The Carolina Panthers have made the decision to part ways with head coach Frank Reich and several coaching staff members following a disheartening 1-10 start to their season. The move was announced on Monday, in the wake of a heated exchange from owner David Tepper in the locker room after Sunday's 17-10 defeat at the hands of the Tennessee Titans.
Reich's tenure was marred by the team's offensive struggles, which saw them failing to score more than 15 points in five of their last six games. This continued underperformance culminated in back-to-back games where the offense could only muster 10 points.
In addition to Reich, assistant head coach and running backs coach Duce Staley, as well as quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, were also relieved of their duties. In a statement to The Charlotte Observer, Reich expressed his deep regret over the situation: "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," he said. "It hurts me for the guys, the team, the coaches, and the fans."
A Troubling Record
Reich's record with the Panthers ended at 1-10, the worst in the NFL, including an 0-6 record on the road. His dismissal marks a dubious moment in NFL history—it is the first time since the 1970 merger that a head coach has been fired in consecutive seasons, having been terminated from the Indianapolis Colts the previous year after a 3-5-1 start.
Chris Tabor, who served as the special teams coordinator, has been appointed as interim head coach. To bolster the offensive strategy, senior assistant Jim Caldwell will provide guidance to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who will resume play-calling responsibilities following Reich's departure.
Since purchasing the team in 2018, Tepper has now dismissed three head coaches during the course of a season, with Ron Rivera and Matt Rhule preceding Reich's mid-season exit. This trend reflects a broader instability within the league; according to ESPN Stats & Information research, there have been only six instances since the merger where a head coach did not finish their first season, with three of those occurring in the past three years—Reich, Urban Meyer with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Nathaniel Hackett with the Denver Broncos.
Persistent Underperformance
The Panthers' ongoing struggles ensure a sixth straight losing season, casting a shadow over Tepper's tenure as owner, which began with his $2.275 billion acquisition of the team. With a 30-63 record (.323), the Panthers rank as the second-worst team in the NFL, ahead of only the New York Jets. Their performance against the Titans further entrenched their position at the bottom of the league's offensive rankings: 30th in total offense, 29th in rushing, 29th in scoring, and 30th in passing yards per game.
Developmental Challenges with Top Draft Pick
Frank Reich and Josh McCown were tasked with developing rookie quarterback Bryce Young, who was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Panthers acquired Young after trading away two first-round picks and wide receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears.
However, Young's introduction to the NFL has been fraught with challenges. He ranks 29th in the league for Total QBR, with a score of 32.0. Over the course of the season, he has completed 216 of 350 passes for 1,877 yards, nine touchdowns, and eight interceptions, resulting in a modest passer rating of 74.9. Additionally, Young has been sacked 40 times, tying him for the fifth-highest number of sacks for a player in their first 10 games since sack records began in 1963.
The Panthers' hopes for a turnaround now rest on the shoulders of Tabor and the restructured coaching staff. As they navigate through the remainder of the season, the pressure to improve upon their current standings and develop their high-value draft pick into a successful NFL quarterback remains a significant challenge for the franchise.