Panthers expected to again focus on hiring offensive-minded HC
David Tepper’s execution may have completely missed the mark, but his plan to stabilize his failing franchise will probably remain the same.
On Monday, the team announced the firing of head coach Frank Reich—who departs after just 11 games at the position. Reich, now the first coach to be fired in back-to-back seasons since the 1970 merger, leaves the Panthers with a league-worst 1-10 record and one of the least productive offenses in the organization’s history.
So Tepper, whose search had centered around finding an offensive-minded head coach, will likely try to seek out another acclaimed play-caller. Joe Person of The Athletic wrote the following this morning:
While special teams coordinator Chris Tabor takes over as interim, Tepper again is expected to focus his search on an offensive-minded coach with the hopes of coaxing more out of Young than Reich and his staff did. The Panthers traded their 2024 first-round pick, two second-round selections and wide receiver DJ Moore to acquire the No. 1 pick from Chicago to take Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama who has ranked among the league’s worst passers statistically all season.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero also noted that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who will be a hot commodity this offseason, should once again be a target of Tepper’s. Johnson, one of the favorites for the position earlier this year, withdrew his name from consideration to remain in his current role up north.
The Panthers currently rank 30th in total yards per game and 29th in points per game.
Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers warms up prior to…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers warms up prior to a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) and defensive end Nick…
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) and defensive end Nick Thurman (91) after warmups before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers takes the field prior…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers takes the field prior to a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Carolina Panthers players take the field prior to a game against…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Carolina Panthers players take the field prior to a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
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Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Vonn Bell #24 of the Carolina Panthers puts on his helmet…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Vonn Bell #24 of the Carolina Panthers puts on his helmet prior to a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
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Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers attempts a pass during…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers attempts a pass during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Carolina Panthers runs the ball during…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Carolina Panthers runs the ball during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Miles Sanders #6 of the Carolina Panthers carries the ball against…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Miles Sanders #6 of the Carolina Panthers carries the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the second half of the game at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrates after running for…
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrates after running for a first down during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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Syndication: The Tennessean
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrates a first down run against the Tennessee Titans during…
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrates a first down run against the Tennessee Titans during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023.
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NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Carolina Panthers place kicker Eddy Pineiro (4) celebrates after kicking…
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Carolina Panthers place kicker Eddy Pineiro (4) celebrates after kicking a field goal during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs the ball during…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Xavier Woods #25 of the Carolina Panthers breaks up a pass…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Xavier Woods #25 of the Carolina Panthers breaks up a pass intended for Tyjae Spears #32 of the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Xavier Woods #25 of the Carolina Panthers breaks up a pass…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Xavier Woods #25 of the Carolina Panthers breaks up a pass intended for Tyjae Spears #32 of the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Tarik Cohen #33 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates after a tackle…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Tarik Cohen #33 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates after a tackle during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Carolina Panthers fans cheer prior to a game against the Tennessee…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Carolina Panthers fans cheer prior to a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
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Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers calls a play during…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers calls a play during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
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NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) attempts a pass during…
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) attempts a pass during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Stephen Sullivan #84 of the Carolina Panthers reacts after a catch…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Stephen Sullivan #84 of the Carolina Panthers reacts after a catch for a first down during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
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NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) stands in the pocket…
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) stands in the pocket as he is pressured by Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown (95) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Brian Burns #0 of the Carolina Panthers attempts to sack Will…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Brian Burns #0 of the Carolina Panthers attempts to sack Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Brian Burns #0 of the Carolina Panthers attempts to sack Will…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Brian Burns #0 of the Carolina Panthers attempts to sack Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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Carolina Panthers v Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates after his rushing…
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 26: Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates after his rushing touchdown during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
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Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive end Denico Autry (96) talks with Carolina…
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive end Denico Autry (96) talks with Carolina Panthers linebacker Brian Burns (0) after a Titans win at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) and Tennessee Titans quarterback…
Nov 26, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) and Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) talk after a Titans win at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
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