The Panthers have found their next head coach.
Frank Reich, who was let go by the Colts in the middle of the 2022 season, has been announced as Carolina's fifth full-time head coach in franchise history. According to the Charlotte Observer's Scott Fowler, the contract Reich signed is for four years.
#Panthers agree to terms with Frank Reich to become new head coach pic.twitter.com/spUljJKdBz
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 26, 2023
On Thursday, it was reported that the decision came come down to either Reich or Steve Wilks, who took over as the interim head coach following the midseason dismissal of Matt Rhule in 2022. Momentum for Reich grew late in the process. As Panthers' head coach, Wilks led the team to a 6-6 record (7-10 including Rhule's start) and had them in contention for the NFC South title until a Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers.
Steve Wilks pushed for the job, was considered the runner-up but Reich momentum built today. RT @Panthers: #Panthers agree to terms with Frank Reich to become new head coach pic.twitter.com/9mhdxYVVOP
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 26, 2023
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Why did the Panthers decide to go with Reich over Wilks? Here's what we know:
Why Panthers hired Frank Reich
While the Panthers have not officially explained their reasoning behind the hiring of Reich, there are several factors that likely played in his favor.
According to The Athletic, Panthers owner David Tepper was looking for an offensive-focused head coach, and Reich's past as an offensive coordinator and head coach helped him get the edge over Wilks, whose background focused more on the defensive side of the ball.
Reich spent 2014-15 as the offensive coordinator of the Chargers and coached Philip Rivers and one of the league's better passing offenses. In 2016, he was brought on by the Eagles and helped steer the early days of the Carson Wentz era, including in 2017, when he helped Philadelphia finish the season with the best record in the NFL. With Wentz out, Reich helped coach backup Nick Foles to winning Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl 52 against the Patriots.
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That year as offensive coordinator prompted the Colts to hire Reich to be the team's new head coach. Reich's first year in Indianapolis, the Colts had the sixth-most passing yards in the NFL, and the team ranked in the top seven in both total yards and total points. However, his next several seasons were thrown into turmoil after the surprising retirement of Andrew Luck before the start of Reich's second year in Indianapolis.
After a down year with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, Reich again had the Colts ranking as a top 10 offense in points in both 2020 and 2021 with Rivers and Wentz leading the team under center in those seasons, respectively. The defense also ranked inside the top 10 in points allowed in both campaigns.
The 2022 season was widely expected to be a breakout year for the team with Matt Ryan under center and a stout offense featuring standout talents Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr. and Quenton Nelson, and a defense that featured stars like Shaquille Leonard, DeForest Buckner and Stephon Gilmore.
But the team got off to a dismal start, tying with the Texans in Week 1 and being shutout by the Jaguars in Week 2 before beating the Chiefs in Week 3. After nine weeks and a 3-5-1 record, Reich was fired by the Colts.
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Reich's history in Charlotte might also have played a role in his hiring. As a player, Reich was the first quarterback in Panthers' history when he started Week 1 for the team back in 1995, though he was replaced three games in by Kerry Collins. In that season, Reich completed 44 percent of his passes for 441 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
But his brief stint as a player was not his only time spent in Charlotte. Following his NFL career, he went to the Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte as a student in 1998, and five years later, was named the president of the campus. He was also a pastor at Ballantyne Presbyterian (then Cornerstone Presbyterian), and did not leave the church until 2007, when he was brought on by Indianapolis.
