The Carolina Panthers have parted ways with head coach Frank Reich and several staff members following a dismal 1-10 start to the season. This shake-up comes on the heels of a heated locker room incident involving team owner David Tepper after the Panthers' recent defeat by the Tennessee Titans, 17-10.
Reich's tenure has been marked by a struggling offense that has consistently underperformed, failing to score over 15 points in five of the last six games. The offensive slump continued as the team only managed to put up 10 points in each of their previous two matchups.
In addition to Reich, assistant head coach and running backs coach Duce Staley, along with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, have also been released from their duties.
"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 expressed to The Charlotte Observer. "It hurts me for the guys, the team, the coaches, and the fans."
A Troublesome Record
Reich concludes his stint with the Panthers holding a 1-10 record, which is currently the worst in the NFL. His record includes an 0-6 mark in away games. This firing is unprecedented as it marks the first time since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 that a head coach has been dismissed in consecutive seasons, with Reich having been previously terminated from the Indianapolis Colts mid-season last year after a 3-5-1 start.
In response to the dismissal, the Panthers have appointed special teams coordinator Chris Tabor as the interim head coach. To assist in offensive strategies, senior assistant Jim Caldwell will offer guidance to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who will resume play-calling responsibilities after Reich's departure.
Since acquiring the team in 2018 for $2.275 billion, Tepper has now made the decision to fire three head coaches during the season, including Ron Rivera and Matt Rhule before Reich.
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, there have been only six instances since the merger where a head coach did not complete their first season. Remarkably, three of these occurrences have taken place within the last three years, with Reich, Urban Meyer of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Nathaniel Hackett of the Denver Broncos being the recent examples.
The Panthers' ongoing struggles ensure a sixth straight losing season and highlight the challenges faced by Tepper's ownership. With a record of 30-63 (.323), the Panthers are second to last in the NFL, just ahead of the New York Jets. Their performance on Sunday further entrenched their position at the bottom of the league rankings: 30th in total offense, 29th in both rushing and scoring, and 30th in passing yards per game.
Challenges with the No. 1 Pick
Reich, a former quarterback for the Panthers, alongside McCown, was tasked with developing rookie quarterback Bryce Young, who was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Panthers traded away two first-round picks and wide receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears to secure Young.
However, Young's rookie season has been fraught with difficulties. He ranks 29th in the NFL for Total QBR at 32.0, completing 216 out of 350 passes for 1,877 yards, with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. His passer rating stands at 74.9, placing him among the lower echelons in the league. Additionally, Young has been sacked 40 times, which is tied for the fifth-highest number of sacks endured by a player in their first 10 games since sacks became an official statistic in 1963.
The Panthers' decision to move on from Reich and his coaching staff reflects a broader intent to overhaul the team's approach, particularly in developing their young talent. As the franchise looks to rebound from its current slump, all eyes will be on how the new coaching structure adapts and whether it can harness the potential of players like Young to turn the tide for a franchise in desperate need of a resurgence.