to notice that Reich’s potential to assemble a supposed all-star employees was a giant cause why Tepper employed him. Now it’s all being blown up 10 months later. Tabor made the choice to maneuver on from McCown, who was in his first yr as an NFL assistant, and Staley, who had labored with Reich in Philadelphia. With Caldwell taking up a extra lively function, Tabor seemingly wished to streamline the method and have fewer voices in Younger’s ear.
As for Staley, he was overseeing the NFL’s Twenty ninth-ranked dashing offense and had a hand within the choice to signal former Eagles again Miles Sanders, who has been unproductive in his first season in Carolina. — Individual
Required studying
(Photograph: Michael Reaves / Getty Photographs)
