Frank Reich just made a lot of bad history. But that, not unlike the nightmare of a season he has endured, did not change who he is.
Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer secured the first interview with Reich on Monday, following the head coach’s firing from the Carolina Panthers this morning. And while his stay was extremely short-lived, he expressed nothing but gratitude for his time back with the organization.
“It was a great opportunity,” Reich said. “The way the doors opened up for it was amazing. But there’s not always a storybook ending…. I also take comfort and find peace and strength that there is a next chapter of my life. I do believe that. I do believe God ordains our steps.”
Reich will move on from the opportunity after just 11 games, the shortest tenure in the NFL of the past 45 years. He, additionally, becomes the first head coach to be fired in back-to-back seasons since the 1970 merger.
The soon-to-be 62-year-old, who will celebrate his birthday next Monday, also told Fowler that Charlotte may very well be his last stop in the league.
“This is probably the final chapter of my NFL journey,” Reich said.
The Panthers went 1-10 in Reich’s 11 outings.