Particular groups coordinator Chris Tabor will function interim coach.
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 27, 2023
The transfer comes two weeks after Reich took over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown — three video games after delegating the duty to Brown in Week 8. Carolina fell to 1-10 on Sunday in a 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Brown will resume calling offensive performs with senior assistant Jim Caldwell serving as a particular adviser, Tepper mentioned.
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At 11 video games, Reich’s tenure is the second-shortest in NFL historical past for a head coach who coached a regular-season recreation. The San Francisco 49ers fired Pete McCulley after a 1-8 begin to the 1978 season.
(Two head coaches didn’t make it to the common season; Invoice Belichick resigned as New York Jets coach after someday in 2000, whereas George Allen was fired by the Los Angeles Rams after two preseason video games in 1977.)
The Panthers employed Reich in January and traded for the No. 1 choose within the 2023 NFL Draft in March, choosing Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Younger. Nevertheless, below Reich, Younger has posted a 74.9 passer ranking, the worst of the three QBs chosen within the first spherical. The Panthers additionally rank thirtieth within the NFL with 265.9 yards per recreation on offense.
Reich took over for interim coach Steve Wilks, who was promoted after Carolina fired Matt Rhule following a 1-4 begin to the 2022 season. The Panthers have the worst file within the NFL after going 7-10 in 2022.
Carolina traded its 2024 first-round choose to the Chicago Bears within the commerce that landed it Younger.
Reich beforehand went 40-33-1 in four-plus seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, reaching the playoffs twice and profitable one postseason recreation. He was fired after a 3-5-1 begin to the 2022 season.
The Panthers are the second crew to make a training change this season, becoming a member of the Raiders, who fired Josh McDaniels after eight video games.
What was Reich’s downfall?
Tepper was bought on Reich’s offensive credentials and his skill to usher in a big-name employees that included former coaches (Caldwell, Dom Capers) and several other up-and-comers. The thought was Younger would have a constructing stuffed with QB whisperers. Besides it didn’t take.
The Panthers have been close to the underside within the league offensively, Younger has struggled and the offense didn’t enhance after Reich reclaimed play calling from Brown. Reich regarded defeated after Sunday’s loss at Tennessee, the place Tepper dropped an F-bomb and shook his head after exiting the locker room. — Joe Particular person, Panthers employees author
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Who will Tepper goal?
Monday’s announcement didn’t deal with the way forward for basic supervisor Scott Fitterer, who’s considered on shaky floor after failing to offer Younger with sufficient playmakers. Tepper is anticipated to go after an offensive-minded coach once more.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was his best choice final winter earlier than Johnson eliminated himself from consideration. Tepper virtually definitely will make one other run at Johnson and don’t be shocked if he tries to make a splash with somebody like Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh or New England Patriots coach Invoice Belichick.
However Tepper’s historical past of firing coaches and being hands-on may give confirmed coaches pause. — Particular person
Required studying
(Photograph: Michael Reaves / Getty Photographs)
