The Carolina Panthers fired head coach Frank Reich following a 1-10 start to the 2023 NFL season.
"I met with Coach Reich this morning and informed him that he will not continue as head coach of the Carolina Panthers," team owner David Tepper said. "I want to thank Frank for his dedication and service, and we wish him well."
Carolina Panthers @Panthers<a href="">
Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will serve as the interim head coach.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheetChris Tabor has experience, having previously served as an interim head coach with the <a href="">#Bears</a>. Meanwhile, as development of QB Bryce Young comes into focus, Caldwell will be key working with OC Thomas Brown to help the offense. After a rough game, with plenty of in-game… <a href="">
"There's a heart-pounding disappointment in not hitting the marks that we needed to hit to keep this going and try to get it turned around," Reich said in an interview with Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer. "It hurts me for the guys, the team, the coaches and the fans."
The coach added that he has no hard feelings toward Tepper.
"The NFL is a meritocracy. It's not unconditional love," Reich said. "I understand from a professional standpoint Mr. Tepper is going to have certain standards that he expects to have met."
The 62-year-old said this job was "probably the final chapter of my NFL journey."
According to Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer, multiple Panthers players found out about the news via social media:
Mike Kaye @mike_e_kayeA league source told me that the <a href="">#Panthers</a> organization was trying to be respectful of Reich and the players and the plan was to tell players collectively first before it was shared publicly.<br><br>Clearly, the news broke before that. <a href="">
The Panthers also fired quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and running backs coach Duce Staley. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport added:
Ian Rapoport @RapSheetThe decisions to move on from <a href="">#Panthers</a> QBs coach Josh McCown and RBs coach Duce Staley were made by interim coach Chris Tabor and offensive assistant Jim Caldwell, sources say.
Pelissero already began to examine potential successors to Reich, reporting that "It wouldn't be a surprise if they made another run at" Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The Panthers were among the teams with whom Johnson interviewed before he returned to Detroit.
Monday's move comes one day after Carolina lost 17-10 to the Tennessee Titans, a result that prompted Tepper to display his frustration:
Joe Person @josephpersonLeaving the locker room, David Tepper shook his head and yelled, "F—-!"
While uncommon, firing a head coach before he finishes up his first season isn't unprecedented and is occasionally viewed as a necessary admission that ownership and the front office made a mistake. Urban Meyer and Nathaniel Hackett's ousters are recent examples in that regard.
In the case of the Panthers, however, Reich's departure will reinforce the narrative that Tepper is sowing the kind of dysfunction that hinders the entire organization.
Tepper finalized his purchase of the Panthers in July 2018. Just on the coaching front since then, he has fired Ron Rivera, handed Matt Rhule a seven-year, $60 million contract, and not only declined to remove the interim tag from the popular Steve Wilks but also never seemed to seriously entertain the idea.
The owner has lost the benefit of the doubt after now moving on from an experienced head coach who had a winning record and two playoff appearances during a five-year spell with the Indianapolis Colts.
ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalkDavid Tepper is the problem. But he can't be fired.
Tom Fornelli @TomFornelliDavid Tepper is a booster with enough money to buy an NFL team.
Matt Harmon @MattHarmon_BYBTime for David Tepper to have a serious conversation with the man responsible for the state of the Panthers franchise <a href=""> <a href="">
The question now is how much—if at all—Tepper has poisoned the well for prospective candidates.
Whoever replaces Reich will inherit a roster that isn't good and a young franchise quarterback who's struggling in his rookie year. Bryce Young has thrown for 1,877 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions, and it already looks like passing on C.J. Stroud for him was a mistake.
Compounding matters, the next coach has little reason to believe they'll be afforded the time needed to turn things around.
JP Acosta @acosta32_jpThis is the 4th HC Tepper is going to hire since taking over the team in 2018. They also don't have a first round pick, the offensive roster is in bad shape and you're probably getting a short leash because of Tepper.<br><br>Good luck!
Geoff Schwartz @geoffschwartzPanthers will be looking for their 4th HC since Tepper got the team in 2018. Who'd want this job? <a href="">
Johnson is a young coordinator whose stock has only improved with the Lions leading the NFC North. Aside from money, it's difficult to see why taking the Carolina job would be very enticing if he's offered the gig.
