By Emily McLaughlin
Frank Reich became the first head coach fired in the NFL season. On November 27th, Reich was fired due to the lack of growth in the team. As the Carolina Panthers stand at a 1-10 for the season second worst only to the New York Jets.
On Sunday, there was a loss for the Panthers against the Tennessee Titans on January 26 at the Nissan Stadium. It was reported Reich shouted profanity in the visitor lockers.
ESPN said, “He left the visitors locker room shaking his head in disgust and was heard by multiple reporters yelling “F—!”
The owner of the Panthers, David Tepper, heard about this and fired Reich in an in-person meeting on Monday. In the 11 months of Reich being head coach, he is now put down in history for being the first head coach since the merger to be fired in back-to-back seasons. For Reich, he continues to coach but probably not for the NFL, it will be his final chapter.
Tepper said in an ESPN article, “I met with Coach Reich this morning and informed him that he will not continue as head coach of the Carolina Panthers. I want to thank Frank for his dedication and service, and we wish him well.”
In 2018, Tepper bought the team from Jerry Richardson for $2.275 billion. To this day the Panthers continue to never make the playoffs with Tepper ownership.
Hiring Reich back on January 26, Tepper wanted him in hopes of fixing one of the league’s worst offenses over the past few seasons. Developing Bryce Young, the number one overall pick who he gave up over four draft picks as well as top wide receiver D.J. Moore.
In an AP News article on January 31st of this year said, “Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper said Frank Reich’s strong and qualified background as an offensive-minded coach is one of the primary reasons he hired him as the team’s new head coach.”
As seen in the 11 months of Reich’s time with the Carolina Panthers, his way of coaching did not meet the expectations of Tepper. It has been reported that this was not Reich’s only time not making it through a whole season. Reich being a successful head coach for the Colts and offensive coordinator for the Chargers and Eagles had become the third head coach in three years not to make it through a full season following Nathaniel Hackett for the Broncos and Urban Meyer for the Jaguars.
WNCT said, “Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will take over as interim head coach. Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will become the team’s play caller, with senior assistant Jim Caldwell serving as his special adviser.”
Tabor’s first step in action will be to fire quarterback coach Josh McCown and Duce Staley, who is the running back coach. McCown and Staley were specifically picked by Reich to be subordinates.
For Reich, he said about Tepper in an ESPN article “On a personal level, I saw a side of him that I deeply respect and care about. But the NFL is a meritocracy. It’s not unconditional love. 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.”