Carolina Panthers Coaching Search: 5 Candidates After Frank Reich Firing
The Carolina Panthers have fired head coach Frank Reich only 11 games into his tenure with the franchise, the team announced on Monday morning.
Carolina is a league-worst 1-10 after a 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. The Panthers hired Reich, an offensive mind, last offseason and paired him with top-overall pick Bryce Young. But the franchise is still searching for answers on offense. The rookie quarterback ranks 29th in the NFL in QBR, while the Panthers are 29th in the league in points per game. And apparently that was enough for the franchise to make a change. Reich's 11-game stint as Carolina's head coach is now the shortest the NFL has seen since 1978, according to ESPN.
"I met with Coach Reich this morning and informed him that he will not continue as head coach of the Carolina Panthers," owner David Tepper said in a statement. "I want to thank Frank for his dedication and service, and we wish him well."
Head coach Frank Reich of the Carolina Panthers looks on during the second half of the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Panthers fired Reich on Monday. Wesley Hitt//Effective immediately, Tepper said, special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will serve as Carolina's interim coach. Senior assistant Jim Caldwell will be a special adviser to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who will be taking over play-calling duties in Reich's absence.
Carolina has clinched its sixth straight losing season since Tepper bought the team in 2018. And this marks the third time—and second in two years—the Panthers have made a head-coaching change in that span, with Tepper having previously fired head coaches Ron Rivera and Matt Rhule. Now the franchise, amid a rebuild and without a first-round pick in the next draft after trading up for Young, is faced with finding a new leader again.
Dan Quinn and Brian Flores are among the defensive-minded former head coaches who are expected to receive interest this offseason. But the Panthers may opt to focus on coaches with an offensive background to focus on Young's development.
Here are a few names to look out for, including one who is already in the building.
Jim Caldwell, Panthers Special Adviser
Caldwell interviewed for Carolina's head coaching job last offseason before the Panthers inevitably went with Reich, who brought the former head coach onto his staff.
Could the 68-year-old make enough of an impression over the rest of the regular season to get the full-time gig? Caldwell said earlier this year that he was focused on his role in the organization and no longer interested in being a head coach. But the times have changed quickly in Carolina. And Caldwell is 62-50 in two stints as a head coach with the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions.
He also has a history of getting what he needs out of QBs—having spent seven seasons as Peyton Manning's position coach and later leading Joe Flacco on a red-hot, Super Bowl-winning playoff run as the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens.
Eric Bieniemy, Washington Commanders Offensive Coordinator
Could this finally be the year for Bieniemy?
The former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator got a change of scenery this season after another head-coaching cycle passed him by. Bieniemy, now the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach with the Washington Commanders, left Andy Reid and the Chiefs to prove he could run his own offense. And this season has largely been a disappointment in Washington, but Bieniemy has turned second-year-pro Sam Howell into a promising young QB and the NFL's leader in passing yards.
Jim Harbaugh, University of Michigan Head Coach
The former San Francisco 49ers head coach won 44 games and made a Super Bowl appearance during his first NFL head coaching stint. Harbaugh has spent the last nine years leading his alma mater at the college level, though he has shown interest in professional gigs in that span—most notably the Vikings job in 2022. Michigan just finished the regular season undefeated and enters the Big Ten Championship Game as a College Football Playoff favorite.
Winning a title, especially amid a sign-stealing scandal, may prompt Harbaugh to return to the NFL.
Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator
Johnson quickly became a name to watch for franchises around the league by turning Detroit's offense into a top-five unit and helping quarterback Jared Goff turn his career around in his first season calling plays a year ago. The Panthers were interested in Johnson, who went to North Carolina, for their opening last offseason. But the 37-year-old withdrew his name from consideration from a variety of gigs, instead opting to return to Detroit.
The Lions are 8-3 to start this season and rank seventh in the NFL in points and second in yards.
Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans Offensive Coordinator
The Houston Texans are certainly seeing more production out of No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud than the Panthers are out of Young. So why not consider Stroud's play caller and offensive coordinator as the next mentor to the young QB in Carolina?
Slowik is in his first year as an NFL coordinator. So the jump to head coach already may be a bit premature. But the 36-year-old—a Shanahan coaching disciple—is orchestrating a top 10 unit and has Stroud among the league leaders in passing yards (second), passing touchdowns (tied for seventh) and QBR (eight) as a rookie.
