How did the Panthers end up? Backstabbing, the “Hunger Games” atmosphere, and another coach sacked

Charlotte, North Carolina — David Tepper believed he had it perfected this time.

The owner of the Carolina Panthers was keen to make the correct choice in his second head coach job after dismissing Matt Rhule in October 2022. After failing to find what he dubbed a “CEO coach” in Rhule, Tepper, the hedge-fund billionaire who acquired the team in 2018, conducted a more exhaustive search for Rhule’s replacement, concentrating on coaches with offensive credentials.

Frank Reich, the former Indianapolis Colts coach and the starting quarterback for the first-ever Panthers game, was the choice made by Tepper after interviewing nine applicants. Tepper, whose net worth is estimated to be over $20 billion, offered Reich a four-year contract and the means to assemble an elite team around a rookie quarterback.

But even though Reich was only halfway through his first season, Tepper was already thinking about changing coaches.

Tepper informed Reich in early November that he needed to see offensive progress since the Panthers, who had the poorest record in the league, were struggling with Bryce Young, the first overall pick. Tepper put the future of the team at risk in order to get Young in the draft. The onslaught of sacks and hits in the pocket was impeding the rookie’s progress.

Tepper fired Reich on November 27 after the Panthers lost back-to-back games to Dallas and Tennessee, scoring just 10 points when Reich was calling the plays. Reich’s career with the Panthers was 1-10, the shortest in the NFL’s history at 45 years.

At a press conference held the day following Reich’s dismissal, Tepper told reporters they might “speculate as to that” rather than providing further details about his choice.

Young’s growth and the offensive issues doomed Reich. However, Reich’s team had a lot going on behind closed doors.

More than 20 Panthers coaches, players, and other league sources were contacted by The Athletic; some of these people were given anonymity so they could talk freely. They depicted a picture of disarray in the Panthers’ offices, with several assistant coaches turning self-preservation into a survival strategy when they saw Reich’s time was running out.

There is a “Hunger Games” vibe at Bank of America Stadium, according to team insiders. Coaches stated they thought Tepper was receiving text messages from other staff members regarding problems they observed with the team behind Reich’s back. A separate offensive coach and general manager Scott Fitterer presented Tepper with a coaching recommendation for the quarterback. Fitterer has discussed this matter with Reich before.