CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Frank Reich, the primary sport quarterback in Carolina Panthers historical past in 1995, is now the crew’s sixth head coach.
Proprietor David Tepper chosen Reich, 61, after an intensive search that included 9 candidates, together with interim coach Steve Wilkes and former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton.
In the end, it got here all the way down to Reich and Wilkes, who led 6-6 after Matt Rule was despatched off after a 1-4 begin. Wilkes was the favourite of the Carolina gamers for a full-time job.
Reich, who was fired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in November, is the primary offensive coach employed in Carolina historical past.
That performed an enormous half within the choice to rent him rather than Wilkes, whose background was in defence.
Seven of the 9 candidates had offensive backgrounds in a search centered round fixing the quarterback place and an offense that is been in a state of flux since quarterback Cam Newton began struggling shoulder issues in the course of the 2018 season.
Since then, Carolina has had eight completely different quarterbacks begin no less than one sport and end no higher than nineteenth within the NFL. And that has performed a significant position within the Panthers dropping 5 straight seasons since Tepper purchased the franchise in 2018 for a then-$2.275 billion.
“Successful is an important factor each on the courtroom and in the neighborhood,” Tipper mentioned on the time, “and I am dedicated to successful a Tremendous Bowl collectively.”
Reich went to 4 Tremendous Bowls as a participant with the Buffalo Payments, the place he was primarily a backup. As a coach, he gained a Tremendous Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2017 season during which he was the offensive coordinator.
In 2017, he assisted Reich Carson Wentz Go 11-2 with MVP-caliber numbers earlier than season-ending damage and Nick Falls He grew to become the Tremendous Bowl MVP in a 41-33 win over the New England Patriots.
He additionally labored with future Corridor of Fame quarterback Philip Rivers with the San Diego Chargers and Colts.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Siriani, whose crew is within the NFC Championship, acquired emotional earlier this season when he spoke of his respect for Reich.
“I am emotional as a result of I really like Frank Reich,” mentioned Siriani, who was the quarterbacks coach below then-Chargers offensive coordinator Reich in San Diego from 2014-15 and was Reich’s offensive coordinator with the Colts from 2018-20. “He is probably the greatest rattling soccer coaches I’ve ever had. … He is one among my greatest mentors.”
Reich was fired by the Colts after a 3-5-1 begin, ending his tenure with the crew simply over a yr after extending his contract by way of the 2026 season.
He was 40-33-1 over 4 seasons at Indianapolis, 1-2 within the postseason.
Reich was compelled to enter every of his 5 seasons in Indianapolis with a special beginning quarterback — Andrew Luck, Jacoby BrissettRivers, Wentz W Matt Ryan – After the sudden retirement of coach Luck earlier than the coach’s second season in 2019.
His dismissal got here every week after he was sidelined by Ryan in favor of the sophomore quarterback Sam Ellinger. The Colts ranked final in factors per sport (14.7) and sacks allowed (35), twenty seventh in yards per sport (315.1) and tied for final turnovers (17) in taking pictures time, which got here after a 26-3 loss to the New England Patriots the place The offense solely had 121 yards.
Reich’s enjoying profession was highlighted by main the Payments again from a 32-point deficit to a 41-38 victory over the Houston Oilers within the 1992 wild card sport. It marked the biggest comeback in NFL historical past till final season, when he rebounded The Minnesota Vikings went from a 33-0 halftime deficit to a 39-36 win over the Colts in Week 15.
Reich was 0-3 as Carolina’s beginning quarterback earlier than being changed by first-round participant Kerry Collins. He nonetheless owns a house in Charlotte, the place one among his daughters lately began working for the Panthers within the advertising division.
Corridor of Fame govt Invoice Polian, who helped Reich coach after working him as a participant with the Panthers and Payments, mentioned Reich could be a fantastic slot in Carolina.
He is a fantastic man, he is a very good soccer coach. He is a fantastic motivator. He is a man who communicates very effectively with the gamers. He is phenomenally organized. He has a fantastic thoughts for soccer,” mentioned Polian, the Panthers’ first normal supervisor.