Panthers name Frank Reich its new head coach
The Carolina Panthers are hiring Frank Reich as their next head coach, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Thursday. The team later announced the news.
Reich is hired to replace interim coach Steve Wilks, who took over after Week 5 when owner David Tepper fired Matt Rhule. The team finished the season with a 7-10 record.
The 61-year-old coach spent the past five seasons as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, compiling a 40-33-1 record before being fired midway through the 2022 season.
In 2018, Reich took over a Colts team that went 4-12 the previous season. The team went 10-6 and made the playoffs in his first year.
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The team remained in playoff contention through his time with the team despite shuffling through a carousel of quarterbacks.
Reich is a familiar face in Charlotte. He was the franchise’s first quarterback in 1995.
Amidst reports that Wilks could stay with Panthers in a different role, NFL Network Insider tweeted that Wilks would be looking for his next opportunity elsewhere.