The Carolina Panthers have sputtered to start the season. After finishing inside the Top 10 of the NFL Draft last year, expectations weren’t exceptionally high, even after drafting quarterback Bryce Young with the top overall pick after their blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears. First-year head coach Frank Reich has also struggled, and on Monday, Reich made a significant concession.
Reich conceded playcalling duties to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. A former All-SEC running back and Super Bowl champion coach with the Los Angeles Rams, Brown will now be in control of leading the Panther offense on gameday.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network posted Monday afternoon, “Panthers coach Frank Reich informed players today he has decided to hand over play-calling duties to OC Thomas Brown.” Pelissero then added, “Brown, 37, is highly regarded. Now, with Carolina 0-6, he’ll call the shots for No. 1 pick Bryce Young.”
#Panthers coach Frank Reich informed players today he has decided to hand over play-calling duties to OC Thomas Brown, sources tell me, @MikeGarafolo and @RapSheet.
Brown, 37, is highly regarded. Now, with Carolina 0-6, he’ll call the shots for No. 1 pick Bryce Young. pic.twitter.com/vNjFyfRKor
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 16, 2023
Reich’s concession doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Critics of the Panthers and their offense have been hard on Reich. While he came to Carolina after doing a decent job in Indianapolis, nothing in the first six weeks indicated any viable success. So, the concession was made. Now, it will be Brown’s opportunity to make an impact and hopefully make Young look more capable.
It doesn’t help that talent level is an issue for the Panthers as well. But, in any event, the hope is that this change invokes some kind of jolt within the team.
The NFL world had plenty to say about the change the Panthers made within the coaching staff.
Accountability. Would you look at that. https://t.co/z9F0FgeGAr
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) October 16, 2023
Now do the same thing #Saints (Pete Carmichael to Ronald Curry). https://t.co/ureZu2SRwB
— RevDeuce (@RevDeuceWindham) October 16, 2023
They’re 0-6. This was the easiest change that they could make. Will it change anything? Unlikely but the rest of the season is about developing Bryce and building toward the future. Thomas Brown was always the future play caller. So it’s smart to move forward with him now. https://t.co/KBB52pM7PJ
— Julian Council (@JulianCouncil) October 16, 2023
Frank Reich had said after taking the job with the #Panthers he would pass off play-calling duties at some point. That point is now, as Carolina is trying to get its offense and Bryce Young on track. https://t.co/wAYYclUw6J
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 16, 2023
If Thomas Brown starts cooking with this offense Frank Reich should be fired for negligence https://t.co/OmGsu2pNHJ
— ⚡️T-Time ⚡️ (@Ayo_TTime9) October 16, 2023
