The 1-10 Carolina Panthers have fired head coach Frank Reich after their 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. It’s a whipsaw decision by owner David Tepper, as he hired Reich in January. But little has gone well for the NFL’s worst team by record, and after the Titans loss, it was clear that Tepper has had just about enough. Now, between Reich, Matt Rhule, and Ron Rovera, Tepper has fired three different head coaches in mid-season since 2019.
Panthers owner David Tepper announced he fired head coach Frank Reich. pic.twitter.com/LzLim1MNpL
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 27, 2023
The Panthers traded up to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. It’s not entirely Young’s fault, but his rookie season has been mostly a disaster — he’s completed 216 of 350 passes for 1,877 yards, nine touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a passer rating of 74.9. Especially in comparison with C.J. Stroud, selected by the Houston Texans with the second overall pick, it’s hard not to peg the draft pick as a mistake.
That said, it’s about more than just Reich and the quarterback. The Panthers are not a talent-laden team at any position or position group, and whoever inherits this job in the long term will have to deal with the same disconnect between the obvious rebuild on the field, and Tepper’s expectations. And that head coach will not have a first overall pick to move that process forward — the Bears own Carolina’s 2024 first-round pick as a result of the Young trade.
Frank Reich's 11-game run in Carolina was the shortest tenure for an NFL head coach in 45 years. Even Urban Meyer made it 13 games in Jax.
Last time the plug was pulled this quick? Pete McCulley only made it 9 games as Niners coach in 1978 (Bill Walsh replaced him in '79).
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 27, 2023
