Frank Reich, the former head coach of the Carolina Panthers, found himself in the midst of a tough NFL season, and it ultimately led to his dismissal. On Monday, David Tepper, the owner of the Carolina Panthers, announced that Reich had been relieved of his duties as head coach following the team’s disappointing 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans, which left the Panthers with a league-worst 1-10 record for the year.
In an interview with Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer, Reich reflected on his short-lived tenure with the Panthers and hinted that it might also be the final chapter of his NFL coaching career. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity that came his way and acknowledged that not every story has a fairytale ending. However, he also found solace in the belief that there is a next chapter in life, guided by a higher purpose.
Reich’s journey in the NFL has been a multifaceted one. He began as an NFL quarterback in 1985, playing for several teams, including the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, and Detroit Lions. His coaching career in the NFL commenced with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006, where he started as an intern under the guidance of Tony Dungy. Remarkably, in his first year as an intern, the Colts secured a Super Bowl 41 championship. He later took on the role of quarterbacks coach in 2008.
David Tepper will soon hire his 7th head coach, probably in Jan. He only bought the Panthers in 2018.
Tepper fires almost everybody at some point, but he hasn’t fired the one person most responsible for this long run of chaos:
Himself.
For @theobserver: https://t.co/trLGY9yHOS— Scott Fowler (@scott_fowler) November 27, 2023
Afterwards, Reich served as the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers from 2014 to 2015. However, his most notable coaching achievement came in 2016 when he joined Doug Pederson’s staff in Philadelphia as the offensive coordinator. In his second year there, Reich worked wonders with backup quarterback Nick Foles, guiding the Eagles to their first-ever Super Bowl championship.
Reich’s success in Philadelphia led to his appointment as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. Unfortunately, his tenure there came to an end during the 2022 season, with the Colts holding a 3-5-1 record after nine games. Reich’s NFL journey has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with highs and lows, and his time with the Panthers marked a challenging chapter that may have closed the book on his NFL coaching career.