Panthers fire Frank Reich after 1-10 start in Carolina

The Carolina Panthers have fired head coach Frank Reich after less than a year in charge, following their 1-10 tart to the 2023 season.

Panthers owner David Tepper announced the news on Monday morning, a day after Carolina’s loss to the Tennessee Titans.

It marks the second year in a row in which Reich has been fired as a head coach, having left the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. It also marks the third permanent head coach departure since Tepper bought the Panthers in 2018. They have also had two interim head coaches, Steve Wilks and Perry Fewell. Last October, Tepper fired Matt Rhule in the third year of a fully guaranteed seven-year $62m contract.

Having traded a haul to the Chicago Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected Bryce Young with the No 1 overall pick in this year’s draft but the quarterback has struggled badly under a coach with a reputation for nurturing offensive talent. Young has nine touchdowns and eight interceptions this season and is 29th out of 30 qualified starting quarterbacks in QBR rating, and Reich ultimately paid the price in the poor start to the season.

Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor will serve as the team’s interim head coach.

More to follow.