There were only 11 games in Frank Reich’s tenure in Carolina.
According to people with knowledge of the situation, the Panthers fired their head coach on Monday following a 1-10 start to the 2023 campaign, as reported by NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.
According to Rapoport, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will assume the role of interim head coach.
Later, the team confirmed the change, stating that offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will once again call plays and that senior assistant Jim Caldwell will serve as a special advisor to him.
Owner David Tepper released a statement on Monday stating, “I met with Coach Reich this morning to inform him that he is leaving his position as head coach of the Carolina Panthers.” “We wish Frank well and thank him for his commitment and service. Chris Tabor, our Special Teams Coordinator, will take over as our temporary head coach with immediate effect. Play calling will be handled by Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown, with Senior Assistant Jim Caldwell serving as a special advisor.”
Later, according to Pelissero, the Panthers also let go of assistant head coach and running back Duce Staley, as well as quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. Pelissero claims that Tabor and Caldwell decided to let go of McCown and Staley.
“We didn’t meet the necessary benchmarks to maintain momentum and attempt to turn things around, which is a heartbreaking disappointment,” Reich stated in a Monday interview with The Charlotte Observer. “It hurts me to hurt the guys, the team, the coaches as well as the fans.”
Reich’s first season in Carolina has not been easy, as the Panthers have not shown much improvement. After multiple in-game mishandling incidents during Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans, tensions reached a breaking point.
After just 11 games, Tepper decided to part ways with Reich due to enough problems.
“I would like to express that I have nothing but good things to say about Mr. Tepper,” Reich stated to The Observe. “I noticed a side of him that I really care about and respect on a personal level. The NFL, however, is a meritocracy. It’s not love at first sight. I recognize that, in his capacity as a professional, Mr. Tepper will have expectations that he wants fulfilled. I don’t hold any grudges, and our private relationship was the high point of our brief time together.”
Reich went on to say that this will likely be “the final chapter” of his NFL career.
Due to inadequate blocking, a nonexistent run game, and a receiver group devoid of playmakers, Reich’s offense has been a complete mess. The troubles of Bryce Young, the first overall pick, were the worst of all. The quarterback hasn’t consistently shown that he can create plays, and he has shown bad habits during the loss. The inconsistent offense was not helped by the coach giving Brown the play-calling duties and then taking them back.
In terms of total offense (265.9; 30th) and scoring (15.7; 29th), the Panthers rank in the bottom four for 2023. Under Reich, the team had three rushing touchdowns (T-fewest) and averaged 92.6 rushing yards per game (29th).
Carolina has scored 15 points or less in seven games (tied for second most in the NFL) and has a -119 point margin in 2023, placing them 31st in the NFL.
Considering the Panthers’ investment in Young—which included giving up the No. 1 overall 2024 first-round pick—it is critical that the young signal-caller improve in the final six games. Ownership obviously didn’t think Reich in charge would bring about the development. It is now up to Brown and Caldwell to alter the story in the closing moments.
Following the Colts’ dismissal of Reich following Week 9, 2022, the NFL’s history’s three head coaches to lose their jobs in consecutive seasons are Ray Rhodes (Eagles and Packers), Chip Kelly (Eagles and 49ers), and Reich.