What were some major observations from the Carolina Panthers appointing Frank Reich as their new head coach in 2023?
After a comprehensive search for a head coach, the Carolina Panthers have their guy. Frank Reich was the man chosen by team owner David Tepper and other leading figures within the organization, which marks the dawning of a new era in 2023.
Reich remains a respected coach despite being fired by the Indianapolis Colts. His offensive nous is renowned and the former quarterback also has a strong track record when it comes to developing young talent for good measure.
This was harsh on Steve Wilks after doing a stellar job in challenging circumstances. But Tepper clearly felt Reich was the right man to lead this once-proud franchise back to prominence.
With that being said, here are four major observations from the Panthers’ hiring of Reich.
Major Observation No. 1
Carolina Panthers almost went with Kellen Moore
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, it wasn’t Steve Wilks who finished runner-up in the Carolina Panthers head coaching sweepstakes. The insider stated that Kellen Moore’s impressive interviews almost tipped the scales in his favor before David Tepper went with Frank Reich.
From our breaking news segment on @nflnetwork: The #Panthers’ final interview with #Cowboys OC Kellen Moore gave them a lot to think about, but they went with a known commodity in Frank Reich, who now gets to mold a franchise QB — whoever that ends up being. pic.twitter.com/PYBC0ZipuZ
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 26, 2023
This would have been a bombshell swerve that had the potential to fracture the fanbase once again. But it’s a sign of growth that Tepper didn’t act on the impulse that cost him so dearly with Matt Rhule.