For the second straight year, Frank Reich has been fired midseason.
Panthers owner David Tepper announced Monday morning he had fired Reich as the team’s head coach, following Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Titans that dropped the Panthers to a league-worst 1-10 in Reich’s first season with the team.
Chris Tabor, the team’s special teams coordinator, will be Carolina’s interim head coach.
Reich is the first head coach in NFL history to be fired in consecutive seasons, according to ESPN.
This move also marks the second straight year in which the Panthers have fired a coach during the middle of the season, with Matt Rhule being canned after five games in 2022.
“I met with Coach Reich this morning and informed him that he will not continue as head coach of the Carolina Panthers,” Tepper’s statement read. “I want to thank Frank for his dedication and service, and we wish him well.
“Effective immediately, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will serve as our interim head coach. Senior assistant Jim Caldwell will be a special advisor to Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown, who will take over play calling duties.”
The Panthers fired head coach Frank Reich. Getty Images
Reich, 61, was previously the Colts head coach for five seasons.
Indianapolis fired him in the middle of last season, bringing in Jeff Saturday as the team’s interim coach.
Reich was 40-33-1 in the regular season with the Colts, taking them to the playoffs twice.
It seemed Tepper was really hoping to see a win over Tennessee on Sunday, as he was spotted leaving the team’s locker room yelling “f–k” after the loss, according to The Athletic.
Panthers owner David Tepper Getty Images
Tepper’s hope was that Reich would help develop 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young into a franchise quarterback, but the Panthers are going nowhere fast.
The Panthers are averaging 265.9 yards of offense and 173.3 yards passing per game, third-fewest in the NFL in both categories, and their 15.7 points per game are the fourth-fewest in the league.
Young, 22, has 1,877 yards passing, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions in 10 games, while completing 61.7 percent of his passes.
Reich appeared to be getting desperate to save his job when he took back play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown ahead of the Nov. 19 loss to the Cowboys after giving Brown the responsibility for three games.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young walks off the field after a loss to the Titans on Nov. 26, 2023. Getty Images
Carolina won’t even benefit in the draft for being one of the worsts teams in the league because their 2024 first-round pick belongs to the Bears.
The Panthers dealt that pick, No. 9 and and No. 61 picks in the 2023 draft, a 2025 second-rounder and wide receiver D.J. Moore to move up to No. 1 overall earlier this year.
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