What can the Carolina Panthers expect from new OC Thomas Brown?

What can the Carolina Panthers expect from Thomas Brown after the respected coach became their new offensive coordinator in 2023?

Frank Reich made an exceptional journey through his coaching hires. Something that’s completely shifted the landscape across the Carolina Panthers heading into important events such as free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft.

One big domino remained for those in power to solve. This was confirmed on Friday when Thomas Brown agreed to become the team’s next offensive coordinator, replacing the bland and often inconsistent Ben McAdoo.

This further raised excitement among the fans, who know now exactly why Reich was preferred to other head coaching candidates such as Steve Wilks. His supreme connections, coupled with David Tepper’s almost unlimited financial resources, have assembled a staff littered with experience and future head coaches – so the pressure is on Scott Fitterer to put the playing personnel in place this spring.

Thomas Brown is a tremendous appointment by the Carolina Panthers

Brown comes highly recommended and regarded in equal measure. He was a trusted confidant of Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams and even got a head coaching interview with the Houston Texans last month before they eventually went with DeMeco Ryans.

While this year’s cycle probably came too soon for Brown, there’s nothing to suggest a second-straight promotion couldn’t come his way in 2024 if he excels in Carolina. Something that would also benefit Reich enormously during his first campaign at the helm.

Having played at both the college and NFL levels before assuming his blossoming coaching career, Brown should command instant respect within the locker room. He is highly motivated, is a proven leader of men, and is someone people naturally gravitate towards.

Being part of a winning organization in Los Angeles is an experience that Brown can bring to the Panthers and put to good use. This team hasn’t had much to cheer about in recent years thanks to Matt Rhule’s incompetence, but there is now a clear coaching structure in place to provide the players with everything they need to make vast adjustments.

Tepper deserves credit for trusting his football people and shelling out big bucks to get high-caliber coaches into the organization. Brown is another that should assist greatly, even though Reich could end up calling the plays when push comes to shove.

This is a time for hope. For optimism. For looking forward with a sense of belief.

Again, it’s been a long time since Panthers fans could deploy any of these emotions with much confidence.

The project Reich put forward to Brown obviously enticed him enough to leave McVay, who is coming back for another season in the hope he can galvanize the 2021 Super Bowl champions to an immediate postseason return. And the Panthers are far better off having him on the staff than not.

Now that the coaching side of things is all but complete, all eyes are on Fitterer to mold Carolina’s roster into a potential playoff force in 2023. This all starts with the quarterback, but there’s arguably no better place for a young signal-caller from the college ranks to flourish under the likes of Reich, Brown, and recently appointed quarterbacks coach Josh McCown.

It promises to be a fascinating few weeks ahead.