Former Colts Coach Frank Reich Out in Carolina

Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich doesn't survive his first year with the Carolina Panthers.

The Indianapolis Colts train wreck of a 2022 season included in the mid-season firing of head coach Frank Reich.

Reich quickly found work as the head coach with the Carolina Panthers for the 2023 season, but he didn't make it until the end of this year either.

One and done 🚨 🚨 🚨

The #Panthers have fired coach Frank Reich, sources say, moving on before his first season is over.

Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor is the interim coach and addressing the team now. Jim Caldwell moves to special advisor working with the offense. pic.twitter.com/Cn0WUJPhYA

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 27, 2023

Ian Rapoport reported on Monday morning that the Panthers have decided to move on from Reich after their 1-10 start.. 

"The Panthers have fired coach Frank Reich, sources say, moving on before his first season is over," Rapoport reported in X. "Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor is the interim coach and addressing the team now. Jim Caldwell moves to special advisor working with the offense."

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Reich compiled a 40-33-1 record in five-plus seasons with the Colts. He had a reputation for getting the most out of a merry-go-round of quarterbacks in his Colts tenure including Jacoby Brissett, an aging Philip Rivers, and Carson Wentz.

However, No. 1 overall draft pick Bryce Young has shown little development. His passer rating of 74.9 is 31st in the NFL. He has just nine touchdowns on the season compared to eight interceptions.

It surely didn't help that Reich's replacement in Indianapolis is having much more success. Shane Steichen and his Colts have won three in a row, and at 6-5 are firmly in the playoff hunt as the No. 7 seed.  

They began their three-game winning streak with a 27-13 win over the Panthers on November 5th. 

Steichen's offense has been successful with rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson and veteran Gardner Minshew who is on his third team in four seasons. 

The Houston Texans have also made the situation in Carolina look bad. Demeco Ryans has his team solidly in the hunt for the playoffs, and C.J. Stroud, taken one-pick after Young at No. 2, looks like a lock for Rookie of the Year. 

Reich turns 62 next week and has probably seen the last of his head coaching days in the NFL.

Meanwhile, the Colts' fortunes turned around dramatically under Steichen in 2023. 

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