Panthers fire head coach and former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich

The Panthers have fired head coach Frank Reich. He was the Eagles' offensive coordinator during the team's Super Bowl LII win. Nick Sirianni formerly served as his offensive coordinator with the Colts, too.

BY SHAMUS CLANCY
PhillyVoice Staff

CHRISTOPHER HANEWINCKEL/USA TODAY SPORTS

The Panthers have fired head coach Frank Reich, who was the Eagles' offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017.

Aformer Eagles coordinator on a Super Bowl team was fired less than one year into his new head coaching job. It's just not the one that was expected before the season.

The Carolina Panthers have fired Frank Reich after a disastrous 1-10 start to the season after inking him to a four-year deal to be their new head coach this past offseason. Improbably, Jonathan Gannon remains the Arizona Cardinals' head coach (for now). Assistant head coach/running backs coach, Duce Staley, who previously held those titles in Philadelphia, was also let go. 

Of course, Reich was the Eagles' offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017, helping pilot the Birds' offensive attack on the way to a Super Bowl win. He spent five seasons as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, beginning in 2018, before being relieved of his duties there in the middle of the 2022 campaign.

For a further connection, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni served as Reich's offensive coordinator in Indianapolis from 2018 through 2020 before coming to Philly in 2021. Those ties go back to their shared time (2013-2015) with the Chargers as well. 

I haven't been on-the-scene NFL scribe long, but the way that Sirianni talks about Reich with such reverence feels unique and not the standard around the league. I wonder if Sirianni would bring in Reich for a consulting role for this offense for the stretch run. Obviously, just two offensive players remain from that 2017 Super Bowl team in Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson, but that Doug Pederson-Reich-John DeFilippo coaching nucleus worked wonders with Carson Wentz and Nick Foles. This could be akin to the way that former NFL head coach Vic Fangio found himself doing some work for the Eagles in the middle of the 2022 season before landing a new job for the 2023 season.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/panthers-fire-head-coach-eagles-offensive-coordinator-frank-reich-nick-sirianni-consultant/

I'd hire him as a consultant in a second and then see. 

Do we see much in the NFL where coaches who were once under a coach, then later their boss?  I certainly wouldn't mind having Reich here as a consultant...especially given that Brian Johnson is apparently going to be a "hot name" in coaching searches this offseason.  If Johnson were to leave, Reich could slide right in.

But, there are definitely ego issues in the NFL (Reich would have to possibly set aside his, if he has one).  Furthermore, the only negative in bringing in Reich could be people clamoring for him to take over for Johnson.  Even if Johnson will be a hot name this offseason, Eagles fans (and media) don't necessarily see Johnson in that same light.  

I think could manage those issues. Remember, we have Patricia and Billy Bob stashed so deep the Front Office, that its easy to forget they are on the payroll. 

We should be thankful we don't have an owner like that guy. Tepper has been through so many head coaches since he took over

he is a true meddling owner, 

Bring him in to work with Hurts. If Hurts improves, then Johnson was the problem. If he doesn't then Hurts is the problem. Either way we'll know what the problem is and who may need to be replaced. 

Count me in.  We need an adult in the room.  And he worked wonders with Foles.

20 hours ago, PoconoDon said:

Bring him in to work with Hurts. If Hurts improves, then Johnson was the problem. If he doesn't then Hurts is the problem. Either way we'll know what the problem is and who may need to be replaced. 

Work with Hurts and also be involved in play design and creating the game plan.  The latter needs more help than the former IMHO.  

4 hours ago, time2rock said:

Work with Hurts and also be involved in play design and creating the game plan.  The latter needs more help than the former IMHO.  

You'll get no argument from me on that. Help all around is needed.