Carolina’s front office traded up for the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft and selected Alabama’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young. In the process of doing so, Carolina parted with the No. 9 and No. 61 picks in the 2023 draft, their 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-rounder, and star wide receiver DJ Moore.
It seemed to be a great decision to net their superstar quarterback.
However, Carolina quickly found out their franchise quarterback would be treading a ton of water in what has been a brutal season.
Late last month, the Panthers fired head coach Frank Reich, but that was just the start of things going on inside the organization. In the wake of Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper firing head coach Frank Reich last week, several Panthers coaches, players, and staff members spoke anonymously about dysfunction within the organization.
According to Joseph Person and Dianna Russini of The Athletic, people within the organization described the culture as being like the movie “The Hunger Games,” with some coaches and staff members allegedly texting Tepper about issues behind Reich’s back and going to great lengths to save themselves when it appeared Reich was on his way out.
“People just finger-pointing hoping they don’t get exposed,” an assistant coach told the outlet.
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According to the report, general manager Scott Fitterer and an offensive coach reportedly discussed coaching ideas for rookie quarterback Bryce Young without Reich’s knowledge or input.
Tepper reportedly encouraged Reich to go outside his circle when assembling his coaching staff and it led to obvious problems this year.
“It’s just not a good offense,” a Panthers staffer told The Athletic. “You didn’t see Indy’s offense when they (were second in) the league in rushing (in 2021). You didn’t see Philly when he was there or when he was with the Chargers and those dynamic offenses. You didn’t see any of that.”
Reich went 40-33-1 and made two playoff appearances in parts of five seasons as the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach so the Panthers brought him in on a four-year deal, but his tenure was short-lived.
Reich was fired after a 1-10 start.
The 22-year-old Young has 2,055 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 11 games this season while completing 60.6 percent of his passes.
