It used to be a rarity. It has quickly become a tradition truly unlike any other.
For three straight seasons, a head coach has been fired during his first year on the job.
Two years ago, the Jaguars made Urban Meyer the first head coach to be fired during his first year on the job since the 49ers pink-slipped Pete McCulley in 1978. (Bobby Petrino quit the Falcons during his first season, in 2007.) It then happened again in 2022, with the Broncos firing Nathaniel Hackett during his first year.
Now, the Panthers have fired Frank Reich after only 11 games on the job.
Setting aside whether it was or wasn’t the right move, or whether the Panthers have deeper issues that no magic wand can salvage (except one that changes owners), it’s amazing to think that, after 43 years without a coach being fired during his first seasons, it has happened in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
So who will it be in 2024? The early favorite could be whichever sucker David Tepper lures into the on-deck circle with a giant pile of cash and a vague promise, inevitably broken, that Tepper will stay out of the next coach’s way.
After just 11 games, the Panthers are moving on from their head coach.
Carolina has fired Frank Reich, the team announced on Monday morning.
“I met with coach Reich this morning and informed him that he will not continue as head coach of the Carolina Panthers,” team owner David Tepper said in a statement. “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 have started the season 1-10 after trading up to select Bryce Young at No. 1 overall. The team has struggled mightily offensively, failing to score 20 points in all but three games this year. The team has not reached 30 points in a single game and scored 10 points in each of its last two losses.
Tepper was clearly frustrated with the team’s direction, as illustrated by his outburst outside the Panthers locker room in Nashville following Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Titans.
Tabor served as the Bears acting head coach when Matt Nagy missed a game in 2021 after testing positive for COVID-19.
While Reich began the season as the offensive play-caller, Brown took over that role for the first three games after Carolina’s Week 7 bye. But Reich took back those duties going into Week 11.
This is another major shake up for the Panthers, as Tepper fired former head coach Matt Rhule last year following a 1-4 start. Current 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks took over as interim coach and compiled a 6-6 record before he was passed over for Reich in January.
The team will now need to find another full-time head coach in the coming offseason, joining the Raiders as teams who have made a midseason change in 2023.
After the Panthers fell to 1-10 with Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Titans on Sunday, team owner David Tepper vocalized his frustration with a four-letter word.
Carolina has been ineffective on offense all season, but things are not getting any better. No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young has not thrown for 200 yards in a single game since Oct. 29. He’s still yet to throw for even 250 yards in a game this season.
After Sunday’s loss, head coach Frank Reich said it’s important to “be the same person” despite the team’s poor record and results.
“What are you going to do? You’re 1-10. What, are you going to start feeling sorry for yourself? You’re going to think something will magically fix everything? No,” Reich said in his press conference, via Alex Zietlow of the Charlotte Observer. “We lost a close football game today.
“These games are winnable. That message doesn’t fly when you’re 1-10, but I know these games are winnable. I know we have the players and the coaches to do that. So we regroup, and we get ready for this week.”
Reich added that frustration is understandable and everyone feels it.
“But the guys have been great,” Reich said. “We come in there on Mondays. Everybody’s accountable, coaches and players. We know the mode: fight to get better, it’s week-to-week.
“We got three division opponents coming up. So, it starts this week in Tampa.”
The Panthers need to start showing some improvement with the Week 13 contest or Tepper’s patience may run out sooner than later.
With Sunday’s 27-20 loss to Indianapolis, Tampa Bay has now dropped six of its last seven games to make the club’s record 4-7.
Baker Mayfield had a pair of turnovers, including a lost fumble on a strip-sack when the Bucs had a chance to tie or win the game late in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Mayfield told reporters that the Buccaneers need to show some more urgency to get back on track — even as they’re just one game out of first place in the NFC South.
“One game back in the division, so, our goals are still in front of us,” Mayfield said, via Jenna Laine of ESPN. “But it’s frustrating to not win these games and continue to hurt ourselves. The Colts capitalized. They played well — not taking anything away from them. But, it’s very frustrating to continue to kind of have the same story over and over again.
“So, until everybody gets pissed off enough to get it fixed, there will be no change. … I’ll get my job fixed and try and drag as many people [as possible] along as well.”
Through 11 games, Mayfield has completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,588 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Much like last year, the NFC South is still wide open as we head into December with Atlanta in the lead at 5-6. New Orleans has the same record after falling to the Falcons on Sunday. The only team out of it is Carolina at 1-10.
The Buccaneers will host the Panthers next weekend.
Panthers owner David Tepper is wound a little tight. Maybe a little too tight.
We looked earlier today at the question of whether he’d fire coach Frank Reich after only one season. The real question might be who won’t Tepper fire?
After Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Titans, which dropped the Panthers to 1-10, Tepper (per Joseph Person of TheAthletic.com) left the locker room, shook his head, and yelled, “Fuck!”
It’s good that he cares. Maybe he cares a little too much. Because maybe he’s trying a little too hard. And it’s maybe counterproductive to what the team is trying to do.
If he fires Reich or otherwise cleans house, who will want that job? Someone will, but not anyone who has an option elsewhere — not unless there’s a contract involved that includes hazard pay for having to deal with (and potentially be prematurely fired by) Tepper.
