Panthers hire Reich to replace Wilks as head coach
The first quarterback in Carolina Panthers history is returning to coach the team.
Frank Reich has been hired to replace interim coach Steve Wilks, who took over after Week 5 when owner David Tepper fired Matt Rhule.
Reich, 61, was fired by the Indianapolis Cots on Nov. 7 and finished with a 40-33-1 record in almost five seasons.
In Indianapolis, Reich never had a consistent quarterback – with veterans Phillip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan – but he managed to lead Indianapolis to the postseason in 2018 and 2020.
The Panthers don’t have the quarterback spot set in stone either, with Sam Darnold a free agent.
Wilks, a longtime NFL coach, said he was “disappointed but not defeated,” according to a tweet posted last week.
Wilks went 6-6 after taking over for Rhule and could have led the Panthers to an NFC South title had they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17.
Wilks being passed over caused a stir around the NFL with the attorney for former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores saying there was a “legitimate race problem in the NFL” with regard to coaching diversity. Wilks had joined Flores’ classaction suit after his dismissal by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 after just one season at the helm.
“It was an honor for me to
coach those men in the Carolina Panthers locker room as the interim head coach,” Wilks’ tweet read. “Players, coaches and staff, thank you for your hard work and dedication. I took pride in representing Charlotte,
a great city that I love so much. Thank you to my family, friends and community for your overwhelming support.”
Players had been vocally in favor of Wilks’ candidacy to become the Panthers’ permanent head coach during the season. That support appeared to continue even after Reich was announced.
“Nothing but absolute love for this man!” Panthers punter Johnny Hekker posted in a reply to Wilks’ tweet. “Can’t wait to see what his future holds.”
Reich was the offensive coordinator under Doug Pederson during the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl 52 victory. Weeks later, the Colts hired him after their deal with Josh McDaniels – now coach of the Las Vegas Raiders – fell through.
Reich became the franchise’s first starting quarterback when it entered the league in 1995. He started the first three games and went 0-3; Reich played until 1998 and began his coaching career in 2006 as an intern with the Colts.