The Carolina Panthers finally made their big decision on Thursday afternoon, choosing Frank Reich as their man. Despite an impressive and relatively lengthy list of candidates, it was the franchise’s former quarterback that became the franchise’s new head coach.
So, what does this mean for the future of the team? What can we expect to see?
Reich—as a player and a coach—brings 37 years of NFL experience back to Charlotte, N.C. Following his long career under center, the Freeport, N.Y. native picked up jobs on the sidelines with four organizations as a quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach, offensive coordinator, and—of course— a head coach.
He’d get his time at the top between 2018 and 2022, when he led the Indianapolis Colts. Regardless of the quarterback (and there were quite a few), Reich built a consistent winner—going 40-33-1 with a pair of playoff appearances.
It was evident, beginning with his stint as the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator between 2016 and 2017, that Reich was one of the most creative minds in the league. In his four full campaigns in Indianapolis—with four different starting passers in each—the Colts finished fifth, 16th, ninth and ninth again in total offense.
Now, with both he and the Panthers needing a stable presence at the position, Reich will have an instrumental input in finally finding a long-term solution. So there should be hope, given Reich’s ability to maximize suboptimal situations at the all-important spot.
Reich’s offensive system likely won’t deviate too far from what the Panthers are built upon—which is running the rock. He has tabled the league’s top rushing offense before and should continue to establish the groundwork between his play calls.
Plus, the weapons at his disposal are even better than what he had in Indianapolis—with a certified stud in DJ Moore, a rising youngster in Terrace Marshall Jr. and a solid offensive line. This group should allow Reich to create an offense that can be both consistent and operate within the realms of whatever out-of-pocket plays he draws up.
All of his experience, including his playing days as Carolina’s first-ever quarterback, gives Reich an added understanding on offensive play design and what tools are needed to succeed at the next level. Reich and general manager Scott Fitterer will now have to work in tandem moving forward to find all the right pieces and develop a long and successful marriage in Carolina.
