The Carolina Panthers have yet to fill out some important additions to newly minted head coach Frank Reich’s staff, including an offensive coordinator. However, that didn’t stop the Panthers from announcing the major addition of a former NFL head coach to Reich’s staff.
On Tuesday morning, Carolina announced that the team had agreed to terms with Jim Caldwell to become a senior assistant on Reich’s staff. According to the team website, Caldwell will report directly to Reich and will assist on offense, defense and special teams.
Caldwell was one of nine coaches to interview for the Panthers’ head coaching vacancy and on Tuesday became the second from that group to join Reich’s staff — including defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
The 68-year-old Caldwell last appeared in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, where he served as the team’s assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach in 2019. Prior to that, he spent seven seasons as a head coach, compiling a 62-50 record between his time with the Indianapolis Colts (2009-11) and Detroit Lions (2014-17).
Caldwell’s time with Reich overlapped in Indianapolis. Caldwell served as former head coach Tony Dungy’s assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach, while Reich got his start as a coaching intern with the Colts in 2006.
The NFL world reacted to the news after it broke. Many praised Reich for adding a coach like Caldwell to his staff.
Frank Reich adds another former head coach. Jim Caldwell joins Panthers as a senior assistant.
David Tepper has said there's no salary cap for coaches, and he's proving it.— Joe Person (@josephperson) February 14, 2023
So after hiring Matt Rhule in 2020 and having very little NFL coaching experience on staff, Panthers owner David Tepper isn't making the same mistake.
Frank Reich, Dom Capers & Jim Caldwell are all two-time head coaches with a combined 6-plus decades of NFL coaching experience
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) February 14, 2023
Jim Caldwell and Dom Capers have more in common than just being #Panthers senior assistants.
They both coached a young Kerry Collins (Caldwell was his QB coach at Penn State) and they’ve both been Frank Reich’s boss (Reich was on Caldwell’s Indy staff).
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) February 14, 2023
Reich with another W as Jim Caldwell is back https://t.co/YWjK1WzAFh
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) February 14, 2023
Man, we got Jim Caldwell in the building too‼️‼️
Let’s go, @Panthers! https://t.co/JFDCccJamN
— Panthers Culture 🥷🏽 (@PanthersCulture) February 14, 2023
Panthers building an awesome staff. Clear pivot from Rhule but in a smart way, not over-reactionary
Bringing in a bunch of proven, quality coaches from different buildings. Dom Capers to assist Ejiro Evero, now Jim Caldwell to assist Frank Reich
Bullish on Carolina https://t.co/uSeAPBKou7
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@SpielbergerBrad) February 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/JohnnyVenerable/status/1625505114713911301?s=20&t=9Jc1qtEGQPJSljuzhNkzOA
I love Jim Caldwell. He should still be a NFL head coach. Frank Reich is hiring an all time staff in Charlotte https://t.co/O6AMnB64v3
— Nick Wilson (@NickWilsonSays) February 14, 2023
Former #NFL HC Jim Caldwell, who interviewed for that position in Carolina, is joining as a senior assistant.
Reich’s staff is not short on experience. https://t.co/53fPfhfJGM
— Nick Carboni (@NickCarboniWCNC) February 14, 2023
