After his first season in Carolina, Frank Reich was fired by the Panthers organization after a 1-10 record, making his tenure the shortest in the NFL in the past 45 years.
Panthers fire head coach Frank Reich. (via @rapsheet, @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/ElDZOCk80C
— NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2023
After receiving the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, selecting Alabama's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young, and hiring new head coach Frank Reich, Panthers fans were hopeful for a successful season. However, Reich was not able to grant those wishes.
The Panthers are not the first time an organization has released Reich mid-season. He served as the head coach for the Indianapolis Colts from 2018-2022 until being released from his duties as head coach after only nine games, with a record of 3-5-1.
Carolina is on the path to being the first team to be officially eliminated from the 2023 NFL playoffs and likely to finish last in the league, and the organization has decided these outcomes are the coaches' fault.
Carolina fired Reich, their head coach, and they have let go assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. Staley came to Carolina with a solid tie to Frank Reich, as they worked together in Philadelphia. Staley spent two years working under Reich, who served as the Eagles offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017, including an unlikely Super Bowl win 2017 against the New England Patriots. The Panthers are 29th in the league in rushing this season, a drastic departure from last season's success.e=
.@AdamSchefter has the latest on the Panthers firing Frank Reich. pic.twitter.com/lfrLtqVW37
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 27, 2023
McCown is a former NFL player who was a member of nine total teams in his 17-year career, including a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers in 2009 and 2009. McCown was supposed to be the veteran quarterback who could coach rookie quarterback Bryce Young.
However, Young has had a disappointing season, currently only throwing for 1,877 yards for nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. Including the 40 sacks Young has conceded, those statistics combine for a QBR of 32.0, which is 29th in the NFL.
Panthers interim head coach Chris Tabor has begun adjusting his coaching staff after serving as Carolina's special teams coordinator for two years. In his first season in Carolina, he engineered a significant turnaround, helping the Panthers vault up from 28th to fourth in Rick Gosselin's league-wide special teams rankings. The Panthers led the league, set a franchise record with four blocked field goals, and added a blocked extra point.
Carolina's interim head coach position is Tabor's first opportunity to serve as a head coach for any team after working as a special teams coordinator since 2008 for the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, and Carolina Panthers.
While expectations may not be high for Carolina as they take on Tampa Bay in Week 13, all eyes will be on Chris Tabor as he makes his first appearance ever as a head coach.
