After years of mediocrity and a coaching staff not up to par with NFL standards, the Carolina Panthers have assembled an elite team of coaches and coordinators.
Fans of the Carolina Panthers have been ecstatic about the hires made by David Tepper, Scott Fitterer, and Frank Reich during this coaching cycle. From the jump, the owner has made it clear he will spare no expense when it comes to building a coaching staff with NFL experience and is rectifying the mistakes made during his tenure to date.
On paper, the new staff effectively trumps that of the previous regime. These were coaches and coordinators that were in way over their heads with little to no NFL experience.
What Carolina has found in its new staff is quite impressive. Many of the hires had interviewed for head coaching positions or had even been the leader of other franchises at some point in their careers.
The Panthers are also the only team in the NFL with a black offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. There is a lot to be excited about, and even though all of the Panthers’ hires seem to be home runs, here are the five best of the 2023 offseason.
Honorable Mention
Frank Reich – Carolina Panthers HC
This isn’t just a mere honorable mention but more of a shout-out to Frank Reich. This list would be incomplete without the man calling the shots himself.
An exciting story, Reich is the first starting quarterback in franchise history and his offensive prowess is respectable from his years as lead coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts head coach. He is the most unique hire in Carolina Panthers history considering his background on offense, which is a first for the franchise.
Reich posted a solid 40-33-1 record with the Colts and helped lead the Eagles’ offense to a Super Bowl victory in 2017. His offense and defense both ranked top 10 in the NFL in three of his four full seasons as head coach.
Josh McCown – Carolina Panthers QBs coach
The Carolina Panthers unequivocally have the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. With just one currently set to make the roster in Matt Corral, who has never taken a snap under center in the regular season, they are in desperate need of both a starter and depth.
It is highly unlikely that Frank Reich and David Tepper look for a franchise signal-caller in free agency considering they have both been part of failed missions doing just that in the past three seasons. This leaves either the 2023 NFL Draft or trading for a young talent already in the league.
Either way, the Panthers’ next quarterback will be someone with fresh legs and can be molded by coaches and coordinators. Enter Josh McCown.
McCown was a well-respected backup for the majority of his long career that spanned 16 seasons and nine teams, including a two-year stint in Carolina. He was a finalist for the Houston Texans head coaching job in 2021, which was a controversial topic considering his lack of true NFL experience as a coach.
The journeyman brings the unique knowledge and perspective of someone who can develop and lead young quarterbacks. Something he accomplished well as a backup.
He is a noted fan of the talents present in both Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud – something to keep an eye on heading into the NFL Draft.
Dom Capers – Carolina Panthers Sr. Defensive Assistant
The inaugural head coach in Carolina Panthers franchise history is back.
Dom Capers joins Frank Reich’s staff as a senior defensive assistant. This is important because of the relationship he already has with someone who will appear much later on the list.
The former AP Coach of the Year has bounced around the league serving as an integral component of some of the best defenses of the past 20 years. This experience will be invaluable to the Panthers during their first campaign with Reich at the helm.
Capers’ longest stint in the league is when he served as defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, which lasted for eight years. It also included leading the defense to a victory in Super Bowl XLV.
Bringing in someone with as much knowledge and experience as Capers will prove to be vital as he helps the new staff with growing and meshing pains. His rapport with both the Panthers and Ejiro Evero will be invaluable to the franchise moving forward.
This hire clearly had a lot of sentiment attached. However, that does not detract from the exceptional credentials Capers brings to the table – something the Panthers benefitted from almost three decades prior to this offseason.
Duce Staley – Carolina Panthers Assistant HC/RBs Coach
This was an exciting one. Duce Staley is a beloved coach with 12 years of experience, including time spent with Frank Reich on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Staley spent his first seasons in Philadelphia before heading to the Detroit Lions for the previous two years. Somewhat of a homecoming, the fearsome presence spent his college career at the University of South Carolina and returns to the area to be closer to his family.
He coaches with a passion and intensity that is both much-needed and well-respected. Staley’s work in Philadelphia and Detroit proves him to be one of the best running back coaches in the league, and his tenure as a professional makes him a highly respected assistant head coach that holds instant weight within any locker room.
Staley has been part of two Super Bowl victories – one as both a player and a coach. He brings an invaluable presence to the Carolina Panthers offense as it looks to continue building on a strong rushing attack from a season ago.
Reich has been vocal about wanting to set the tempo by pounding the rock. He has brought in the perfect coach to help him do just that and there will be nobody more committed between the lines than Staley himself.
Jim Caldwell – Carolina Panthers Sr. Assistant
This one is almost too good to be true and somewhat bittersweet.
Make no mistake about it, Jim Caldwell is an amazing hire. But he should absolutely be a head coach in this league.
Carolina Panthers fans were shocked to find out the team hired such a capable candidate as a senior assistant. Caldwell has a strong track record in a head coaching capacity and like many other black coaches across the NFL, seemed to not get a fair shake.
The veteran figure has bowed out of pursuing future head coaching positions according to his recent statement. Even though it is frankly unfair that someone with Caldwell’s experience and knowledge hasn’t been given another chance, he will be invaluable to the new regime in Carolina.
Caldwell boasts 62 wins to 50 losses in the NFL and holds two Super Bowl trophies for his offensive coaching contributions to the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens. He also led the Colts to the Super Bowl appearance in his first season as head coach, which is considered to be among the greatest rookie head coaching campaigns in league history.
Panthers fans should be rejoicing that the team found a way to lure in Caldwell. His resume speaks for itself and should be a tremendous asset to all phases of play.
Ejiro Evero – Carolina Panthers DC
One of the hottest names in this year’s coaching cycle – including an interview to become the Carolina Panthers’ next head coach – Ejiro Evero is the best hire the franchise could have possibly made at defensive coordinator.
Evero has seen his stock rise in the last few seasons following a stint with the Los Angeles Rams where he helped the team win a Super Bowl. His reputation flourished further as defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos in 2022.
The up-and-comer looks to continue building his stock and improving his defensive prowess in Carolina, which is a major coup by Frank Reich and David Tepper. Evero wasted no time in reuniting with Dom Capers, someone he worked under during his time with the Green Bay Packers.
Following his exciting press conference earlier this week, Evero’s defense will build on the strengths of the players and bring in fast and physical athletes who give great effort in every single play.
Evero was the icing on the cake that put doubters in limbo. This coaching staff gives fans a legitimate reason to be excited for the future with its diverse background and knowledge from coaches and coordinators young and old.
Now, all eyes are on general manager Scott Fitterer as he looks to stamp his own mark on an NFL roster for the first time.