Panthers' David Tepper says former head coach firings won't make it harder to hire next one
Since David Tepper took over as owner of the Carolina Panthers (1-10) in 2018, the franchise has fired three head coaches: Ron Rivera, Matt Rhule and Frank Reich.
The latter became the latest casualty Monday just 11 games into his tenure. Despite the revolving door of head coaches in recent years and the perception that he’s not patient enough to give those in charge enough time, Tepper believes the team will have no problem in finding candidates interested in taking the job.
“I’m not going to get into it here, but I think that there are different reasons why different things happen in each case,” Tepper said, via Pro Football Talk. “Everything is out in the field, everything is known over time and I think people know it, the league knows it and people in the league know it. If everything was perfect, it wouldn’t be the case. If everything was good, it wouldn’t be the case. It’s not as if it’s not known out there.”
When asked what he will be looking for in his next head coach, Tepper said he’s hoping for longevity. Not just four or five seasons, which would be significant given the Panthers’ recent history, but a decades-long tenure.
“I would like someone to be here 20, 30 years,” Tepper said. “I’d like to have someone say the eulogy at my funeral in 30 years. OK, maybe 40 years.”
Tepper will be on the hook for an estimated $9 million per season over the next three seasons after relieving Reich of his duties as head coach. Reich initially signed a four-year contract that runs through 2026. Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will serve as the 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 wasted no time making changes to the staff, letting go of quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley.
David Tepper fires Frank Reich after poor start to season
Carolina made the decision to fire Reich following the 17-10 Week 12 defeat to the Tennessee Titans (4-7) Sunday. Reich, tasked with fixing Carolina’s offense and developing quarterback Bryce Young, whom the organization parted ways with four draft picks and star wideout D.J. Moore to take with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, failed to get his side of the ball going.
The Panthers rank 30th in yards per game (265.9) and 29th in points per game (15.7). In the two games after Reich took back the play-calling duties from Brown, the offense scored just 20 points combined. Young has struggled, throwing for 1,877 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions on 61.7% passing. His 32.0 QBR is second to last among starting quarterbacks. Young has been under duress all season as Carolina has surrendered 43 sacks, fourth most in the NFL.
“I want to convey that I have nothing but positive thoughts about Mr. Tepper,” Reich told The Charlotte Observer Monday. “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 was actually a real highlight of this short time.”