Frank Reich’s tenure in Carolina lasted just 11 games.It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which the 2023 season has gone worse for the Carolina Panthers, and Frank Reich lost his newfound job as a result of it.
It’s been a rough first season for Reich in Carolina as the Panthers showed little signs of growth. Things boiled over after several in-game mismanagement issues in Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans.The patience wore out on Monday, as Reich’s time as their head coach has come to an end after just 11 games.
Reich’s tenure at Carolina ended with an NFL-worst 1-10 record — including an 0-6 mark on the road. He also becomes the first NFL head coach since the 1970 merger to be fired in back-to-back seasons after last year’s dismissal from the Indianapolis Colts.
Carolina Panthers names interim coaches
Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor takes over as the interim head coach, per Rapoport.
The club later confirmed the move, announcing senior assistant Jim Caldwell will be a special advisor to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who will resume play-calling.
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper fired coach Frank Reich on Monday, less than 24 hours after the owner left the locker room muttering an expletive following Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.
“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 on Monday. “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.”
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, there have only been six NFL head coaches since the merger who didn’t finish their first season with their team, with three of those instances having come in the past three seasons: Urban Meyer (Jaguars), Nathaniel Hackett (Broncos) and Reich.
“What are you going to do?” Reich, who has a career record of 41-43-1, said after Sunday’s loss to the Titans. “You are 1-10. Are you going to feel sorry for yourself? Is there something that is going to magically fix everything? No.”
After Sunday’s game, Tepper left the locker room shaking his head in disgust and was heard by multiple reporters yelling “F—!”
The Panthers are assured of a sixth straight losing season since Tepper bought the team in 2018 for $2.275 billion. Since then, the Panthers are 30-63 (.323) — second-worst only to the New York Jets.
Sunday’s performance left the Panthers 30th in the NFL in total offense and 30th in passing yards per game.
That didn’t bode well for Reich, who was hired in January for his offensive prowess.
Reich also was hired to bring along rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft after Carolina traded two first-round picks and wide receiver DJ Moore to Chicago Bears to move from ninth to first.
Carolina fans have been so disgusted that in two homes games — Minnesota and Dallas — they sold enough of their tickets to fans from the visiting team to make Bank of America Stadium look like a home game for them.
All that didn’t sit well with Tepper and left Reich to be fired in-season for the second straight year after he was dismissed in 2022 by the Colts after a 3-5-1 start.
This is the second consecutive year Tepper has fired his head coach in-season. Matt Rhule was fired last year after a 1-4 start.
Top head coach candidates to replace Frank Reich
1. Ejiro Evero
Ejiro Evero is the only thing the Panthers did right this offseason. He is almost guaranteed to become a head coach in 2024 based on his impressive work with a lackluster and injured defense in Carolina. The only way to make sure he stays in Charlotte is to make him the head coach. That won’t necessarily help Bryce Young and company, but they could end up with a similar situation as the Houston Texans, who hired defensive minded Demeco Ryans to pair with CJ Stroud.
2. Frank Smith
The Miami Dolphins are run by Mike McDaniel, but their offensive coordinator Frank Smith will get a lot of attention. It would be a similar situation to Shane Steichen leaving the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s Nick Sirianni’s offense, but Steichen clearly knows what he’s doing as he has a backup quarterback in the playoffs in Indianapolis. Smith would come from arguably the most exciting offensive coach in the league and could do wonders with Young, who has similar traits to Tua Tagovailoa.
3. Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson could have and would have been a strong candidate in Carolina last year had he opted to leave the Detroit Lions. He didn’t, but head coaching jobs are hard to ignore once let alone twice. He should get a lot of attention, and he’s clearly the best man for Carolina. Jared Goff was almost a lost cause until Johnson turned him around, and the things he could do with Young and company are something the Panthers must seriously consider.