Amid the sacking of Josh McDaniels and Matt Canada, the name of the Carolina Panthers’ head coach, Frank Reich, was assumed to come up next due to the team’s disastrous season under him. In spite of bagging highly demanded draft pick Bryce Young, the Panther’s struggle was noteworthy on both sides of the ball.
It seems a regular-season win has turned into a dream for the Panthers. Hence, keeping the job is no longer in the cards for HC Frank Reich, and the team’s owner David Tepper let the head coach know after eleven weeks of the season.
Panthers owner David Tepper fired HC Frank Reich
The Panthers’ dismal season took a turn for the worse on Sunday with a 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans. It solidified their 1-11 record and cemented their status as the worst team this season.
The aftermath was swift and decisive, as team owner David Tepper took drastic action. He did not hold back from cutting the knot with Frank Reich less than 24 hours after the disappointing defeat.
Tepper’s frustration was palpable. He reportedly muttered profanities as he left the locker room post-game. The move to dismiss Reich was the consequence of growing discontent with the team’s performance. Even the team fans also came onto the road to raise their voices with a march following their loss to the Cowboys.
It culminated in a franchise-record sixth straight losing season. Since Tepper’s acquisition of the Panthers in 2018, the team has struggled, amassing a 30-63 record under his ownership and failing to secure a playoff berth.
Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor has been appointed interim head coach, with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown taking on the role of the team’s playcaller. To bolster the coaching staff, senior assistant Jim Caldwell will serve as a special adviser.
The swift changes didn’t stop there. Tabor’s first move as interim coach was to dismiss quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and running backs coach Duce Staley.
Everything wrong with Frank Reich’s short Panthers’ term
Frank Reich was appointed in January to let the Panthers get rid of their losing streak. The dynasty under him was anticipated to win the heart of the owner due to his offensive expertise since he had secured a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2017 season as the offensive coordinator.
Yet, the Panthers team under his wings failed to live up to expectations, especially with the high-stakes acquisition of rookie quarterback Bryce Young.
The team obtained him this season by trading two first-round picks and wide receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears. Nevertheless, Young’s performance under Frank Reich was forgettable, with a dismal offense in all games.
The Panthers’ offensive struggles contributed significantly to Reich’s downfall. Currently, the Panthers are ranked 30th in the NFL for both total offense and passing yards per game.
In response to his dismissal from the Carolina Panthers, Frank Reich expressed his understanding of the decision and maintained a positive perspective on Tepper. Reich conveyed his sentiments to and emphasized his respect and appreciation for Tepper on a personal level.
“I want to convey that I have nothing but positive thoughts about Mr. Tepper. On a personal level, I saw a side of him that I deeply respect and care about,” he said, per ESPN.
Reich acknowledged that the NFL operates as a meritocracy. He further retorted that success is contingent on meeting specific standards and expectations, as it’s not “unconditional love.”
While recognizing the professional aspect of Tepper’s decision, Reich made it clear that he harbors no hard feelings. In fact, he went on to highlight his personal relationship with Tepper as a positive and memorable aspect of his relatively short time with the Panthers.
“I understand from a professional standpoint Mr. Tepper is going to have certain standards that he expects to have met. I have no hard feelings, and my personal relationship with him was actually a real highlight of this short time.”
Nevertheless, this marks the second consecutive year that Tepper has relieved his head coach in-season. Matt Rhule faced a similar fate last year after a 1-4 start.
What’s your take on the Panthers’ decision on their head coach?
