Frank Reich will be introduced as the next coach of the Panthers, the team announced Thursday.
Reich, 61, was dismissed as the coach of the Colts late in the 2022 season, but compiled a 40-33-1 record over four-plus seasons with the franchise. Despite the shocking early retirement of Andrew Luck, Reich managed to keep the Colts in some degree of relevance year in and year out with a cavalcade of veteran options at the position, including Carson Wentz and a soon-to-retire Philip Rivers. Indianapolis was 1–2 in the playoffs under Reich, with its last appearance coming in ’20.
The hire marks the first salvo of a coach hiring cycle that will soon begin to bustle. The Panthers, according to one source familiar with the process, were initially enamored with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Johnson’s decision to return to the Lions caused a bit of regrouping on Carolina’s part. The Panthers also entertained the idea of bringing back interim coach Steve Wilks, who admirably stabilized the franchise following the in-season dismissal of Matt Rhule.
