CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers moved on from head coach Frank Reich on Monday after a 1-10 start to the season. The 11 games coached by the original starting quarterback for the franchise was the second quickest hook in NFL history.
Owner David Tepper has now fired three head coaches since purchasing the team in 2018.
The Panthers are 30-63 since Tepper purchased the club in 2018, and the owner has dismissed Ron Rivera, Matt Rhule and now Reich in that time.
"Obviously that record is not good enough, you know there's no hiding it," Tepper said Tuesday. "It is what it is, like everything in this sport, everything's left on the field, everybody knows what is every week that records that record. And like I said, it's not good enough. We're going to self reflect and make it better."
Reich was brought in for his offensive acumen. A former offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, Reich won a Super Bowl with them in the 2017 season. Carolina's offense has been ineffective this year, ranking at or near the bottom of most statistical categories (29th in points scored, 28th in rushing yards per game, 30th in passing yards per game).
Rookie quarterback Bryce Young has struggled as well, but hasn't had much support around him. Young has been sacked 40 times this season, while appearing in 10 games.
Tepper asked the Panthers fan base to have patience as the team began to rebuild following the firing of Rhule last season. Eleven games into the first year under Reich, Tepper's patience had run out.
"That patience comes with good performance and things that you want to see progress being made on on different aspects," Tepper said.
The challenge for the rest of the season falls on Tabor's shoulders. He has been an interim head coach in the past, and this stint, beginning Sunday in Tampa Bay, will test the coaching staff as well as the players, but Tabor is thinking about the short-term needs for his newly inherited position.
"It goes back to winning the day and winning the process," Tabor told reporters Tuesday. "I know it's very coach-speak, but I do believe that. In this business, the NFL train is always moving. The NFL monster will eat you at any time. You need to be prepared and you need to take the proper steps to set yourself up for success."
Tabor said he has been given no assurances that he will become the permanent head coach in the future, which means Tepper and the franchise will go through the head coaching search in full once again, likely in January.
"I can just say this, we will make it better," Tepper said. "I'm not promising that's going to happen tomorrow, but it may. OK. Football is a really interesting thing what can happen in a two- or three-year timespan."
