Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich told players Monday that he is turning over game-calling duties to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, a league source confirmed. NFL Network first reported the news. Here’s what you need to know:
- The Panthers (0-6) are the only team in the NFL without a win this season following their Week 6 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
- No. 1 draft pick Bryce Young has completed 115 passes for 967 yards (63.2 completion percentage) with six touchdowns and four interceptions. He was sacked 16 times in his rookie season.
- Brown, who was on the Los Angeles Rams’ staff from 2020 to 2022, joined the Panthers as an OC in February.
- Carolina has a bye in Week 7 before facing the Houston Texans in Week 8.
Why now?
Reich said the decision was “100 percent” his own and that the plan was always to hand the game management over to Brown. But just a week ago, Reich said David Tepper was an owner who wouldn’t “stand idly by” and it’s not an exaggeration to at least say that Tepper influenced Reich’s decision. Reich said he believes he would have made the decision even if the Panthers hadn’t been 0-6, adding that doing so during the bye week would help Brown improve and work with Young. — Joseph Person, Panthers editor
Why brown?
Brown, the former Rams assistant, is a key part of the well-respected and well-compensated staff that Reich has assembled. At his introductory press conference, Reich said he would likely hand over the acting role to Brown at some point. Reich called Brown, 37, “a stud” and said he has been impressed with him since their first meeting. Brown is another branch of Sean McVay’s coaching staff and brought a strong run game background to Charlotte, particularly the Rams’ outside zone system. Brown never called plays on a full-time basis, although he was the play caller in the second half of the Panthers’ three preseason games. — person
Required reading
(Photo by Thomas Brown: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)